Dangers in my Heart

Chapter 6

Lisa's POV

It's been weeks since I last saw Jennie, yet somehow, her presence lingered like a shadow I couldn't shake off. Every now and then, flashes of her defiance, her determination, and that fire in her eyes invaded my thoughts. It was the kind of fire that could either ignite a blaze or burn everything to ashes. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling as if it held answers to questions I didn't even know how to ask.

Why couldn't I stop thinking about her?

Shaking my head, I grabbed the stack of files that had been sitting untouched on my desk for weeks. These were old records—correspondences and agreements with James Kim. I flipped through the pages, my fingers trailing across familiar words and signatures. His handwriting was clean and deliberate, like the man himself. I couldn't help but wonder, Did he know his end was near when he came to me? Or was this just a precaution, a chess move made in anticipation of trouble he couldn't yet see?

I found myself talking aloud, a habit I'd developed over years of working in silence. "Why me, James? Out of all the people you could have turned to, why would you tie yourself to someone like me?" My voice was calm, almost detached, but the questions carried weight.

Was it because I had power? Influence? Or was it because I was willing to do what others wouldn't? I chuckled dryly at that thought. Of course, it had to be the latter. People like James weren't drawn to people like me for anything noble. It was all business, all necessity. But then again, this wasn't just business anymore. Not with Jennie in the picture.

I leaned forward, elbows on the desk, and stared at the photo Seth had handed me weeks ago—the same one that had triggered this whole chain of thoughts. Jennie Kim. Her name was etched in my mind like a brand, and I hated it. Or maybe I didn't.

"James," I muttered under my breath, "what were you trying to protect her from? The world you willingly stepped into? Or something worse?" I tossed the file down in frustration, letting the pages scatter. "You should've known better. You don't gamble with people's lives—not hers, not mine."

I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of my thoughts settling heavily on my shoulders. My partnership with James had been built on cold, calculated exchanges—no room for sentiment, no room for attachment. Yet, here I was, caught in the middle of his unfinished business and his daughter's search for answers.

Standing, I walked to the window, the city sprawling before me like a labyrinth of secrets. "You're a fool, James," I said to myself, my reflection staring back at me. "But maybe I am too. Because somehow, I can't stop thinking about her."

I turned away, shaking off the thought like a bad habit. There was no room for distraction, no room for sentimentality. Not in my world. But as I sat back down and reached for another file, a part of me couldn't help but wonder: Was James preparing Jennie for something far bigger than I realized? And if so, was I just a pawn in his grander scheme?

I stared at the scattered papers and sighed deeply. "Whatever game you were playing, James, I hope you knew the stakes."

And with that, I picked up the files and buried myself in the past, searching for the answers I wasn't sure I wanted to find.

Jennie's POV

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the abandoned warehouse. The air felt colder here, heavier, like it carried secrets too dark to unveil. Weeks had passed since my last visit, but the nagging thought that this place held answers wouldn't let me rest.

Why did my father frequent this warehouse? What significance did it hold? And more importantly, could the blue folder—the one piece of evidence that might unravel everything—be hidden here? It felt too obvious, but desperation made even the wildest possibilities worth considering.