Ariana didn't stop until she reached the empty hallway behind the ballroom- quiet, dim, almost too still for the chaos boiling inside her chest. Him standing there against the wall, uneven breath, fingers trembling as she stared at the message. I know what you did last night. Nice video, Ariana.
Her lips parted in disbelief. 'A video?' Of what? She hadn't even done anything scandalous- yet. Unless someone had been watching her long before tonight. Her mind raced. Was it fake? A threat? Or something worse? Ariana drummed the screen, but the thumbnail would not open. Corrupted? Locked? Or intentionally blocked to torment her? Her phone buzzed again. Don't worry. I'll send the full one later. Say hi to your billionaire.
Her stomach dropped. Someone knew she was with Christian. Someone was watching. Someone wanted her scared. Ariana straightened slowly, the fear inside her hardening into something sharper. She wasn't the curling type. She was the type to fight back-loudly, fiercely, beautifully. Before she could reply, a warm hand caught her waist from behind. "Ariana." Christian's voice. Deep. Closer than she expected.
Turning too fast, she neared colliding with him. But his hand slid to steady her-not politely, and with this possessive certainty that sent a tremor down her spine.
"You didn't answer me back there," he said softly.
"I needed air."
"Your hands are shaking." He lifted her wrist gently. His brows drew together. "Something happened."
"It's nothing," she lied.
Christian didn't believe her. He stepped closer, crowding her space so easily. "If someone bothered you-"
"No one bothered me," she snapped. "I can handle myself."
He looked hard at her for a long moment, his eye running over her face as if he would remember every flicker of emotion. Most men looked at Ariana as a body. Christian saw her like a puzzle-dangerous, beautiful, worth solving.
That unsettled her even more than the original text.
"'I sure believe you can handle anything," he finally murmured. "But let me help."
"Why?" Ariana demanded, folding her arms, trying to hide her racing heartbeat. "You barely know me."
"Because," he said softly, "you walked in that ballroom like a storm.
People like you...leave a mark. And I'm not done being marked." His game was modest, barely skimming her skin. She flames up her neck. "You barely touched me." Christian's lips twist. "I intend to change that." Her breath locks. Her body betrays her, tilting infinitesimally closer. But then- Her phone buzzed once more. Christian's jaw clenched. "Answer it." "No." "Ariana." "It's not important." "Obviously it is," he said, his voice going down another notch. "You're hiding something." "And you're too curious for your good."
He stepped so close her back hit the wall, trapping her between his arms-yet not touching her, not yet. "I like to know what's mine."
"I'm not yours."
"Not yet."
Her pulse jumped wildly in her throat.
Had her phone not buzzed again, she would have kissed him first. This time, however, with a far more explicit notification preview that he inadvertently caught. His narrowed eyes at once. 'Unknown Number' said: "Tell him the truth or I will." "Ariana," Christian snapped. "What truth?" She snatched her phone away, panic flickering in her chest. "It's nothing." "Someone's threatening you." "It's not serious." He raised her chin very gently but very firmly. "You don't hide fear well. Tell me."
Ariana swallowed hard. Christian was too attentive, too sharp. She almost wanted to tell him everything-but fear tangled itself around her throat. If he saw that mystery video before she did? If he misunderstood? If he walked away? No. She couldn't risk that.
"Christian," she whispered,
"let this go."
No. He did not. Instead, slowly reached up and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. Unraveled at the intimacy of the gesture "You don't trust me yet," he murmured, "But you will." Her breath trembled. "You're too sure of yourself." "And you like it." She did. God she did. His fingers brushed her cheek... then slid dangerously close to her lips. Ariana's eyes fluttered. Then- A sharp snap rang down the hall.
Two of them turned.
Carla was standing by the corner, looking at them with a smile too sweet to be real.
"Ah," Carla said, stepping as if she had caught them stealing candy. "Interrupting something again?"
Ariana's heart hiccupped. Christian's face went stony for an instant, a gleam of annoyance passing through his eyes.
"Carla," Ariana said slowly, "what are you doing back here?"
"I came to check on you," she said innocently. "You ran off so suddenly."
Her eyes drifted to Christian. She let them linger far too long. "I had no Idea you two...were so close already,"
An odd tightening settled in her chest.
Christian didn't help since he had not retreated. If anything, he stood nearer to Ariana.
"Any problem there?" he inquired of Carla.
"No." Carla's smile went sharp. "No problem at all. But, Ariana? Mom's been trying to reach you."
Ariana frowned. "Mom? Why?"
"What's wrong?"
"She said it's urgent." Carla tilted her head. "Maybe call her?"
Ariana felt tension build up suddenly. Her mother hardly ever contacted her in such a way, and if it were important, Carla would be the first to know. Something was just not right.
There is another buzz on her phone before Ariana can respond.
She shivers from the message preview this time.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Listen to your sister
Family knows best.
Christian catches the look over Ariana's face.
He steps in front of her protectively. "What's going on?"
Carla watched Ariana closely, her attitude silent and expectant.
Ariana felt suddenly light-headed.
"Ariana-" Christian started, his hand on her arm.
But her train of thought had disappeared.
For the realization had hit her hard:
The person sending those messages...
knew Carla.
Had mentioned Carla.
Talked as if he they were connected.
Like when Carla would keep appearing at just the wrong time... Ariana swallowed hard. "Christian," she whispered, "I have to go." "Not alone." She hesitated. Carla smiled with composure – as if she knew something that Ariana did not. Ariana forced a breath. "I'll call you later." And before Christian could stop her, walked away, phone in hand, heart hammering, the hallway suddenly colder than before. Because now it wasn't only threats that were being made against her.
She watched now from the inside of her life.
R
ight under her own roof.
And the only one who could be doing that was someone, she loved.