Chapter 5 A Step Closer

• ARYA'S POV
• "The gala is tomorrow night."
• My head snapped up.
• “Tomorrow?”
• I almost, forgot.
• “Yes.”
• I ran a hand through my hair.
• “Okay… okay, how does the gala feel like, what am I supposed say, how am I supposed to act."
• “Relax,” he said simply.
• "Don't worry, you will fit in just fine." His lips almost curved.
• Almost.
• “You’ll be fine,” he said again.
• That surprised me.
• “You seem so confident,” I stated.
• “I don’t make investments I’m unsure about.”
• Investment.
• Right.
• That’s what I was.
• I almost hated that. I hated how hearing him call me an investment made me feel.
• As much as it made me feel... Bad, maybe, it also grounded me.
• Because emotions were messy.
• But transactions?
• Transactions seems fair, no one will be getting hurt.
• “Then brief me,” I said. “On everything I need to know.”
• Logan stepped closer.
• Not too close.
• It was just enough.
• “You’re my fiancée,” he said.
• “Which means they will watch how you speak, how you move, how you react.”
• His gaze dropped briefly to my hand.
• To the ring.
• Then back to my eyes.
• “You act out of place,” he continued, “they’ll question you.”
• “I won’t.”
• “And if you slip,” he added, “they’ll investigate you.”
• I held his gaze.
• “Then I won’t slip.” I said softly.
• A long pause followed.
• “Good.”
• His voice was quieter now.
• “Because if this goes wrong…”
• He didn’t finish the sentence.
• He didn’t need to. I already knew.
• “Then let’s not let it go wrong.” I said.
• For a second…
• Something like approval crossed his face.
• Then it was gone.
• “Get some rest,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
• I watched him walk away.
• And for the first time since this started…
• I realized something that made my chest tighten.
• Marco might be a threat.
• Ethan might be dangerous.
• But Logan Vance?
• He was something else entirely.
• Something that wasn't clear to me and I feel uncomfortable when I can't figure something out especially with someone I'm working with.
• *****
• Later that night, I stood alone by the window, staring at the city lights below.
• Everything looked so small from up here.
• Problems.
• People.
• Even fear.
• I lifted my hand, the diamond catching the light.
• “Three days,” I whispered.
• "I need to make a satisfying progress so Logan can at least get Marco off my back."
• *******
• That night was the longest I've ever had, well it was the first time in years I went to bed by 9:00 pm.
• I usually overwork myself to sleeping by 1:00 or 2:00am.
• But that night,I slept off dreaming about a better life for myself, the type of life I deserve.
• A life where I'm debt free and have a good and steady income.
• ******
• Logan's knock was what woke me up in the morning.
• "You're still in bed." He said the moment he didn't get any response.
• "I'm coming." I said as I dragged myself to the door.
• The moment I opened it, Logan immediately went straight to the point.
• "Everything you need to look into the company's finances is in this room," he said handing me a key.
• No good morning, nothing.
• "And this opens..."
• "Elena will lead you."
• "Ok." I nodded.
• "Call me if it's important. Only if it's important." He...warned?
• "Whatever." I sighed.
• He was about to leave, then I remembered I haven't eaten since last night.
• "What about food."
• He stopped, then glared at me without saying a word before he walked right out.
• "But food is important." I defended.
• "Very important by the way." I added as I quickly followed him downstairs, bumping into Elena.
• "This way Miss Thorne." She said leading me to what seemed like the kitchen.
• The kitchen looked like it belonged in a five-star hotel.
• Everything gleamed.
• Polished counters. Stainless steel appliances. Staff moving quietly like a well rehearsed orchestra.
• And the smell... It was so good my mouth got watery.
• Fresh bread. Coffee. Something buttery and sinful.
• My stomach growled loud enough to betray me.
• Elena pretended not to hear it.
• “Breakfast has been prepared,” she said, gesturing toward a long island.
• Prepared?
• This wasn’t breakfast.
• This was a feast.
• Eggs, fruits, pastries, juices… things I couldn’t even name.
• I hesitated.
• “Is… all this necessary?”
• Elena gave me a small smile. “Mr. Vance doesn’t do ‘unnecessary.’”
• Right.
• Of course he didn’t.
• I picked something I found familiar. Toast. Eggs. Coffee.
• Even sitting down felt strange.
• “Elena,” I called softly before she could leave.
• She paused.
• “Yes, Miss Thorne?”
• “The gala tonight…” I started, then trailed off. “What is it like?”
• Her expression shifted slightly.
• She gave a weak smile.
• “To me it's more of a display.”
• “Of wealth?” I guessed.
• “Of power,” she corrected.
• That made more sense.
• I nodded as I took a bite off my toast.
• “Everyone who matters will be there,” she continued. “Business partners, investors… rivals.”
• “Rivals,” I repeated.
• “Yes.”
• I didn’t need to ask which category Ethan belonged to.
• “And uhm, what about me?” I asked. “How exactly am I supposed to act there?”
• She looked at me.
• "Just stay close to Mr Vance to avoid being picked on,
• "Also, you need to know that many rich heiress are not going to be happy the one Mr Vance chose is..."
• She paused.
• "Basic. I know you don't have to say it." I cut in.
• She took a deep breath.
• "It doesn't matter, besides you're better than every other woman that Logan has brought back."
• "He brings other women?" I tried saying to myself but I guess Elena heard.
• She smiled.
• "No need to be jealous, they don't stay for more than one night."
• "I'm not jealous." I defended.
• She smiled.
• "Enjoy your meal, call me if you need anything." She said as she left the kitchen.
• From her actions, I guessed she doesn't know I'm Logan's pretend fiancée.
• ****
• Two hours later, I stood in front of a massive screen in a private office Elena had shown me.
• Logan wasn’t kidding.
• Everything I needed was here.
• Financial records.
• Transaction logs.
• Internal audits.
• Access levels that would make any compliance officer faint.
• I cracked my knuckles.
• “Alright,” I murmured. “Let’s see what you’re hiding, Ethan.”
• At first, everything looked clean.
• Too clean.
• Which was the problem.
• No company this big runs perfectly.
• There are always discrepancies that were obviously neatly hidden.
• You just have to know where to look.
• I started small.
• Tracing recurring transactions.
• Cross-checking departments.
• Looking for inconsistencies in timing.
• I discovered something but that wasn't quite strong I needed something more.
• Hours passed.
• I barely noticed.
• Then...
• "There it is!" I said out like someone who just won a lottery.
• I discovered a pattern that didn’t quite sit right.
• Same amount.
• Different departments.
• Timed just far enough apart to avoid suspicion.
• My lips curled slightly.
• “Got you.”
• I leaned closer, eyes scanning faster now.
• The money wasn’t disappearing.
• And just like Logan said it was moving.
• Swiftly.
• Layered transfers.
• Dummy vendors.
• Internal rerouting before external extraction.
• Everything was clean.
• Ethan's smart I will give him that.
• I almost admired what he did.
• Almost.
• “Half the staff on his side…” I muttered.
• That explained the internal silence.
• No whistleblowers.
• Everyone of them was being paid off fine.
• I sat back slowly.
• “So how do I break you?” I whispered.
• A slow smile spread across my face.
• “Guess I’ll be playing dumb tonight.”