CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Ruben
It’s Friday, and I’m craving Lennon like a man who’s starved. She’s been pulling grueling hours at work, while I’ve buried myself in the chaos of my own. But in a few hours, she’ll be home, and the primal part of me, the one that doesn’t care about patience or restraint, is screaming to throw her over my shoulder and take her back to my place.
The things I’d do to that woman…
I glance at my phone, my fingers itching to send her a text, something dirty enough to have her blushing by the time she reads it. But before I can type a word, my office door swings open without a knock.
The man strides in like he owns the place, which technically, he does. But he doesn’t own me, at least not in the way he thinks.
“Aiden,” I say, my tone clipped as I lean back in my chair, keeping my expression neutral.
“I know what you’re doing,” he begins without preamble, his voice smooth as steel dragging across glass.
I don’t take the bait, letting the silence stretch. He didn’t come here for pleasantries.
He steps closer, his eyes narrowing. “You’re fucking the red-haired woman who’s helping the theater owners.”
The words hit hard, but I don’t flinch. He’s fishing, but it doesn’t make the accusation any less dangerous.
I keep my voice calm, my tone measured. “You don’t know what my motives are.”
Aiden smirks, but there’s no humor in it. “You’re right, I don’t. But I know you, Posada. Your principles always get in the way.”
The way he says it, like it’s a curse, only fuels the fire in my chest. He’s known me for years, knows where my lines are drawn, but he underestimates how much I’ve learned from him.
“Everything is about perception,” I reply evenly, though there’s an edge to my words.
Aiden leans forward, resting his hands on my desk, his presence oppressive. “Take this as a warning—the only one. I put you in charge of this case to see what you’re capable of. You’re on the brink of making a huge leap, Ruben, from six to seven figures. That takes courage.”
“Courage, yes,” I agree, keeping my gaze locked on his.
“And intelligence,” he continues. “You need to be smart enough to look the other way. Morals don’t make money, Posada.”
There it is, the philosophy he’s built his empire on. The same philosophy I’ve rejected time and time again.
“What do you want, Aiden?” I ask, cutting through his posturing.
“I want that land,” he says simply, as if it’s just that easy. As if the theater is nothing more than a plot.
“The owners have the final say,” I remind him, my tone steely. “I’ve done what’s needed. Now we wait.”
Aiden’s lips thin, his frustration barely contained. “I’m not waiting. I want that deed signed in my name a week after you get back from Argentina.”
So, he’s escalating. I expected this, just not so soon.
“Think of your future,” he snaps, straightening to his full height. “Think of your license. Having friends in high places is always an advantage, Ruben.”
It’s a threat wrapped in advice, the kind only Aiden Fisher can deliver. However, even being a bigger fish in this pond, he’s not the only one with connections.
I stand, matching his height, my hands flat on the desk between us. “And having enemies in high places? What does that get me?”
Aiden chuckles, low and cold. “Careful, Posada. Don’t let your ego ruin you. I trained you for better.”
Vanity, definitely my favorite sin , said John Milton—The Devil—in one of my favorite movies.
“You trained me to be useful,” I counter, my voice like stone. “Not to sell my soul.”
The air between us crackles with tension. He’s used to people bending at his will, breaking under his pressure. But I’m not the same kid he plucked out of obscurity with a scholarship and a job offer. I’ve seen the depths he’s willing to sink to, and I’m done playing by his rules.
“You’re out of your depth,” Aiden warns, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t about your little redhead. This is business, and you’re letting your personal life get in the way.”
I take a step around the desk, closing the distance between us. “And you’re letting greed blind you. That theater is more than just a piece of land, and you know it.”
Aiden’s jaw tightens, his control slipping just enough to reveal the man beneath the polished exterior. “You think you can stand in my way, Ruben? You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“Danger is relative,” I say, my voice low and unwavering. “You wanted to see what I’m capable of? Keep pushing, Aiden. You might just find out.”
For a moment, we’re locked in a silent standoff, neither of us willing to back down. Then with a sharp exhale, Aiden steps back, his expression returning to its usual mask of calculated indifference.
“Don’t make me regret putting you in charge,” he says, his tone a final warning.
“Don’t make me regret working for you,” I reply, my voice steady.
Aiden adjusts his cufflinks, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “We’ll see who regrets what, Posada.”
Without another word, he turns and walks out, his polished shoes echoing in the quiet office.
I sink back into my chair, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Aiden Fisher thinks he’s untouchable, but he’s underestimated me. I’ve spent years learning his game, and now, it’s time to show him I can play it better.
I glance at my phone, Lennon’s name lighting up the screen. The thought of her grounds me, the tension in my chest easing. Aiden might be a storm, but Lennon is my calm. And I’ll be damned if I let him—or anyone—take that from me.
? ? ?
I fire off a text to my brother, Gabriel. There’s no need for pleasantries. He’s been in the loop long enough to know the stakes. He’s my go-to when things get murky, and right now, the water is pitch black.
Ruben: May I have a meeting in your office?
His reply comes a minute later, like he’s been expecting this.
Gabriel: Tell me what you need.
I don’t waste time. I lay it out—just the essentials. Gabriel doesn’t need every detail, he knows enough to read between the lines.
Technically, I’m still working the case, even though I never signed a service agreement. Aiden wasn’t wrong. My license could be at risk if this all goes south. Perception is everything in our world. Every move from here on needs to be razor-sharp, deliberate. No room for error.
Gabriel’s financial firm is top-tier, handling cases that require the utmost discretion. I trust him, not just because he’s my brother, but because he’s damn good at what he does.
After finalizing the arrangements, I pack up my briefcase and head for the door.
“Michelle,” I call out to my assistant. “I’ll be working from home.”
She doesn’t bat an eye. She knows I’m traveling on Sunday. Working remotely isn’t exactly out of character.
Once I’m back at my condo, I pull out an old phone from the back of a drawer. It’s a relic from a time I’d rather forget, but it’s still functional, still charged. I power it on and stare at the number I’ve dialed several times before.
The call connects after three rings.
“What do you want this time?” The voice on the other end is gruff, edged with distrust. “We told you we’d think about it.”
“This isn’t about that.” My voice is low, steady. “This call is different. I’m trying to help you.”
“Help?” He barks a laugh, thick with skepticism. “That’s hard to believe.”
I ignore the jab. “Listen to me,” I whisper, keeping my tone calm but firm. “Follow my instructions, and you’ll see. This will save you.”
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Because,” I say, letting the words hang just long enough to land. “I’m here to make a difference.”
There’s a pause, heavy with suspicion. Then, finally, “Alright. I’m listening.”
I lay it out for him, step by step. The path is narrow, but it leads somewhere safe if he’s willing to take it. Gabriel’s firm is the destination. The name he needs is Robert Goodman. From there, Gabriel will take the reins.
“Take notes,” I tell him, my voice clipped. “This is the only shot you’re going to get.”
He murmurs an agreement, and I can almost hear the sound of his pen scratching against paper.
When the call ends, I sit in the silence of my condo, letting the weight of what I’ve just done settle over me. It’s risky—too risky, maybe. But I’m done playing it safe.
This isn’t just about the theater anymore. It’s about her.
The Olsons will have their theater.
I’ll get it all. The victory. The senior partnership. The girl.
But first, I need to survive what comes next.