Beneath the Facade

CHAPTER ONE

Olivia Reed sat at the edge of her cramped apartment bed, gently rubbing her aching feet. The moment she kicked off her heels, her phone buzzed.

Her stomach twisted.

She didn't need to check the caller ID. She already knew.

"Yes, sir?" she answered, voice barely above a whisper.

"Come to the penthouse. Now."

Click.

No room for hesitation. No questions. Just orders.

She swallowed her exhaustion, grabbed her coat, and stepped into the freezing dark.

The mansion loomed like a warning.

Tall iron gates. A driveway too long.

The kind of silence money buys.

Inside, the scent of Chanel No. 5 and spilled wine clung to the air.

A woman lounged on the velvet couch, her silk robe slipping off one shoulder. A glass of red dangled lazily between her fingers.

Her gaze dragged across Olivia like she was an unwanted draft.

"Took you long enough," she murmured. "Go get a refill."

Olivia stiffened. "We're out, ma'am."

The woman tilted her head, a slow smile curling her lips.

"Then go get more."

Olivia blinked. "It's one in the morning."

The smile vanished. The voice dropped.

"Are you refusing a simple errand?" She leaned forward, her tone like velvet over glass. "You know what's at stake, don't you?"

Olivia turned toward Hayes, searching for any sign of backup.

He didn't even look at her.

"You heard her, Rose. Get the wine."

"...It's Olivia."

This time, his gaze lifted. Cool. Calculated.

Then, he smiled.

"Then get the wine, Rose."

Finding the wine was hell.

The first shop's bell jingled softly as she pushed open the door, breath fogging in the cold.

She muttered the name of the wine.

"We're out," the man said without even glancing up.

The second store wasn't better. The cashier looked confused.

"Never heard of it."

The third one-finally-an older man behind the counter raised a brow.

"You're searching for that now? At this hour?"

She nodded. He sighed.

"Five blocks south. Take a left. You'll see it."

By the time she returned, bottle in hand, her fingers had gone numb. Her coat clung to her like frost.

She stepped inside.

Silence.

Hayes was asleep. So was the woman.

She stood there.

The bottle heavy in her hand. Her jaw tight. Her heart hammering.

All that-for this.

She turned and walked back out. No words. Just frost and fury.

The streets were too quiet.

She tugged her coat closer, eyes scanning the dark. That's when she saw them.