The Billionaire's Veil

artment. Elena Collins paced restlessly, questions and fears swirling in her mind like a tempest. She had only just begun to digest t

ike those of a roboter; he placed all types of appliances and papers around. Gone was the chill and calm in his demeanor; in its

ence. "I need to understand what's really

understand your frustration, Elena. I really do. But

hat about me? What about my life? I never signed up for a

r he was still deeply disturbed. "You're right. You do

he obeyed. Christian immediately talked-very dryly-about what was

are actually large factions within the business world that would very much like for me to fail. T

g with the weight of his words. "And th

bring me down financially, they want to make an example out of me. They

sal wasn't just a sham. It is a calculated step to protect the two of us. I could take the public scrutin

rap itself around it. "So this contract--it is

des for your protection. As long as we are publicly linked

nd when all is said and done?

s designed to make sure the needs of both parties are catered to. You wi

press down heavier upon her. "And if it

doing everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen. But right no

r, insistent and urgent. Christian's body went taut, and

that low, controlled v

ped into her thro

from the table and motioned to her to follow him. "We must hurry. The

because one never knew when an emergency might present itself. E

ny signs that the coast was clear. The narrow space was dimly lit save the distant hum

ies of marked paths. "We'll take the side stree

tsteps were soft against the walls, echoing through the passageway. Ch

re the moonlight cast long shadows on the pavement. He was leading

a hand for quiet. Elena froze, her gaze scanning the dark for a sign of danger. There wa

space surrounding them as his featur

ght in her throat.

red her toward a narrow door set into the side of a building. In

just been in a minute earlier as anything he could imagine. He eased his wa

gh various narrow hallways and stairca

byrinthine passages seemed to extend infinitely, each

m lined with many types of surveillance equipment and mon

?" Elena asked bare

focus on the screens. "We use it for situations like this. It's

several feeds from all types of cameras a

what's happening in real time. I

up the feeds. Darkening, his face turned serious. "Still looking for us. Yet we ar

becoming too tense, but Christian's presence was somehow reassuring. His calm compos

softening a little. "I know this is a lot to ta

just want to understand what is ha

tuation that is so much more involved compared to what I've actually let on. There are those arou

t sent a shiver racing down her spine. "And I need you to t

-a situation just like this one was the reason, really-but she knew she didn't have a

speechless. In a split second, Christian's head jerked towa

"We have to change locations again. T

de their way once again through the maze of passages. The danger was getti

o a nondescript car parked not too far away. The car was pla

Elena to get in. "We're going to a new l

that night. Christian slid into the driver's seat and turned the key in t

her in a mess of lights and shadow. Elena stared out the w

before he retrieved it. His grim determined look morphed

said, low. "They've got

mix of relief and apprehen

h reassurance. "It's a safe house. We'll be fine there until

of all that had occurred. In the world she had been suddenly thrust into, danger lurked everywhe

a man who did all he could to keep her safe-to protect them both. The road a