Chapter 14 – The Price of a Mistake

Lyra stood in Ethan Vaughn’s private office, the glow of the security alert still flashing on his screen.

She had been caught.

But instead of panicking, she did what she did best.

She bluffed.

"Who said I was trying to leave?"

Ethan’s dark eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp, unreadable.

For the first time, he didn’t immediately call security.

Didn’t demand an explanation.

He was thinking. Calculating.

And that meant she still had a chance to turn this around.

Ethan took another step forward, closing the distance between them.

His presence was intense, the heat of him dangerously close.

"You expect me to believe that?" he murmured.

Lyra smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Would you believe me if I said I was just… curious?"

Ethan chuckled, but the sound was low, dark, and anything but amused.

"Curious?" he repeated. "You bypassed security, triggered an internal alert, and tried to access my private files."

His voice dropped to a near-whisper.

"That’s more than curiosity, Miss Xian."

Lyra swallowed the knot forming in her throat but kept her expression calm.

"What can I say?" She shrugged lightly. "You’re an intriguing man."

Ethan’s jaw tightened slightly.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then—he reached past her, pressing a button on his desk.

The security alert disappeared.

The room fell into silence.

Lyra’s breath hitched.

He wasn’t calling security.

He wasn’t exposing her.

Why?

Ethan slowly leaned against his desk, arms crossed.

"You have five seconds to tell me what you were really looking for," he said, voice dangerously calm.

Lyra hesitated.

If she lied—he’d see right through her.

If she told the truth—she’d be handing him the upper hand.

Think, Lyra.

Then, suddenly, the answer came to her.

A half-truth.

"Your files on Red Phantom," she admitted, watching his reaction closely.

For a brief second, something flickered in Ethan’s gaze.

Something like recognition.

Then it was gone.

"Interesting," he mused. "And why would you be looking for him?"

Lyra forced a careful smirk.

"Because he interests me even more than you do."

The silence stretched between them.

Then, to her utter shock—

Ethan smirked.

"Fine," he said smoothly. "You want information on Red Phantom?"

He picked up a USB drive from his desk and twirled it between his fingers.

"Then earn it."

Lyra froze.

"What?"

Ethan leaned forward slightly. "Work for me, prove your loyalty, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll let you see what I have on him."

Her pulse pounded.

He was testing her.

Luring her deeper into his game.

But she had no choice now.

She had to play along.

So, she smiled.

And shook his hand.

"Deal."

But as she did, she realized something terrifying.

She wasn’t sure anymore if she was playing him—

Or if Ethan Vaughn was playing her.

Lyra returned home feeling off-balance.

She had gambled everything tonight.

And now, she was trapped in Ethan’s world even deeper than before.

Her laptop pinged.

A new message.

From Red Phantom.

Her stomach tightened as she opened it.

"He’s leading you into something you won’t escape from."

Lyra clenched her jaw.

She already knew that.

But the real question was—

Would she let herself fall?

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End of Chapter 14

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