Chapter 204 — Alina POV
The invitation came casually, like it wasn't going to shake her world.
Come over. I'd like to have dinner with you, Marcus had said.
It sounded innocent enough. And for two weeks, she'd been playing this game with him — a game of stolen glances, vague intentions, and a purpose buried deep under layers of charm and manipulation. She wasn't sure what he truly wanted from her, but she knew what she wanted. Control. Power. Revenge. And maybe… something else she didn't want to name.
Dressed in a deep blue silk dress that hugged her curves perfectly, she arrived at his penthouse just as the sun dipped beneath the skyline. The security guard waved her through as if expecting her — which meant Marcus had planned this. She had barely stepped into the sleek marble foyer when she heard laughter coming from the living room.
Two male voices.
One was Marcus's — unmistakable, smooth with that low confidence only powerful men wore.
The second froze her where she stood.
Familiar.
Deep.
Masculine.
No…
Her heels clicked softly as she approached the open living room. She had half a mind to turn around and leave, but something pulled her in — curiosity or dread, she didn't know.
And then she saw him.
Caleb Ryker.
Sitting comfortably on the armrest of Marcus's expensive white couch, holding a glass of whiskey, his eyes crinkled with amusement at something Marcus had said. He looked completely at ease — like he belonged there. Like this wasn't some terrible mistake.
He hadn't seen her yet.
She froze in the hallway, her heart crashing against her ribs. Her first love. Her crush. The man she hadn't seen in years until that accidental bump at the gala. She'd thought that moment was fleeting — a ghost of the past showing up to test her resolve.
She never imagined he'd be here.
Marcus turned and smiled, the devil himself unaware of the chaos about to unfurl. "Alina," he said casually. "You're right on time."
Caleb turned toward her at the sound of her name. Their eyes locked.
His glass paused halfway to his lips.
"Alina," he said slowly, as if testing whether she was real or another hallucination of his memory.
Her breath caught.
She managed a small nod. "Caleb."
Marcus, sensing the tension, looked between them. "You two know each other?"
Alina forced a smile. "We've… crossed paths."
Caleb said nothing, but his gaze didn't leave her. His smile had vanished. He looked the same — only older, more refined. His jaw more defined, his body bulkier, but his eyes… those same dark, stormy eyes.
What were the odds? What kind of cosmic joke was this?
"I wasn't expecting company," she said, stepping into the room with careful grace.
Marcus chuckled, handing her a glass of wine. "You'll like this one. Caleb's my best friend. We've been close for over a decade now. He's practically my brother."
Brother?
Alina's grip tightened on the glass. She couldn't let the shock show on her face. Caleb didn't say anything, but she felt his stare burning through her as she sat across from them.
"So, how did you two meet?" Marcus asked casually, as he poured himself another drink.
Alina looked up, meeting Caleb's eyes. "It was a long time ago."
Caleb finally spoke. "High school."
Marcus raised a brow. "Interesting. I don't remember you mentioning her."
Caleb gave a nonchalant shrug. "You know I don't talk much about the past."
Alina tried not to choke on her wine. The tension in the room was now thick enough to slice through. She wanted to leave — to excuse herself and disappear before this got worse.
But leaving would make her look weak. And she wasn't weak.
Marcus went on, oblivious to the swirling undercurrents. "Anyway, I thought it'd be good for us all to meet. Caleb's been trying to pull me out of my own head lately. Says I've been working too hard."
"You have," Caleb added. "And you surround yourself with too many liars."
The words hit a little too sharp. Alina glanced at him — was that a warning?
She masked her discomfort with a chuckle. "Marcus? He's a walking lie detector."
"Not always," Caleb muttered.
Marcus laughed, brushing it off. "Well, it's a good thing I can read people."
Alina took a long sip of her wine. This was spiraling fast. Her plan, her calm control — it all felt suddenly fragile. She hadn't counted on Caleb being part of this. And now, she was sitting between two dangerously intelligent men — one who trusted her and one who once knew her too well.
After dinner, Marcus excused himself to take a business call. The moment he left, the silence between her and Caleb stretched unbearably.
"You planned this, didn't you?" she asked quietly.
"No," he said. "But maybe fate did."
"I don't believe in fate."
He leaned forward. "Then believe in second chances."
Her heart skipped. "This isn't what you think, Caleb."
"You don't even know what I think," he said, voice low. "But I know you. That bump at the gala? That wasn't accidental. I felt it."
Alina clenched her fists. "You're wrong."
"Maybe," he said, rising to his feet, walking toward her slowly. "But something tells me you're caught up in something… deep. Dangerous."
She looked up at him, her mask finally slipping. "Don't get involved."
"I already am," he whispered. "You can lie to Marcus. You can lie to yourself. But you can't lie to me, Alina."
Before she could respond, Marcus returned, cheerful and completely unaware. "Dinner's ready!"
Alina stood, forcing a smile. "Perfect."
But nothing was perfect. Everything was unraveling — and her plan had just become much more complicated.