<h4>Chapter 54: Trust is a Luxury</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    Sunlight filtered through the crack in the curtains, hitting my face with annoying precision. I fully woke up, propping myself to scan the empty hotel room. The digital clock on the nightstand read 12:07. The space beside me held only the ghost of his presence a slight depression in the mattress. Nothing more.


    Gone. Of course.


    I shouldn’t have felt disappointed.


    This was exactly what our arrangement entailed-no strings, no morning afters, no awkward goodbyes.


    I wrapped the sheet around myself and padded across the plush carpet to the window, yanking the curtains open with more force than necessary.


    Outside, the sun shone brilliantly—a rare perfect day.


    My phone buzzed on the nightstand.


    Rachel.


    "I’ll be there in fifteen minutes with clean clothes," she said when I answered.


    Rachel was nothing if not efficient. By the time she arrived, I’d managed to shower and wrap myself in one of the hotel’s luxurious robes.


    "Your wounds need attention," Rachel said, eyeing the red marks peeking out from beneath my robe’s cor. She set a garment bag on the bed and pulled a first aid kit from her purse. "The doctor said daily care is essential for proper healing."


    I sighed, letting the robe slip from my shoulders. The mirror across the room reflected angry red scratches and half-healed bruises-souvenirs from my desperate leap at Olympus Club.


    Rachel worked in silence, gently applying antiseptic spray to the worst of the marks. I winced as the cool mist hit a particrly tender spot.


    "Sorry," she murmured, her touch bing even lighter.


    I caught myself wondering if my anonymous lover had been put off by these marks. Had he seen them in the dark and found them repulsive? Was that why he’d left so abruptly?


    "How’s the investigation going?" I asked. "Any leads on who started that ridiculous betting pool?"


    Rachel’s expression darkened as she uncapped the scar cream. "The situation has escted. The pot is now up to two million dors."


    "Two million?" I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice. "For who gets to sleep with me first? I had no idea my stock was trading so high."


    The sarcasm didn’t disguise my disgust. The whole thing was repulsive -men treating me like some raremodity to be imed, as if my body were separate from my mind, my aplishments, my very personhood.


    "This is deliberate," Rachel said, her hands stilling on my shoulder.


    "Someone is systematically working to destroy your reputation."


    "Samuel Griffin," she added, her voice hardening. "After what happened at the g, he has every reason to want revenge."


    I shook my head, pulling on the blouse she’d brought. "It’s not Samuel."


    "How can you be so sure?" Rachel asked


    I, clearly surprised by mycertainty.


    "Because Samuel’s focus right now is on whoever drugged him. That’s his priority." I buttoned my blouse, thinking aloud. "Besides, if Samuel wanted revenge on me specifically, he’d be demanding I delete that video I took of him in his...promised state."


    I moved to the window again, watching the city below as I gathered my thoughts. "No, whoever’s behind this doesn’t just want revenge. They want to systematically destroy my reputation."


    "Lucy Taylor," Rachel suggested quietly.


    The name hung in the air between us.


    I didn’t immediately respond, weighing the possibility.


    "It fits," Rachel pressed. "She has the motive. She wants to eliminate youpletely from Jack’s life. Make him ashamed to have ever been associated with you."


    "Maybe," I conceded. "But does she have the influence to orchestrate


    something of this scale? To get so many people in Skyview City involved?


    That seems... beyond her capabilities."


    Unless, of course, she had help. Unless she was operating with the backing of the Simpson family. Unless Jack himself was involved.


    After lunch, my phone rang—it was Samuel calling.


    "I hear you’ve be quite the hotmodity in Skyview City. Two million dors just to get you into bed —impressive valuation," Samuel said with a dark chuckle.


    I gripped my pen tighter, maintaining control of my voice. "Mr. Griffin. To what do I owe this unexpected...


    pleasure?"


    "I’m calling about our unfinished business." His tone turned menacing.


    "You have something of mine. I ratherpromising video, I believe."


    I leaned back in my chair, a small smile ying at my lips despite the tension. "Ah, so you’ve remembered.


    How are you feeling, by the way? Still in recovery from your... condition?"


    "Careful, Ms. Shaw," he warned, though I could hear the edge in his voice. "You might not want to provoke a man who’s been medically prohibited from certain activities. The frustration builds up."


    "Is that a threat, Mr. Griffin?" I kept my tone light, almost yful. "Because it sounds more like a personal problem to me. Perhaps you could try yoga? I hear it’s excellent for redirecting energy."


    His breath hissed across the line. "You think you’re so clever."


    "I don’t think it, Mr. Griffin. I know it." I examined my manicure casually, enjoying the way I could picture his face reddening with anger. "Now, was there an actual purpose to this call, or did you just miss the sound of my voice?"


    "Delete the video."


    "And why would I do that?" I asked innocently. "It’s my insurance policy.


    My protection against whatever vengeful scheme you might be plotting."


    "Because I have something you want more." His voice changed, became calmer, more calcting. "Information.


    About who’s been systematically destroying your reputation across Skyview City."


    The pen in my hand stilled. For a moment, I said nothing, recalibrating.


    "You’re suggesting a trade?" I finally asked, careful to keep any eagerness from my voice.


    "Precisely. You delete your little insurance policy, and I’ll tell you exactly who’s orchestrating this betting pool, who nted those photos, who’s been working behind the scenes to ruin your reputation."


    Anna’s POV


    My car tires crunched over the gravel driveway as we approached Samuel Griffin’s newly acquired mansion in Skyview City. Several men in ck suits patrolled the area, their watchful eyes professionally monitoring our arrival.


    As we neared the entrance, a security guard stepped forward to block our path. "Ms. Shaw and party?" he asked, his tone clipped and formal. When I nodded, he spoke into his wrist microphone and then gestured for us to follow him along the side of the house.


    Samuel Griffin was lounging by the pool on a chaise lounge, his lean body stretched out like a cat in the sun.


    Despite our arrival, he didn’t even bother opening his eyes, this deliberate disy of indifference making my jaw clench.


    "Mr. Griffin," I said, my voice carrying across the patio.


    Samuel finally opened one eye, azy smile spreading across his face. "Ms. Shaw. You’re punctual. I like that quality in a woman." He gestured to the empty chair beside him. "Please, make yourselffortable."


    I remained standing, with Rachel and Sean nking me like sentinels. "I prefer to keep this brief. You said you had information about who’s behind... the recent events."


    Samuel chuckled, sitting up and reaching for a ss of amber liquid on the side table. "So businesslike, Anna.


    May I call you Anna? After all, you did help me."


    His deliberate provocation made my jaw tighten, but I kept my expression neutral. "The video, Mr. Griffin. Let’s discuss the terms of our exchange."


    His smile disappeared, reced by something more predatory and menacing. "Fine, straight to business then. Very well." He set down his ss with a decisive click. "You first. Delete the video-both copies."


    I raised an eyebrow. "Both?"


    "Don’t y innocent," Samuel’s voice dropped to a dangerous low. "I know your assistant has a copy too."


    I maintained myposure. With a slight nod to Rachel, I pulled out my phone. Rachel did the same. We both navigated to the video, showed Samuel the screen, and deleted it.


    "There," I said coolly. "Deleted. Now your part of the bargain."


    Samuel’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. "How do I know there aren’t other copies?"


    "You’ll just have to trust me," I replied, unable to keep a hint of mockery from my voice.


    Heughed, a short, sharp sound.


    "Trust you? That would be foolish." He sat forward, his posture suddenly more alert. "But I’m a man of my word, unlike some people I could name. You fulfilled your part, so I’ll fulfill mine."


    Samuel snapped his fingers, and two security guards appeared from a side entrance. Between them, they half-dragged a man whose face was so bloodied and swollen it was barely recognizable. They dumped him unceremoniously on the patio like a sack of garbage.


    I involuntarily took a step back, shocked by the sight. The man moaned, barely conscious, blood seeping from cuts on his face and hands.


    "What the hell is this?" I demanded, shifting my gaze away from the man, afraid I might faint. "Who is he?"


    Samuel smiled, clearly enjoying my difort. "This, Anna, is your answer. Meet the mastermind behind your recent... public rtions issues.He only gave up a name after my men beat him for half an hour. Jared Wood, do you know him?"


    Sean said quietly beside me. "Lucy Taylor’s assistant."


    The realization hit me like a physical blow. Lucy. Of course. Who else would have such a personal vendetta against me?


    "That’s right," Samuel confirmed, standing up to circle the prone man like a shark. "Mr. Wood here has been quite busy. Setting up betting pools, spreading rumors, ensuring everyone in Skyview City’s social scene had something nasty to say about Anna Shaw."


    I should have left then-taken my information and walked away. But something else was gnawing at me, a question that needed answering.


    "What about the charity g?" I asked, watching Samuel’s expression carefully.


    "Who drugged you that night?"


    Samuel’s eyes shed with genuine anger. "Ah, you remembered that little detail. I’m touched by your concern." He turned away, pacing alongside the pool. "Initially, I suspected George Simpson. It would be just like him to try to force my hand in the Skke District negotiations."


    "And?" I prompted when he fell silent.


    "It wasn’t George," Samuel’s frustration was palpable. "A dead end. No trail, no evidence." He gestured dismissively toward Jared. "Instead, I found the man behind the betting pool, which actually helped you."


    As I studied Samuel’s face, I realized he was telling the truth. Whatever was happening in Skyview City went beyond the obvious yers. If Samuel Griffin with all his resources couldn’t uncover who drugged him, then we were dealing with someone particrly skilled at covering their tracks.


    My mind raced, considering the possibilities. It wasn’t the Murphy family-William was far too honorable for such tactics, and Phillip was respected enough that he didn’t need to resort to underhanded methods.


    There was another yer in this game -someone lurking beneath the surface, manipting events from the shadows. Who could it be?


    As if reading my thoughts, Samuel let out a derisiveugh. "Skyview City is getting more interesting by the day.


    The waters are much deeper than I imagined." He fixed his gaze on me with calcted intensity. "Ms. Shaw, perhaps you should reconsider my offer. What do you say we work together?"


    The warning bells in my head immediately started ringing. This man had already used me once, and now here he was with that practiced smile, offering partnership again. What was his angle this time?


    I suppressed a coldugh.


    *Partnership? More likely he’s looking for a human shield.* Did he really think I’d fall for the same trick twice?


    "I’m ttered by your interest, Mr. Griffin," I replied, maintaining a polite but distant smile. "Unfortunately, Shaw Corp simply doesn’t have the capacity to meaningfully coborate with a business giant like Heritage Group." I gestured vaguely with one hand.


    "We’re simply not in the same league.


    Thank you for your hospitality, but I should be going."


    Samuel’s smile remained fixed, but something shed behind his eyes— disappointment? Annoyance? It was gone too quickly to identify.


    "You’re selling yourself short, Ms. Shaw," he said, rising from his chair as I gathered my purse. "Few business leaders in Skyview City have your... particr talents."


    There was something unsettling about the way he emphasized thatst word, but I kept my expression neutral.


    "You’re too kind. I’ll show myself out."


    As I walked to the door, I could feel his gaze boring into my back like aser. It took every ounce of willpower not to increase my pace, not to betray the uneasiness crawling up my spine. I didn’t look back.


    Once safely in my car, I let the carefully constructed mask drop.


    "Where’s Lucy?" I asked, my voice now stripped of all the politeness I’d forced into it minutes earlier.


    Rachel responded immediately: "I just confirmed she’s currently at the Simpson residence, having afternoon tea with Mary Simpson."


    I nodded, processing this information.


    "Go to the Simpson house," I instructed, my tone leaving no room for debate.