Mirror Crown
I sat in the spacious office, sipping my latte, but my mind wasn't on the business meetings that had filled my day. No, it was on him. Christian. Or, at least, the version of him I thought I knew.
Ever since that night at the restaurant, everything had shifted. He was different. He was more confident, more decisive. I'd been expecting him to be some spoiled heir who did everything with ease because it was expected of him. But that wasn't him anymore. I had seen something else—something far deeper.
But there were still so many unanswered questions.
The way he had stood up for me, how he had taken control of Valtessa—it was like he was a man with a plan, with a purpose. But why hadn't he said anything about it before? Why had he kept so many secrets?
I shook my head, taking another sip of my drink. I couldn't deny how drawn I was to him now. Not because of his power or the way he'd managed to secure a future for me and the company, but because of how real he seemed in that moment. When he wasn't hiding behind the name Christian Black.
But, then again… who was Christian Black? Was I even in love with the man I thought he was, or had I fallen for a lie?
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was a message from Christian.
"I'm picking you up at 8 tonight. Dinner. No excuses. Wear that dress you love."
I stared at the message for a long time, my heart skipping a beat at the casual tone. He had no idea what he was doing to me. He was still playing the game, even now, but I couldn't help but smile. That dress? He remembered. It was one of my favorites—a deep red, the one that made me feel powerful and beautiful at the same time.
But there was still that voice in my head, whispering doubts. What was he really after? Why was he being so generous now? Why had he not told me the truth? I thought back to what he'd said that night—the words about taking control, buying Valtessa, even offering to give me half. Did he really care for me, or was this all part of some grand scheme?
I needed answers.
I couldn't keep going along with this charade, no matter how good it felt to be with him. The stakes were too high. My family's legacy was in my hands. And now, my heart felt like it was hanging in the balance between the man I thought I knew and the man he might really be.
The door to my office opened, and my assistant walked in with a set of documents. "The legal team has sent over the finalized paperwork for the Valtessa acquisition," she said, handing me the thick folder.
I nodded, distracted, glancing back at my phone. "I'll look at them later. I'm meeting Christian for dinner tonight."
She raised an eyebrow. "You still haven't asked him about Valtessa? You're just letting him handle it?"
I gave a sharp, frustrated sigh. "He's in control now. Whether I like it or not, he's calling the shots."
My assistant didn't say anything. She just stood there, as if weighing her words, before speaking softly. "Be careful, Tasha. There's more at play than you think. If you're not sure about him, now is the time to find out."
Her words hung in the air long after she left, leaving me even more unsure. But one thing was certain—I couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine.
That night, when Christian showed up to pick me up, I couldn't shake the feeling that the man I was stepping into the car with wasn't the same person I'd met weeks ago. And maybe… that was okay.
But I had to find out who he really was. Before this whole thing spiraled out of control.
The ride to the restaurant was smooth and quiet, but the tension between us was thick, palpable. I wanted to ask him everything—about his plans, about Valtessa, about why he was suddenly so different. But I held back. Tonight wasn't the time. It was supposed to be a chance to enjoy his company. Just the two of us.
But I couldn't stop thinking about the secrets.
I had no idea where this was going. But I knew one thing for sure: the Christian Black I thought I knew—he was gone.
And the man sitting next tome? He was someone I still needed to figure out.