Chapter 5 - The Secret Behind Tyler’s Lies
Tyler Bennett thought money could solve everything.
That was his mistake.
He sat across from his lawyer in a private office, tapping his fingers against the table.
"You said this would disappear."
The lawyer avoided his eyes.
"It was supposed to."
Tyler's jaw tightened.
"Supposed to?"
The lawyer lowered his voice.
"You don't understand who you crossed."
Tyler laughed bitterly.
"Some rich guy?"
"No."
The lawyer looked serious.
"You crossed Gideon Lockach."
The room went silent.
Tyler stopped moving.
"You know him?"
"Everyone knows him."
"He's just a businessman."
The lawyer shook his head.
"That's what people say when they want to sleep at night."
Tyler leaned forward.
"What is he?"
The lawyer looked around before answering.
"A man you don't threaten."
Meanwhile, Harper sat in Gideon's office for the first time.
She expected something cold.
Something intimidating.
Instead, she found books.
Family photographs.
A quiet room.
A man who seemed completely different from the rumors.
"You don't look like someone people fear."
Gideon looked up from his documents.
"That's usually the point."
Harper smiled slightly.
"Do you enjoy people being afraid of you?"
"No."
The answer surprised her.
"Then why?"
"Because fear is sometimes the only language certain people understand."
Harper looked at him.
"But you helped me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Gideon closed the file.
"Because someone should have."
The simplicity of the answer stayed with her.
Then Samson entered.
"Mr. Lockach."
Gideon looked up.
"Tyler's connection has been identified."
Harper immediately became tense.
"Who?"
Samson placed a folder down.
"His employer."
Gideon opened it.
His expression changed.
Harper noticed.
"Who is it?"
Gideon looked at the papers.
Then at her.
"The company that owns your apartment building."
Her face went pale.
"What?"
"Tyler wasn't randomly abusive."
Gideon closed the folder.
"He was protected."
Harper felt cold.
"Why?"
Gideon stared at the information.
"Because someone wanted you silent."
"About what?"
A long silence followed.
Then Gideon said:
"Your father."
Harper froze.
"My father?"
"You were told he died because of an accident."
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Gideon's eyes hardened.
"It wasn't an accident."
The room went silent.
Harper stared at him.
"What are you saying?"
Gideon leaned forward.
"I'm saying Tyler wasn't the beginning of your nightmare."
A pause.
"He was only the person standing closest to you."
Harper's breathing became uneven.
For two years, she thought she knew the truth.
Now everything she believed was falling apart.
And the only person standing beside her...
Was the most dangerous man in the city.
Gideon Lockach.
The stranger who answered her message.
May you like
The man who saved her life.
And possibly the only person who could reveal why someone wanted her destroyed.
