Chapter 4 - THE HOUSE BEHIND THE GATES
Nathaniel's estate was nothing like I expected.
It wasn't dark.
It wasn't covered in armed men.
It was enormous, yes, but elegant.
Stone walls.
Tall windows.
Warm lights.
A garden stretching toward the lake.
I stood in the foyer.
“You live here?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
“Family?”
“Staff.”
He took off his jacket.
I was still wearing his coat.
He looked at it.
“You can keep that tonight.”
“I can't.”
“You're shaking.”
I looked down.
My hands were trembling.
I hadn't noticed.
Nathaniel stepped closer.
“Sit.”
I obeyed.
A woman in her fifties brought tea.
She smiled at me.
“You must be Elena.”
I blinked.
“How does everyone know my name?”
Nathaniel answered from behind me.
“Because I don't bring strangers into my home.”
The woman nodded.
“I'm Mrs. Bennett.”
She disappeared.
I looked at Nathaniel.
“You're very controlling.”
“Yes.”
“At least you're honest.”
He almost smiled.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I stared at the screen.
Nathaniel watched me.
“Answer it.”
“Why?”
“Because he's scared.”
I accepted.
“Hello?”
“Elena?”
His voice trembled.
“Daniel, where are you?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
“They came after me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
I closed my eyes.
“Did you know about my father?”
Silence.
“Daniel.”
“Yes.”
My heart cracked.
“How long?”
“Months.”
“You used me.”
“I didn't mean to.”
“You kissed me.”
“I know.”
“You told me you cared.”
“I did.”
“Then why?”
“Because I needed access to the records.”
I swallowed.
“And after?”
He hesitated.
“I fell in love with you.”
I almost laughed.
“You don't get to say that now.”
“I know.”
“Where are you?”
“Warehouse seventeen.”
Nathaniel took the phone.
“Stay where you are.”
Daniel went silent.
Nathaniel's voice hardened.
“If anyone approaches you, run.”
He ended the call.
I stared.
“You believe him?”
“I believe he's afraid.”
“Is that the same thing?”
“No.”
He sat opposite me.
“Get some sleep.”
“I can't.”
“You need to.”
“What about Daniel?”
“My men will find him.”
“And if they don't?”
Nathaniel looked at me.
“They will.”
I stood.
“Why do you care so much?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Then:
“Because when I saw you tonight, you looked exactly like someone who was about to be destroyed by people who believed they owned the room.”
My throat tightened.
“You don't know me.”
“No.”
He stood.
“But I know what it feels like.”
I looked away.
“Daniel humiliated me.”
“Yes.”
“I feel stupid.”
“You shouldn't.”
“I believed him.”
“That isn't stupidity.”
“What is it?”
“Trust.”
I looked at him.
“What's the difference?”
“Trust becomes stupidity only after someone proves they don't deserve it.”
I smiled sadly.
“You've thought about this.”
“Too much.”
We stood in silence.
Then Nathaniel's phone rang.
He listened.
His eyes hardened.
“Bring him here.”
He hung up.
“Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Can I see him?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because right now you're exhausted.”
He walked toward the stairs.
Then stopped.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
He looked back.
“The reason Daniel targeted you isn't just your father's records.”
“What is it?”
Nathaniel's voice became quiet.
“You inherited something.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“A trust.”
“From my father?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Twenty-eight million dollars.”
I stared.
May you like
Nathaniel added:
“And whoever killed your father has spent fifteen years trying to find it.”
