Chapter 4

Martina Romano stepped into the sleek, modern lobby of TrueLine Investigations, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. The large glass doors behind her swung shut with a quiet hiss, sealing out the noise of the bustling city. TrueLine’s logo, a minimalist design in chrome, glinted above the reception desk. Martina barely glanced at it as she made her way to the elevator.

The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, pressing the button for the top floor leading to the board room directly. As the elevator ascended, Martina adjusted the strap of her handbag on her shoulder, her thoughts racing. The article she had published the night before had set off a storm, and she knew today's meeting would be intense.

When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, Martina took a deep breath before stepping out of the elevator and into the executive conference room of TrueLine Investigations.

The boardroom, with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a beautiful view of the city, was already filled with the company’s top executives and key team members.

As she walked in, conversations hushed, and all eyes turned to her. Martina felt a surge of confidence and nervousness at the same time. She was well aware of the impact her article had made, and she was certain some people in the company didn't agree with her published article, but she was prepared to defend her work.

Richard Blake, her boss, sat at the head of the long, sleek table. He gave her a nod, gesturing to an empty seat near him. Martina made her way to it, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She placed her notepad and pen on the table, ready to dive into the meeting.

"Thank you for joining us, Martina," Richard began, his tone formal but respectful. "As you're all aware, an article was published last night that has caused quite a stir. The article included some very sensitive information about the Saviano family and, notably, had Martina's image attached to it."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. The room remained silent, all eyes fixed on Martina. Richard turned to her, his expression serious. "Martina, did you publish that article?"

Martina took a deep breath, meeting Richard's gaze steadily. "Yes, I did."

The room erupted into a flurry of whispers and hushed conversations. Executives leaned towards each other, discussing in low tones. Martina could feel the mix of shock, concern, and curiosity radiating from her colleagues.

Richard raised his hand, calling for order. "Quiet, please." The room gradually fell silent again. He turned his attention back to Martina. "Martina, can you explain why you chose to publish it without consulting us first?"

Martina straightened her shoulders, her voice calm and confident. "I understand the risks and the implications of my actions. But the information I uncovered was too important to withhold. The public has a right to know about the illegal activities of the Saviano family. I took measures to ensure the article was accurate and backed by credible evidence."

As Martina opened her mouth to continue speaking, the door to the boardroom burst open. Ares Saviano strode in, flanked by two of his men and Antonio. The room fell into a stunned silence. The air grew thick with tension, and everyone’s eyes were on Ares, their faces pale with fear.

Ares clapped his hands, the sound sharp and commanding. "Well, well," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "What do we have here?"

Martina froze in her seat, her heart pounding. She had expected repercussions, but she hadn’t anticipated Ares himself showing up at her workplace.

"Get up," Antonio ordered one of the older executives. The man didn't hesitate for a moment, he stood, clearly terrified. Ares sauntered over and took the man's seat at the table, his presence dominating the room.

"Now," Ares said, his voice calm but lethal, "let's have a real discussion." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small handgun, placing it on the table in front of him. The metallic clink echoed in the silent room, and everyone stiffened, eyes wide with fear.

Martina's breath caught in her throat. She forced herself to stay composed, but her heart raced. The other executives looked at each other, their faces pale and anxious.

Richard, trying to regain some control, stood up and cleared his throat. "Mr. Saviano, this is unnecessary. We can discuss this matter without threats."

Ares smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, I don't make threats, Mr. Blake. I make promises." He pointed to the empty chair Richard had vacated. "Now, sit down and avoid getting your head blown off."

Richard hesitated, his face a mask of defiance and fear. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Finally, Richard sat down, his movements slow and deliberate, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

"That's better," Ares said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. He glanced around the table, his eyes finally resting on Martina.

Martina swallowed hard, her heart pounding. She met Ares' gaze, unable to look away. His eyes were dark and intense, filled with a mixture of anger and something else she couldn't quite place.

Ares stared back at her, his mind racing. There was something familiar about her. As he looked closer, he remembered seeing her at the party last night. She had been in the corner, watching everything with keen eyes.

Martina's breath caught in her throat as she realized he recognized her. The tension between them was palpable, a silent battle of wills. She forced herself to stay composed, even though every instinct screamed at her to get up and run.

Ares' smirk widened as a sinister idea formed in his mind. He leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Martina's. "Tell me, Miss Romano, was it because we slept together last night and I refused to take you seriously that you decided to publish that ridiculous article?"

Martina's eyes widened in shock, and the room erupted into murmurs. Executives exchanged confused and scandalized looks, their whispers filling the air.

Martina's face flushed with anger. "What?" she managed to say, her voice rising with anger.

Ares leaned back in his chair, his smirk unfaltering. "Oh, don't pretend, Martina. We both know what happened last night. Weren't you at my mother's party last night?"

The room erupted with murmurs again, everyone’s eyes darting between Martina and Ares. Richard, trying to regain some control, stood up once more. "Mr. Saviano, these accusations are completely unfounded. Martina is a professional, and your attempt to discredit her is appalling."

Ares' eyes narrowed as he reached for his gun. Richard swallowed hard, the words dying in his throat, and he immediately sat down. The room went silent, tension crackling in the air.

Ares fixed his gaze on Martina. "Answer my damn question. Weren't you at my house last night?"

Martina swallowed nervously, her heart pounding. She gritted her teeth, knowing Ares was about to ruin her plans. Lying would only make things worse. She managed a small nod.

A collective gasp filled the room. Executives stared in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"See?" Ares said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Now tell everyone why you decided to post that article."

Martina's face burned with humiliation and fury. "I was there to gather information for my story, nothing more. Yes, I saw you but it was only at the party, I didn't even speak to you. So these accusations of yours are baseless," she said, her voice shaking but determined.

Ares leaned forward, his smirk returning. "Oh, really? Was this before we fucked in my study or after?"

Martina glared at him, anger seething beneath her calm exterior. How dare he say such nonsense about her in front of everyone? "I would rather die than have you touch me," she spat out, her voice filled with defiance.

Ares chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent shivers down her spine. He stood up, his eyes never leaving hers. "Oh, Martina," he said, his voice dripping with mockery, "I'm going to let you off this time because you were a good fuck last night. But next time, if you try something like this again, I will have my men chop off those beautiful fingers of yours."

The room went deathly silent. The other executives sat frozen, too scared to move or speak. Martina's heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to show fear. She held Ares' gaze, her jaw clenched in anger and frustration.

Ares leaned in close, his voice a whisper but still deadly. "Remember that. You only get one warning."

With that, he turned and strode out of the room, his men following close behind. The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving the room in stunned silence.