Chapter 5: The Mentor’s Warning

I felt a strange mix of relief and apprehension as I walked into the cozy café where I was meeting Malcolm. It had been a while since we last spoke, and after the cryptic messages and emails from Max, I needed someone I could trust.

Malcolm had been more than a mentor to me; he was like a second father. He was the one who helped me navigate the treacherous waters of the fashion industry when I first started Seraphina Luxe.

As I spotted him sitting at our usual corner table, his face buried in a newspaper, a wave of nostalgia hit me. He looked the same as always: sharply dressed, salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed back, and those piercing blue eyes that always seemed to see right through me.

“Malcolm!” I called out, a smile breaking across my face as I approached him.

He glanced up from his paper, a warm smile spreading across his features. “Sera, darling! It’s so good to see you.”

We hugged briefly, and I slid into the seat opposite him. He folded the paper and set it aside, his expression turning serious almost instantly.

“What’s on your mind, Sera? You sounded worried on the phone.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s Max Thorne. He’s…he’s interested in my company, but it doesn’t feel right. He’s been sending these proposals, emails, and messages. It feels more like a hostile takeover than a genuine partnership.”

Malcolm’s face darkened at the mention of Max’s name. “I was afraid of this,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair. “Max Thorne is not a man to be taken lightly. His business practices are… questionable, to say the least.”

I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “What do you mean? What do you know about him?”

Malcolm hesitated for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “I’ve heard rumors, Sera. Rumors about his ruthless tactics in the business world.

They say he doesn’t just eliminate his competition; he destroys them. He digs into their past, finds their weaknesses, and exploits them. And if that doesn’t work, he buys them out, taking control of everything they’ve built.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “But why would he be interested in me? My company is small compared to his empire.”

Malcolm sighed, taking a sip of his coffee. “Max doesn’t just see a business opportunity in Seraphina Luxe; he sees a challenge. He’s intrigued by you, by your independence and your success. And that makes you a target.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “There’s more, isn’t there? What aren’t you telling me?”

He hesitated again, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. “There’s something you need to know, Sera. Something about your father.”

My heart skipped a beat. “My father? What about him?”

Malcolm leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know the details, but there were whispers about your father’s dealings with Max years ago.

Something happened between them, something that ended badly. Max has a vendetta against your family, and I think he’s using your company to get to you.”

I stared at him, stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I didn’t think it would matter. Your father’s past was his own, and I didn’t want to burden you with it. But now, with Max’s interest in you, I’m afraid it’s more relevant than ever.”

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. “Do you think Max knows something about my father’s past that I don’t?”

Malcolm nodded slowly. “I think it’s very likely. And if he does, he’ll use it to manipulate you, to control you.”

A cold fear gripped me as I realized just how deep this went. Max wasn’t just interested in my company; he was interested in me. And he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

“Thank you for telling me this, Malcolm,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, Sera. Max Thorne is a dangerous man, and he doesn’t play fair. Don’t trust him. Don’t let him get close to you.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand. “I promise.”

As we finished our coffee and prepared to leave, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Malcolm seemed distracted, his eyes darting around the café as if he were looking for someone.

“Are you okay?” I asked, concerned.

He forced a smile. “I’m fine, Sera. Just…be careful, okay?”

I nodded, giving him one last hug before we went our separate ways. As I walked back to my car, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Malcolm had said.

What could Max possibly know about my father? And why would he go to such lengths to get to me?

Later that evening, I decided to give Malcolm a call, hoping to get more answers. But when I dialed his number, it went straight to voicemail. I tried again, with the same result.

A sense of unease settled over me as I tried his office number, only to be told by his secretary that he had left for the day. I frowned, my worry growing with each unanswered call.

The next morning, I woke up to a flurry of text messages and missed calls from mutual friends and colleagues, all asking if I had heard from Malcolm.

My heart pounded in my chest as I read through the messages, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach.

Malcolm was missing.

Panic surged through me as I tried calling him again, but there was still no answer. I paced my apartment, trying to make sense of everything.

What had happened to him after our meeting? Did someone find out about our conversation? Had Max already made his move?

I grabbed my coat and headed out the door, determined to find out what had happened to Malcolm. I refused to believe that this was just a coincidence. He had warned me about Max, and now he was gone.

As I drove to his office, my mind raced with possibilities. Had he gone into hiding? Or worse, had something happened to him because he had tried to warn me?

When I arrived at Malcolm’s office, I was met with more questions than answers. His secretary looked worried as she told me he hadn’t come in that morning and hadn’t called to say he would be late. His car was still parked in his usual spot, but there was no sign of him.

I decided to check his home next, hoping that he had just needed some time alone to clear his head. But when I arrived, his house was dark, and there was no answer when I rang the doorbell.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, hoping it was Malcolm. But instead, it was a text from that same unknown number from before.

Unknown Number: *You’re getting too close, Sera. Leave it alone, or you’ll end up just like him.*

I stared at the message, my blood running cold. Who was this person? How did they know so much about me? And more importantly, what did they mean by “end up just like him”?

I tried calling the number back, but it went straight to voicemail. I was starting to feel like I was trapped in a nightmare, with no way out. Malcolm was gone, and I was left with more questions than answers.

As I sat in my car, staring at my phone, I realized that I was in way over my head. Max Thorne was playing a dangerous game, and I was right in the middle of it.

I didn’t know what had happened to Malcolm, but I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t going to let Max or whoever was behind these messages scare me off. I would find out the truth, no matter what it took.

But as I drove away from Malcolm’s house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I glanced in my rearview mirror, half-expecting to see a dark car following me.

There was nothing there, but the feeling of unease remained. I knew I had to be careful, but I couldn’t let fear control me.

As I pulled onto the highway, heading back towards the city, I made a silent vow to myself: I would find out what happened to Malcolm, and I would make Max Thorne pay for whatever part he had played in this.

But deep down, I knew that the game was only just beginning—and I had no idea what I was up against.

And that was the most terrifying part of all.