Chapter 9: The First Betrayal

The days that followed Adriana’s disappearance were a blur. My mind was a chaotic mess of fear, anger, and suspicion.

Every moment was consumed with thoughts of where she could be, who had taken her, and why.

I barely slept, the shadows under my eyes growing darker by the day as I worked to keep Seraphina Luxe afloat while desperately searching for any trace of my friend.

The office buzzed with activity, the staff working harder than ever, sensing my stress but not knowing the true cause.

I had kept Adriana's disappearance a secret from most of them, only informing those who needed to know. I didn’t want to cause a panic, but the silence was killing me.

“Lila, have you heard anything new?” I asked, not even bothering to look up from my computer screen.

I had been glued to it for hours, combing through emails and messages, hoping for any lead that might help us find Adriana.

Lila hovered near my desk, looking as frazzled as I felt. She had been by my side since Adriana’s disappearance, helping me manage the chaos and search for answers. But today, she seemed different. Distracted.

“Sera, there’s something I need to tell you,” Lila said hesitantly.

I finally tore my eyes away from the screen to look at her, noticing the way her fingers fidgeted nervously at her sides. “What is it, Lila?”

She hesitated, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. “It’s about Max. And Adriana.”

My heart sank. “What about them?”

Lila took a deep breath, visibly steeling herself. “I think I know why Adriana disappeared. And…I’m afraid I’ve been keeping something from you.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, my patience wearing thin. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t want to tell you because I was scared. I thought I could handle it on my own, but…Sera, I’ve been feeding information to Max. About you. About Seraphina Luxe.”

I stared at her, my mind struggling to process her words. “What? Lila, what the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “I never wanted to betray you, but he gave me no choice. He’s been blackmailing me for months.”

“Blackmailing you? With what?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked away, shame written all over her face. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m the reason Max knows so much about your company, your plans, everything.

I thought I could keep him at bay, but after what happened with Adriana…I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer.”

My blood ran cold. Lila, my best friend, had been feeding information to Max? It felt like a knife to the heart, twisting painfully. “Why didn’t you come to me sooner? We could have figured something out together!”

“I was scared!” she cried, her voice breaking. “He threatened me, Sera. I thought I could handle it on my own, but he kept pushing for more. I’m so sorry.”

The betrayal cut deep, but there was something else in her eyes—desperation, fear, guilt.

She was hiding something. “Lila, what is he holding over you? Why would you betray me like this?”

She shook her head, biting her lip to keep from sobbing. “I can’t tell you. I wish I could, but I can’t.”

“Why the hell not?” I demanded, slamming my hand down on the desk in frustration. “Lila, I need to know. If you care about me at all, you’ll tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s not that simple,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “Please, Sera, try to understand. I never wanted to hurt you. I did it to protect you.”

“Protect me?” I scoffed, unable to believe what I was hearing. “How is feeding Max information about my company protecting me?”

“It’s complicated,” she said, her voice cracking. “I thought if I gave him what he wanted, he would leave you alone. But I was wrong.

He’s more dangerous than I realized. You have to be careful, Sera. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

I took a step back, reeling from the revelation. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything. “I trusted you, Lila. You were my best friend, and you betrayed me for him?”

“I didn’t have a choice!” she cried, her voice pleading. “He made it impossible for me to say no. I’m so sorry, Sera. I wish I could explain, but I can’t.”

I felt a surge of anger rise within me, my hands shaking with the intensity of it. “Get out,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Sera, please—”

“Get out!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the office.

Lila flinched as if I’d slapped her. She stared at me for a moment, her eyes filled with regret and sorrow.

Then, without another word, she turned and fled from the office, leaving me alone with my rage and confusion.

I sank into my chair, burying my face in my hands. How could she do this to me? To Seraphina Luxe? I had trusted her with everything, and she had betrayed me for Max Thorne.

The man who had turned my world upside down, who was responsible for Adriana’s disappearance. And now, I had no idea what to believe or who to trust.

My phone buzzed on the desk, jolting me from my thoughts. I picked it up, my heart racing as I saw the message.

Unknown Number: *Meet me at the old pier tonight at 9 PM. Come alone. I have information about Max Thorne and Adriana’s whereabouts.*

I stared at the message, my mind racing. Who was this? Could they be trusted? Or was this another trap set by Max? I had no idea, but I couldn’t afford to ignore it.

If there was even a chance of finding out where Adriana was, I had to take it.

I glanced at the clock on my computer screen. It was already past 7 PM. I didn’t have much time. Grabbing my purse and phone, I hurried out of the office, not bothering to tell anyone where I was going.

The drive to the pier was a blur, my mind consumed with thoughts of what I would find there.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles white as I navigated through the dark, empty streets.

When I finally arrived, the place was deserted, the only sounds were the lapping of the waves against the pier and the distant hum of the city.

I stepped out of my car, my heart pounding in my chest as I made my way to the end of the pier. The cold night air bit at my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. I scanned the area, looking for any sign of the person who had sent the message.

“Hello?” I called out, my voice echoing across the water. “Is anyone there?”

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, out of the shadows, a figure stepped forward, their face obscured by the darkness.

“Sera Devereaux?” a deep voice asked, tinged with a hint of an accent.

“Yes,” I replied, my pulse quickening. “Who are you? What do you know about Max and Adriana?”

The figure moved closer, stepping into the dim light of a streetlamp. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, his face partially hidden by a hood. “I’m someone who wants to help,” he said quietly. “But you need to know—Max Thorne isn’t just playing a game. He’s out for blood, and he’s not afraid to destroy anyone who gets in his way.”

I swallowed hard, my breath hitching in my throat. “What do you mean? What has he done with Adriana?”

The man hesitated, glancing around as if to make sure we were alone. “I don’t know exactly where she is, but I’ve heard things—things about Max and the way he operates. He’s ruthless, and if he thinks you’re a threat, he’ll do whatever it takes to eliminate you.”

“But why? Why would he see me as a threat?”

The man shook his head, his expression grim. “I can’t say for sure, but I think it has something to do with your company. Seraphina Luxe is more valuable than you realize, and Max wants it for himself. He’ll stop at nothing to get it.”

I clenched my fists, anger and fear bubbling up inside me. “Then why are you telling me this? What do you want?”

“I want to help you, Sera,” the man said earnestly. “But you have to promise me you’ll be careful. Don’t trust anyone—not even those closest to you.”

I thought of Lila, of her tearful confession and her refusal to explain why she had betrayed me. “I already know that,” I said bitterly.

The man nodded, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Good. Then maybe there’s still hope. I’ll be in touch, but for now, be on your guard. Max Thorne is a dangerous man, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

Before I could ask any more questions, the man turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me standing alone on the pier, my heart heavy with dread.

As I made my way back to my car, my mind raced with everything