Chapter 5

The night deepened, the city below humming with life as Donna sat by the window, her mind a storm of thoughts. The cold glass pressed against her fingertips, grounding her in the midst of her turmoil. She had to focus-had to figure out her next move.

Every encounter with Conner left her more tangled in his web. Every word Victoria had spoken echoed in her mind, each warning laced with a venom that hinted at something far more dangerous beneath the surface. Donna needed to know what she was up against, and for that, she needed information.

She rose from the chair, her bare feet silent against the hardwood floor as she made her way to the door. The penthouse was quiet, the kind of stillness that felt deliberate, like the calm before a storm.

Donna stepped into the hallway, her pulse quickening. She had no idea where Conner was, but she hoped the vastness of the place would keep him far from her. She moved cautiously, her eyes scanning every corner as she made her way toward his office.

She'd noticed it earlier-a room with heavy wooden doors and an air of secrecy that seemed to seep from its very walls. If there were answers to be found, they would be in there.

Reaching the office, Donna hesitated. Her hand hovered over the door handle, her heart pounding in her chest. What if Conner caught her? What if Victoria's warnings weren't just cryptic threats but promises of what would happen if she crossed a line?

Shaking off her fear, she pushed the door open, slipping inside. The room was dimly lit, the glow of the city skyline casting long shadows across the polished mahogany desk and leather chairs.

Donna moved quickly, her hands trembling as she rifled through the papers on Conner's desk. Most of it was business-related-contracts, financial statements, the kind of information that spoke of a man who wielded power like a weapon. But it wasn't what she was looking for.

She pulled open a drawer, her breath catching when she saw a small, leather-bound journal tucked inside. Her fingers closed around it, and she flipped it open, scanning the pages.

The entries were short, cryptic, but they painted a picture of a man consumed by control and vengeance. There were mentions of her father, notes about debts owed and betrayals that couldn't be forgiven.

And then there was her name.

Donna froze, her eyes locked on the words written in Conner's precise handwriting.

"Donna Kent-leverage. A pawn in the game. But unpredictable. Dangerous."

Her stomach twisted as she read the words. To Conner, she wasn't a person. She was a tool, a means to an end.

"Looking for something, Donna?"

Her head snapped up, and the journal fell from her hands as Conner stepped into the room. His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes burned with fury.

"I-" she stammered, taking a step back. "I was just-"

"Spare me the excuses," he said coldly, closing the door behind him. "You don't think I noticed the moment you stepped out of your room? This is my house, Donna. Nothing happens here without my knowledge."

Donna clenched her fists, her fear giving way to anger. "Then why let me come here? Why let me see this?"

Conner strode toward her, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. "Because I wanted you to understand something."

He stopped a foot away, his towering presence suffocating. "You think you're playing a game, Donna. You think you can outmaneuver me. But you can't. Every move you make, every step you take-I see it. And I will always be two steps ahead."

Donna met his gaze, her chin lifting defiantly. "You don't own me, Conner."

His lips curved into a dark smile. "Oh, but I do. You belong to me, whether you like it or not. And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for you."

She refused to back down, even as her heart raced. "You don't scare me."

"Good," he said softly, his voice a dangerous whisper. "Because fear isn't what I want from you, Donna. What I want is obedience."

She shook her head, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her. "You'll never get it."

Conner's smile faded, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something else in his eyes-something almost vulnerable. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the hardened mask he always wore.

"We'll see," he said, turning and walking to his desk. He picked up the journal, slipping it back into the drawer before locking it with a key.

As he turned back to her, his expression was unreadable. "Go back to your room, Donna. And don't ever try this again."

She hesitated, her fists still clenched at her sides. "What are you going to do to my father?"

Conner's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer. Instead, he gestured toward the door.

"Go," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Donna glared at him for a moment longer before turning and walking out of the office. Her mind raced as she made her way back to her room. She didn't know what Conner's next move would be, but she knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going to play by his rules.

If he thought he could control her, he was in for a rude awakening.