The Trap is Set

The city skyline blurred outside Natalia’s window, the lights streaking into neon smudges as the car sped through the streets. She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her fingers curled into tight fists in her lap. Damon drove in silence, his grip firm on the wheel, his expression unreadable.

Her world had shifted in the past hour. Everything she thought she knew had been a lie.

Langley had been the true orchestrator behind her family’s downfall, not Damon. The man she had spent years planning to destroy wasn’t her real enemy. The one she never saw coming was.

She forced herself to process. To push past the raw anger and confusion burning in her chest. If Langley had been pulling the strings from the start, then his recent move wasn’t a coincidence.

He wanted her to know the truth.

That meant one thing—he was setting a trap.

And she was about to walk into it.

Damon pulled into an underground parking garage beneath one of his private properties. The moment the engine shut off, Natalia turned to him, her voice sharp. “You should have told me the truth earlier.”

He exhaled, resting his hands on the steering wheel for a moment before looking at her. “You weren’t ready to hear it.”

She scoffed. “That wasn’t your choice to make.”

Damon’s jaw tightened. “It was if it meant keeping you alive.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine. As much as she wanted to be angry, to lash out at him for withholding the truth, she couldn’t ignore the fact that he had been right. If he had told her before, she wouldn’t have believed him. She would have kept charging forward, blind and reckless.

And Langley would have been waiting.

She took a breath, forcing herself to focus. “We need to move first. We can’t let Langley control the board.”

Damon studied her, his eyes searching. Then, he nodded. “Agreed.”

They stepped out of the car, the sound of their heels echoing in the empty garage. The tension between them was thick—unspoken, charged with too many emotions neither of them wanted to address.

Damon led her into the elevator, swiping a keycard. The doors slid shut, enclosing them in silence.

Natalia folded her arms. “So what’s the plan?”

Damon turned to her, his gaze dark. “We set a trap of our own.”

The penthouse was sleek and modern, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. But Natalia barely took it in. Her mind was racing, already putting together possible moves.

Damon poured himself a drink, watching her. “You’re thinking too hard.”

She shot him a glare. “Forgive me for trying to figure out how not to get killed.”

His lips curved slightly, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. “We need leverage.”

Natalia exhaled. “Langley made his first real move tonight. He wanted me to find that file. He wanted me to know.”

Damon nodded. “Which means he’s expecting you to retaliate.”

She frowned. “Exactly. So how do we make him believe I’m still playing into his hands?”

Damon swirled his drink. “We let him think you’re coming for me instead.”

Natalia froze. “What?”

Damon set his glass down, stepping closer. “Langley thinks you still believe I was responsible for your father’s death. That’s why he revealed himself now. He wanted to redirect your vengeance.”

She clenched her fists. “And if I act like I’m still after you, he won’t see the real play coming.”

Damon nodded.

She exhaled slowly. “How do we sell it?”

A slow, dark smirk curved on Damon’s lips. “We make it look real.”

Natalia arched a brow. “Meaning?”

Damon leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “Public confrontation. You coming after me. Something loud enough that Langley believes he still has control.”

She crossed her arms. “So you want me to pretend to destroy you?”

His smirk widened. “You’ve been planning to for years. Shouldn’t be too hard.”

Natalia rolled her eyes but couldn’t deny that the plan had merit. Langley needed to believe she was still blinded by rage. If he thought she was moving against Damon instead of him, he wouldn’t be looking in the right direction.

And that gave them their window.

The next day

Natalia strode into Cross Enterprises, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The whispers had already started—employees murmuring as they stole glances at her.

Damon had made sure word got out.

She was here for war.

She stormed into the top floor, past his assistants who didn’t dare stop her. Damon was waiting inside, leaning against his desk, arms crossed. He played his part well—calm, collected. Like he wasn’t about to be dragged into chaos.

“Ms. Moore,” he said smoothly. “To what do I owe this—”

She slapped a thick folder onto his desk, cutting him off.

“You lied to me.” Her voice carried through the room. Sharp. Dangerous.

Damon’s brow lifted, his gaze flickering to the employees who had stopped outside the glass walls, watching.

Natalia didn’t give him a chance to respond. “You manipulated me. You used me.” She reached into her bag, pulling out a contract. “I want out of this company.”

Gasps echoed behind her.

Damon tilted his head, playing his role perfectly. “I don’t believe that’s an option.”

Natalia laughed coldly. “Then make it one.”

She grabbed a pen and slammed it onto the desk. “Sign.”

Damon exhaled through his nose, picking up the pen. His expression remained unreadable as he scrawled his name across the paper.

Natalia ripped the document from the desk and turned sharply on her heel.

But before she could reach the door, Damon spoke again.

“You’re making a mistake.”

She hesitated, just for a second. Then, she kept walking.

The whispers followed her as she left.

And somewhere in the shadows, Langley was watching.

That night, her phone buzzed with an unknown number.

She picked up, heart pounding.

Victor Langley’s voice was smooth. Amused.

“Now that’s more like it, Ms. Greer.”

She closed her eyes, exhaling.

The trap was set.

Now all she had to do…

Was wait for Langley to walk into it.