Chapter 3: The Web Tightens
Alicia sat across from Monica in the quiet café, her hands wrapped tightly around a steaming cup of coffee. The warmth did little to calm her nerves as she recounted the chaotic events of the past day. Monica listened intently, her expression shifting from shock to anger as Alicia described the drugged drink, the mysterious man, and Joshua’s unexpected appearance at her house.
“So let me get this straight,” Monica said, leaning forward. “You think Joshua set you up, but now he’s claiming he didn’t do it? And you have no idea who the guy you were with actually is?”
Alicia nodded, her stomach churning. “It sounds insane when you say it out loud, but yes. That’s pretty much it.”
Monica frowned, tapping her fingers on the table. “Okay, first things first. We need to figure out who that guy was. If he wasn’t the escort I hired, then who the hell was he? And why did he… you know…” She trailed off, not wanting to say the words.
Alicia’s cheeks flushed, but she forced herself to stay focused. “I don’t know. But he seemed… familiar somehow. Like I’ve seen him before, but I can’t place him.”
Monica’s eyes widened. “Wait, you think you’ve seen him before? Where?”
“I don’t know,” Alicia admitted, frustration creeping into her voice. “It’s just a feeling. But I can’t shake it.”
Monica leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. “Okay, let’s think about this. If Joshua didn’t set you up, then who did? Who would want to hurt you like this?”
Alicia shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t have any enemies. At least, none that I know of.”
Monica’s expression darkened. “What about Joshua’s family? You’ve always said they’re a bunch of snakes. Maybe one of them is behind this.”
Alicia hesitated. The Yates family was powerful and ruthless, and she had never been fully accepted by them. But would they really go this far? “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “But if they are involved, Joshua would know about it, right?”
“Not necessarily,” Monica countered. “If someone in his family is trying to sabotage your marriage, they might not have told him. Or maybe they’re trying to frame him.”
Alicia’s head was spinning. The more she thought about it, the more tangled the web seemed. “This is too much,” she said, rubbing her temples. “I just want to go back to my life and forget any of this ever happened.”
Monica reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “I know it’s overwhelming, but we’ll figure it out. You’re not alone in this, okay?”
Alicia managed a small smile, grateful for her friend’s support. But before she could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and froze. It was a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: You’re playing a dangerous game, Mrs. Yates. Be careful who you trust.
Alicia’s heart skipped a beat. She showed the message to Monica, who immediately grabbed her own phone.
“I’m calling the police,” Monica said, her voice firm. “This is getting out of hand.”
“Wait,” Alicia said, stopping her. “What if this is just a prank? Or someone trying to scare me?”
Monica hesitated, then sighed. “Okay, but if you get one more message like this, we’re calling the cops. No arguments.”
Alicia nodded, though her mind was racing. Who could have sent that message? And what did they mean by “a dangerous game”?
Before she could dwell on it further, the café door chimed, and Alicia’s blood ran cold. Standing in the doorway was Caden Ward, the man from the previous night. He looked just as imposing as she remembered, his sharp features and confident demeanor drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
Monica followed Alicia’s gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Is that…?”
“Yes,” Alicia whispered, her voice barely audible. “That’s him.”
Caden’s eyes locked onto Alicia’s, and he made his way over to their table with purposeful strides. Monica instinctively moved closer to Alicia, as if to shield her, but Caden’s focus was entirely on Alicia.
“We need to talk,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Alicia’s heart pounded, but she forced herself to stay calm. “About what?”
Caden’s gaze flicked to Monica, then back to Alicia. “Privately.”
Monica crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “Anything you have to say to her, you can say in front of me.”
Caden’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he pulled out a chair and sat down, his presence dominating the small table. “Fine. Then let me make this clear. You’re in danger, Alicia. And if you want to stay alive, you’ll listen to what I have to say.”
Alicia’s breath caught. “What are you talking about?”
Caden leaned forward, his voice low and serious. “Last night wasn’t a coincidence. You were targeted, and so was I. Someone’s trying to manipulate us, and if we don’t figure out who, things are going to get a lot worse.”
Monica’s eyes narrowed. “And why should we trust you? For all we know, you’re the one behind this.”
Caden’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—anger, maybe, or frustration. “If I wanted to hurt her, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be sitting back and watching the chaos unfold.”
Alicia’s mind raced. She didn’t know whether to trust him, but something about his urgency felt genuine. “What do you want from me?” she asked.
Caden’s gaze softened, just for a moment. “I want to help you. But to do that, you need to tell me everything you know. Starting with Joshua Yates.”
Alicia exchanged a glance with Monica, who gave a reluctant nod. Taking a deep breath, Alicia began to explain everything—from Joshua’s text to the drugged drink to the mysterious man who turned out to be Caden himself.
As she spoke, Caden listened intently, his expression growing darker with each detail. When she finished, he leaned back in his chair, his jaw tight. “This is worse than I thought.”
“What do you mean?” Alicia asked, her stomach twisting with dread.
Caden met her gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and concern. “It means we’re not just dealing with a jealous ex or a disgruntled family member. This is bigger than that. And if we don’t act fast, neither of us is going to make it out alive.”
Alicia’s heart sank. She had no idea what she’d gotten herself into, but one thing was clear: the game had just gotten a lot more dangerous.