Louis stood in front of Cleopatra's penthouse door, taking a deep breath before finally knocking. His mind was filled with questions. Cleopatra, who never asked for anyone's help, had called him first tonight.

The door opened soundlessly.


There were no hurried footsteps as usual, no teasing smirk or sarcastic remark coming from Cleopatra's lips. Only silence.

As Louis stepped inside, he found Cleopatra standing in front of the large window in her room, gazing at the night sky with a weary expression. The glittering city lights outside did nothing to erase the unease etched on her face.

The penthouse felt eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the distant wind and the faint ticking of a clock.


Louis hesitated before stepping closer, standing beside Cleopatra, searching for the right words.

"Whatever is happening, you don't have to go through it alone," he said softly.


Cleopatra turned her head, meeting his gaze in silence. There was something in her eyes—hesitation, but also something softer.

For a brief moment, Cleopatra seemed to be deciding whether to open up or keep everything to herself.

Then, she finally spoke, her voice flat but carrying an unmistakable weight.

"I've always faced things alone, Louis. It's what I do."

Louis didn't know what to say.

He couldn't offer solutions to all of Cleopatra's problems. But he could be there.

And for some reason, that was what he wanted most right now.

Without another word, Louis sat on the sofa, waiting, in case Cleopatra wanted to say more.

Cleopatra glanced at him briefly but, for once, didn't send him away.

They sat there in silence, neither speaking, simply existing in the same space—understanding that words weren't always necessary to show someone that you cared.

**

Louis couldn't stop thinking about Cleopatra.

He tried to distract himself by focusing on the financial reports in front of him, forcing his attention onto the numbers that usually absorbed him completely.

But his mind kept drifting back to her.

Why am I thinking about her?

She's just my boss.

She's just a woman in a fake engagement with me.

So why do I feel this need to protect her?

Louis let out a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair. This was wrong.

He was just an ordinary man, a man who didn't even know if he had a place in Cleopatra's world—a world filled with power struggles and manipulation.

Yet, every time he saw glimpses of vulnerability in Cleopatra, he wanted to shield her from the world trying to tear her down.

He wasn't supposed to feel this way.

But the heart wasn't something that could be controlled so easily.

Louis rubbed his temples, trying to push away the unsettling feelings growing inside him.

However, the moment Cleopatra walked into the office that morning, everything became even harder.

She looked perfect as always—her long hair neatly styled, her steps confident, her expression cold and unreadable.

But Louis saw something else.

He noticed the brief moment when Cleopatra glanced at him before heading into her office.

It was just a second.

But it was enough to send a strange sensation through his chest.

Am I allowed to feel this way about her? he wondered.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the thought.

No. This was just business.

But why did this lie start to feel like the most real thing in his life?

Louis sighed again, realizing that he was falling deeper into something far more dangerous than he had ever planned.

And maybe… there was no way out anymore.

**

In a dimly lit room, where only a single overhead light illuminated the large table at its center, Theodore William Blake sat with an air of arrogance. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the wooden surface while a broad-shouldered man stood before him, awaiting instructions.

"Is it done?" Theodore's voice was cold and calculating.

The man nodded, smirking. "Yes, Mr. Blake. The media has started leaking rumors that Cleopatra's engagement is nothing but a business ploy. By tomorrow morning, every major headline will be talking about it."

Theodore's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Good. Let the world see how desperate my dear niece is."

Then, he leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes gleaming with something more sinister. "One more thing… contact someone from her past. I don't just want Cleopatra to fall in the business world—I want her to fall personally."

The man hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I know the perfect person for the job."

Theodore smirked. "Make sure they do it flawlessly."

That night, without Cleopatra's knowledge, the noose around her tightened.

At Dimitri Group, Cleopatra had just finished a long meeting with the board of directors. Today felt more exhausting than usual—not because of work, but because of the lingering unease that had followed her all day.

As Cleopatra sat at her desk, her phone vibrated.

An unknown number appeared on the screen.

Her eyes narrowed. A strange feeling settled in her chest.

She hesitated before answering.

"You think you can get away with this lie? You're going to lose everything, Cleo."

The voice on the other end was familiar—too familiar. A voice that haunted her past.

Cleopatra froze, her fingers tightening around the phone.

"Who is this?" Her voice was cold, but deep inside, fear lurked beneath the surface.

A low chuckle came from the other end. "Don't play dumb. You know who I am. And you know very well that I can destroy you anytime I want."

Cleopatra didn't reply. She simply ended the call, her breath still unsteady.

Who had called her?

She stared at her phone for a moment before swiftly deleting the call log, as if erasing it would make the threat disappear.

At that moment, her office door swung open.

Louis stood there.

His eyes immediately caught the change in Cleopatra's demeanor—she wasn't cold, but she wasn't at ease either.

Something was wrong.

Louis stepped inside without hesitation, closing the door behind him. "Did something happen?" he asked, his voice soft but firm.

Cleopatra hesitated, trying to compose herself.

Then, she took a deep breath and shook her head. "Nothing you need to worry about," she said, her tone calm once again.

But Louis didn't believe her.

He knew Cleopatra wasn't the kind of woman to admit when she felt threatened.

Yet, this time, he could see it clearly—something was off.

He wanted to push further, to ask again, but Cleopatra's gaze warned him that she wouldn't answer.

In the end, Louis simply said, "If you need something… I'm here."

Cleopatra didn't respond.

She just stared at him, as if trying to decipher the sincerity behind his words.

And for the first time, she felt like she wanted to trust him.

That night, Dimitri Group was nearly empty, only a few office lights still glowing.

Cleopatra sat alone in her office, staring blankly at her laptop screen, untouched for hours.

The threat, the voice from her past… it all kept replaying in her mind.

She clenched her fingers, trying to steady herself.

Then, her eyes drifted outside her office.

Louis was still there.

He was still working, his face serious as ever.

But Cleopatra saw something different.

Louis was different from other men.

He never flattered her.

He never wanted her money or power.

He was the only one who dared to call her out when she lost control.

Cleopatra sat in silence, remembering something.

She thought of her father.

The only man who had ever made her feel safe.

And somehow… Louis reminded her of him.

She didn't know if that was something she should run from… or something she should hold onto.

With conflicting emotions, Cleopatra picked up her phone and typed a message to Louis.

"Thank you for listening to me last night."

Her finger hovered over the send button.

But before she could press it, she hesitated.

If I start relying on him, does that mean I'm weak?

She stared at the message for a few seconds.

Then, she deleted it.

Taking a deep breath, she placed her phone back on the table.

She wasn't ready to let herself depend on anyone.

Not even Louis.

Yet, deep down… she knew something inside her had already started to change.