Chapter 7

• MONIQUE
• In my apartment, I leaned back against the plush cushions, thinking about the events of the day. Events that were so much more than all I'd done during my days in hiding put together. The weight of everything I'd set in motion hit me like unpacked luggage in my closet. Of course, it was overwhelming; I mean, I had only just found the man who took my family from me.
• Richardson was rummaging through my kitchen, maybe trying to fix us a drink. "How did they respond?" I asked as he joined me in the living room and handed me a cup of tea.
• He sank into the armchair across from me, his eyes steady. "The message landed just as expected. Most of them didn't know what to say. Liam, though... you saw him just before he left the casino. He had plenty on his mind, but he kept it bottled up. Didn't want to crack in front of everyone."
• A small smile tugged at my lips. "Good. That's what I wanted." I took a slow sip, feeling the tea's warmth seep through me. "Phase two, then." I tried to soften my voice as I stared into the swirling liquid in my cup. "I'll keep playing this game until Liam has nothing left. He'll crumble, piece by piece."
• The last words were more for me than for Richardson, a quiet promise.
• "So what's next?" Richardson asked.
• "I need to be closer to the action. I've found a place upstate, not too far from where Liam operates. I'll move in and blend in, stay close, and observe everything firsthand." My fingers tapped lightly on the armrest as if I was already counting down the days until my plan came to fruition. I stood up and moved toward the window, my gaze drifting to the city below. Everything was falling into place, but there was still so much to do. "I'm going to need more from you," I turned to face him.
• He straightened up, his expression growing more serious. "What exactly do you need me to do?"
• "Stay alert. I'll be in the lion's den and can't afford to slip up. Keep everything running smoothly, monitor our businesses while I play the game from both sides."
• He raised an eyebrow, and I could sense the shift in his posture. "You want me to handle the businesses while you're away?"
• "I won't be away. I'll just be...slightly inactive in that department," I said, setting my cup down. "I need you to be my eyes and ears now. Not just an assistant. You'll monitor everything—mine and Liam's movements, my investments, the people in our circle. If anything feels off, you tell me immediately. I can't afford any surprises."
• Richardson nodded slowly, taking it all in. "And your godfather?"
• "The Don cannot find out," I said firmly. "He thinks I'm focused on just building up the business, and for now, that's all he needs to believe. If he suspects I'm doing something more, something personal, this whole thing could fall apart. He can't know." I couldn't let Antonio find out. Not yet. He trusted me, and I couldn't afford for him to think I was stepping out of line. Not when I was already one step closer to getting what I wanted.
• His expression didn't waver. "I'll keep him in the dark."
• "I trust you, Richardson. You've always been a great friend and very reliable, but now, I need you to step up. This isn't just business anymore. This is everything."
• "You can always count on me."
• "Good. Also, I won't be bringing any bodyguards or chauffeurs with me," I added.
• When I left my godfather's estate, he insisted I always have guards around me. I hadn't protested because I still imagined my parent's killers showing up one day and finishing their job. But now I knew who my parent's killer was. He was the one who would be needing protection. Plus, I had to blend in; I couldn't have bodyguards following me around like a princess in distress. It would blow my cover.
• I let my thoughts wander for a moment. It wasn't just revenge that had kept me going all these years. It was beyond that. My time in hiding wasn't wasted—I had become more calculating, strategic, and deliberate in every decision-making. My godfather had helped shape me into this—a sharper, stronger version of Monique.
• ---
• The following day, I was behind the wheel, navigating the crowded streets of midtown Manhattan. I had called Richardson just as I eased into a slow-moving lane on the highway, "I need you to send people over to move my things into the new apartment. Midtown," I said, keeping my eyes on the road.
• "On it," he replied. "Everything's set?"
• "It will be," I said, glancing at the city skyline as it came into view. "Just don't forget the plan."
• As I navigated through the bustling streets, I chewed on my thoughts of my single goal for the day—getting closer to Liam Sterling. There were different ways I could approach it and different angles to play. He needed to see me as useful, someone he could trust. After the night we spent together, I hoped I had left just enough of a mark on him to leave him wanting more, but today, I needed to become indispensable. My world was shifting, and I accepted the shift. I knew I was smart enough to handle it.
• As I pulled into a parking spot near Liam's office building, my fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "It's game on," I whispered to myself as I touched up my lipstick and mascara.
• I walked into the building with purpose, adjusting my expression to something neutral. Confidence was everything here. He didn't know who I really was. He just remembered the woman from two nights ago, and I could use that to my advantage.
• The receptionist looked up as I stepped off the elevator and approached the desk.
• "I'm here to see Mr. Sterling," I said.
• Her eyebrows lifted slightly as she eyed me, the answer already forming on her lips. "Do you have an appointment?" Of course, you needed an appointment to see the high and mighty Liam Sterling.
• "I don't." I held her gaze, refusing to let her brush me off. "But he'll want to see me."
• She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the phone. "I'm afraid that—"
• I didn't wait for her to finish. I took a step toward the corridor, catching the attention of the security guards, who shifted slightly as if preparing to intervene. My heart rate quickened, but I kept my pace measured.
• "Miss, you can't—" one of them began, but just as they stepped toward me, Liam appeared at the far end of the corridor, his tall frame pausing mid-step.
• Wonderful.
• His eyes locked onto mine, and for a split second, everything stilled. The flicker of recognition in his gaze was unmistakable. His sharp, composed expression faltered just for a moment—exactly the reaction I wanted.
• "You," he said, his voice steady, but there was something else beneath it—confusion, shock, curiosity...Relief?
• I could feel the eyes of the receptionist and the guards on us, but I didn't care. I let a slow, innocent smile tug at my lips as I watched him process the fact that I was standing there in his world again.
• "Yes. Me."
• Liam's brow furrowed, and I could see the gears turning in his head. He blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. And in that instant, I knew I had him exactly where I wanted him.
• But then, just as I thought I had the upper hand, his expression darkened, a storm brewing behind his eyes—a slight smirk formed on the corner of his lips.
• "Interesting," he murmured, his voice low as he drank me in.
• No doubt we were both instantly transported to the hot sex we had two nights ago.