Chapter 4

Echoes of Unease

Bella pov 

I jolted awake to the shrill ringing of my phone, panic clawing at my chest as I reached for it on the bedside table. Without checking the screen, I pressed it to my ear, my voice still groggy and heavy with sleep.

"Hello?" 

"Good morning, Miss Thompson," came a smooth, confident voice I recognized all too well. "Have you signed our agreement?"

My heart plummeted as Sam's words washed over me. I bolted upright, eyes darting to the clock on my nightstand. 

9 a.m.

My stomach dropped. How had I slept this long? 

"Hello? Can you hear me?" His voice cut through my panic, a hint of irritation lacing his tone.

"Y-yes," I stammered, trying to pull myself together. "I've signed it."

"Good," he replied, but his tone chilled. "I'll send someone to pick you up this afternoon. Be prepared." Without waiting for a response, he hung up, leaving me staring at the phone in disbelief.

I felt a tremor in my hand as unsettling thoughts swirled in my mind. **What did he want?** And then the memory of the message from the mysterious J hit me like a tidal wave: "Do not sign it. The Asher is dangerous."

"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath as I jumped out of bed, rushing to change clothes. My mind raced. I was supposed to meet J at the park, and now I was running late. I threw on the first outfit I could find, grabbed my phone and bag, and bolted out of my apartment.

The subway ride felt like an eternity. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread settling over me like a thick fog. Sam's voice echoed in my mind, his offer, the contract, and how abruptly he had cut the conversation something was definitely off. And now I was about to meet someone who could have answers.

10 a.m.

When I finally reached the park, I scanned the crowd. Families, couples, joggers, everyone looked so carefree, and yet my heart raced with anxiety. No sign of J. I checked my phone for any new messages. Nothing. "I'm late. Damn it!" I muttered under my breath, scanning the crowd again. 

Paranoia began to creep in. **Who was J? Was this all a trap?** Just then, I noticed a group of men dressed in black standing at a distance. They were too still, too focused on me. My pulse quickened as I realized I might not be safe.

Instinct kicked in, and I turned to leave the park, quickening my pace with each step. But the men seemed to follow, always just a few steps behind me. As I rounded a corner, a sleek black car suddenly pulled up beside me, blocking my path. 

The window rolled down, and my breath caught in my throat. "Bella!" Jonathan called out from the driver's seat.

"Jonathan?" My voice was a mix of surprise and relief as I yanked the door open and jumped into the car, my heart racing. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I? " he began, but I cut him off.

"Can you please drive?" I pleaded, glancing over my shoulder as the men in black started to close in.

Jonathan frowned, concerned about etching his features as he took in my frantic expression. "I hope there's no problem. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, looking out the window as my heart thudded in my chest. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong.

Sensing my unease, Jonathan didn't press further. Instead, he put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb, leaving the park and the mysterious men behind us.

After a few moments of silence, Jonathan finally broke it. "So, what were you doing at the park? You looked like you were in trouble back there."

I hesitated, weighing how much to share. "I... I was supposed to meet someone. But they never showed up," I admitted, staring out the window as the city blurred by. "Jonathan, I need to ask you something. Do you know who Samuel Asher is?"

At the mention of Sam's name, Jonathan's grip on the steering wheel tightened. He glanced at me, his expression cautious. "Sam? He's the only son of his father, who died in a car accident a few years ago. Sam was still in college at the time. His grandfather, William Asher, was a billionaire who owned a massive oil refinery company with many shareholders."

I listened closely, my mind racing to piece together the fragments of information.

"William was getting old and wanted to step down as CEO," Jonathan continued. "Sam's father was supposed to take over, but after his death, William decided to give the position to Sam. The shareholders and even some of his own family were against it. They didn't think Sam was ready. That's when the issue of marriage came up. They insisted he couldn't inherit the company unless he was married."

Jonathan's phone rang, cutting off his explanation. He glanced at the screen and then back at me. "Sorry, I need to take this."

I nodded, my thoughts swirling with everything Jonathan had just revealed. **Sam needed a wife to secure his inheritance. Was that the real reason behind the contract?** 

After the call, Jonathan pulled up to the curb outside my apartment. "Can I drop you off here? I have somewhere important to be."

"Yeah, this is fine," I replied, still lost in thought. "Thanks for the ride."

He studied me for a moment, concern flickering in his eyes. "Are you sure you're okay, Bella? You seem... off."

"I'm fine," I insisted, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Just a lot on my mind."

Jonathan nodded, though I could tell he wasn't convinced. "We'll talk later, okay?"

I waved him off as he drove away, but the moment he was out of sight, my anxiety came rushing back. Something wasn't right. I approached my building, eyes scanning the street for any signs of danger.

And then I saw it.

A sleek black car parked directly in front of my building, engine still running. Standing next to it was a man, dressed in black from head to toe. He stood perfectly still, his face obscured by dark sunglasses, but I could feel his gaze locked onto me.

Panic surged through me. Is he with the men from the park? How did they know where I lived? Was I being watched?

My heart raced with a thousand questions, but one thought overpowered them all: I wasn't safe.

I stood frozen on the sidewalk, staring at the man. My hands trembled, and I took a hesitant step back, eyes darting to the door of my building. Should I run? Should I confront him?

The man didn't move, but his presence was overwhelming, a silent threat that hung in the air between us.

"Who is he?" I wondered, pulse racing. What does he want with me?

As the tension built, I felt the ground shift beneath me. I had no idea who this man was or why he was here, but one thing was clear: 

I was in danger.

The feeling of being hunted wrapped aroun

d me like a vice, and for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to escape.