Chapter 5 Chapter Five.

♣︎Catalina pov♣︎

"What did you call me?" I ask, my eyes widening.

He just stares at me, that cold, bone-chilling aura making the room feel colder.

"I said... get out."

"Arrogant jerk!" I murmur..

I nod once, my movements stiff, and practically stumble out of the room.

The moment the door clicks shut, I lean against the wall and finally let out the breath I’ve been holding.

My lungs burn as I try to breathe properly again.

Those words... they weren't just a billionaire being "stern." They were a threat.

Is Sofia really sure this man is just a businessman? His aura is far more dangerous than even Cartels.

"Y yo que pensaba que el aura de Javier daba miedo..." I whisper to the empty hallway.

I sigh and walk away from that suffocating place. Maybe his private life is just a cover-up for something much darker?

He is handsome, though...ridiculously, unfairly handsome, I shake my head violently to clear the thought away.

"Let's discuss this with Sofia first.." I tell myself, clutching my bag tight. "It's just for a month, anyway."

~♠︎~

Few hours later...

"I don’t think this is a good idea, Cat. In fact, it’s a terrible one.." Matthew says, his voice tight with a worry he isn’t trying to hide.

We’re crammed into my small apartment, the air smelling like the greasy takeout Sofia brought over.

I’m currently picking at a carton of noodles, but the appetite I had five minutes ago has completely vanished.

My stomach is still doing somersaults from the warning Silas gave me.

Sofia is pacing the small living room, her mind clearly spinning. Matthew is sitting right beside me, his presence grounding, but I can feel the tension radiating off him.

"Well, I think it’s the best idea we’ve had yet." Sofia says, stopping her pacing abruptly to point a finger at us.

"Sofia, be realistic. This just got ten times harder for her." Matthew snaps, leaning forward. "If she’s staying under his roof, he’ll have his eyes on her twenty-four-seven. He’s going to own her time, her space... it might be impossible for her to even send us a text without him knowing."

Sofia just rolls her eyes, completely unfazed. "Please. He might be a private man, but he isn’t going to put cameras in a woman’s bedroom. We’ll make it work. Cat will only communicate with us at night when the house is quiet. She gives us every single detail of what happens during the day, who he meets, what he says, what’s on his desk."

Matthew lets out a heavy sigh that sounds like a defeat.

"That’s a huge 'if,' Sofia. It’s not safe. You saw the way he treats privacy."

Sofia ignores him, as she walks over to me. She kneels down, looking me straight in the eyes with that intense, 'don't-back-down' stare of hers.

"Cat? Look at me." she says, her voice softening but staying firm. "You have to live under that roof. This isn't just a hurdle, it’s the ultimate opportunity.."

She reaches out, grabbing my hand. "Think about the money, too. This is killing two birds with one stone. You get the evidence we need to bring him out, and you get the payout that changes your family’s life forever. You live under his nose, you collect the dirt, and then we win."

I look over at Matthew. He has this look of hesitation on his face, like he’s one second away from dragging me out of this deal entirely.

"Just for a month.." I whisper, mostly to convince myself. "One month under his roof, and then I'm gone."

The interview with Silas from a few hours ago still plays in my head. He is cold and definitely not the kind of man anyone should mess with, accurate to what Sofia says.

But beneath that lethal exterior, there is a mystery I couldn’t quite name. Why does a man with his power hide so far from the public eye? I am determined to find the crack in his armor.

I look at Sofia and give a firm nod.

"Sure... I’ll do it." I say, dropping the takeout containers onto the small table. "But I have a condition."

"What condition?" she asks cautiously..

"I’ll give you the information you want, but I need to survive this.." I say. "When I leave, I want my name scrubbed. I need a guarantee that I won’t be linked to this leak. To stay off his radar, I’m going to create an alibi..I’ll stay and work there for an extra two weeks after the secret is published. That way, I won't look suspicious. Can you guarantee that, Sofia? I’m playing a high-stakes game with a man who doesn't let things slip."

Sofia stares at me, beside me, Matthew looks stunned, his eyes wide as he processes the risk I am taking.

"Fine. Matthew will get the paperwork started." She finally says..

I look over at Matthew. He catches my gaze, gulps hard, and gives a stiff nod. I can't help it, I flash him a small, knowing smile. Immediately, a faint red tint creeps up his cheeks as he quickly looks away.

He’s so cute when he gets flustered like that.. American men.. hehe.

"Excuse me.." I say, stepping away. I head toward my room to make a call.

After the second ring, the familiar, voice of my father fills the room.

"Catalina... How are you?"

"Papá..." I sigh, sitting on the edge of my bed. "I'm so sorry I haven't called in two days. I’ve just been trying to.. umm...settle into the new place."

"Oh, it's okay, Catalina" he replies gently.

"How are things back there, Papá?"

I hear him let out a tired sigh that makes my heart sink.

"It’s not so good. The debtors came by yesterday. Luckily, Javier was here to help us out."

"Don't worry, Papá. Everything will be alright soon. I promise." A wave of sadness hits me.

He gives a dry chuckle.

"Okay. By the way, Javier said he’s been trying to reach you. He said you haven't been picking up his calls."

I groan, massaging my forehead as the familiar tension returns.

"Papa, he’s just going to rant about me being away. His possessiveness is just... it’s too much. It’s overwhelming."

"It is only because he cares for you, Catalina. He loves you."

"Papá..." I drag out, my frustration bubbling over. "He’s too aggressive, too possessive. I just can't deal with his personality right now.."

"He is a good man, Catalina. He has always taken care of you.." He insists, his voice turning serious. "When you come back, I think it’s finally time we talk about your wedding."

I bite my lip hard, the anger flaring in my chest. "I’m not agreeing to that yet, Papá."

I hear him sigh again, a sound full of disappointment. "Cat–"

"I’ll talk to you later, Papá. Adiós." I say hanging up before he can say another word. I stare at the blank screen..

I push off the bed, and head out my room toward the living room, but as I get closer, the muffled sound of an argument stops me.