Chapter 13
The Confrontation
The elevator trip to Charlotte’s penthouse was shockingly slow. Ares stood stiff, his muscles
coiled tight, his mind a tempest of rage. The folder he was clutching seemed heavier than it
ought to be evidence of the treachery underfoot. Ignoring the two guards posted at the door, he
strode ahead as soon as it slid open. They went to block him, but Ares’s look stopped them
dead cold. Men would hesitate only from his name alone.
He shoved the large doors open and entered the poorly lighted penthouse without hesitating.
Charlotte had been waiting. She lay on the soft white sofa, a crystal glass of red wine between
her manicured fingers draped in a silk robe the hue of blood. She sipped slowly, her face blank,
then turned her head to give him a brief, knowing smile. “Darling,” she murmured.
took you long enough.” Ares threw the folder on the glass coffee table between them, and
the silent room echoed with that sound. Charlotte showed no flinch. Describe this. Today.
His voice sounded like a low growl. Her eyes sloppily dipped to the folder then swung back to
his face. “So, you at last discovered. Her voice did not convey surprise. Not a try to refute it.
Just cool acceptance; she seemed to have been waiting for this precise time.
Ares heard his pulse hammer in his ears. “Always a pawn, Ares, you were I simply performed
better in the game, her speech soft and almost like entertainment. His jaw got tighter. “You’re
working with Victor,” he said, voice razor keen. “What the devil are you two planning?”
Charlotte laughed, then laid her glass down with meticulous care. “You are posing incorrect
questions,” Leaching forward, she rested her elbows on her knees and locked her sharp eyes
on his. “The real question is who do you suppose Selene actually is?” The room appeared to
shrink, the air weighty with something unspoken. Ares closed his hands.
“What the devil are you talking about?” Charlotte exhaled and shook her head like a teacher let
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Chapter 13
down by a slow student. “You assume this relates to Victor and me? That’s wonderful. Rising
to her feet, she headed for the floor–to–celly windows overlooking the beautiful metropolitan
skyline. You have no idea how deep this goes. Ares was running at his maximum. Enough of
the games, Charlotte,‘ he said. Tell me the truth, or so help me.
You will what? Her eyes blazing with a challenge she turned to confront him. You are going to
break something? hurt someone? She laughed in a short breath. “That has always caused
you trouble, Ares. You react without considering. You are, therefore, always five steps behind.
Though his hands yearned to grasp her and shake the responses out of her, he pushed himself
to be still.
“Stop evading and tell me what I need to know.“. Charlotte watched him for a protracted period
before sighing at last. “Perfect.” Slinking back to the couch, she reclined against the cushions
crossing her legs. “You wish for the truth?” Here is it. She pointed towards the folder. “Victor
And I have been collaborating for a really lengthy period. Longer than you would ever have
guessed. Still, he is not the brains behind all this. He is merely more evidence on the board.
Ares squinted his eyes.
“then who is?” Charlotte chuckled. “That’s the delightful part, sweetheart.” She bent in, her
voice lowering to a secretive whisper. ” Selene.” Ares still fell silent. The word cut like a whip,
separating his anger from something much colder discomfort. Following a beat, he said, “That’s
impossible. Charlotte shrugged and drank more of her wine. “Is it?” Ares went back over every
exchange with Selene in his memory, looking for gaps and contradictions.
She had always been a mystery, showing up in his life exactly at the time he required answers,
But that did not mean Not at all. He would not accept her as behind this. Through clenched
teeth, he muttered, “You’re lying.” She laughed. “I’m not compelled to lie, Ares.
Actually, the truth is interesting enough. Though something in her demeanor told him she
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Chapter 13
wasn’t playing games this time, he wanted to discredit her and call her bluff. His chest started to
stiffen. Should Selene have been involved? Had she been guiding him from the beginning?
Then he had simply entered a game far more deadly than he could have ever dreamed.
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