Dulled 13

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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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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