Page 59 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

He could almost see the gears turning in her mind, relentless even in exhaustion, refusing to let her rest until she unraveled the complex web he'd woven.

As she settled back at the desk, the light catching those remarkable eyes of hers, he felt the thrill of the chase pulse through him like a live wire. She didn't know it yet, but every move she made was precisely what he'd predicted. Still, the unpredictability of her cunning added a tantalizing edge to the game.

"Yes," he whispered to himself, watching the screen with an intensity that bordered on obsessive. "Keep digging, Serenity. Just like that."

The exhilaration of it—the sheer audacity of her attempts to outmaneuver him—made his pulse quicken. He had wanted a challenge, and she'd given him one.

She would follow the trail he laid out and think she was catching up, not realizing how much further ahead he'd always be.

12

STRATEGIC ENTANGLEMENT

~SERENITY~

The job offer from Castellano Holdings arrived by courier in a heavy cream envelope, the company's embossed logo catching the morning light as Serenity turned it over in her hands.

Inside, the letter was printed on expensive letterhead, the signature at the bottom—Darius Castellano's bold, sharp strokes—appearing almost like a challenge.

Financial Consultant. Executive level. Salary that would make most MBAs weep with envy.

Serenity tossed the letter onto her glass coffee table and paced her apartment, the city skyline framing her thoughts as effectively as the floor-to-ceiling windows framed her view. Taking this position would place her directly in the lion's den—working for the man who'd been hunting her, who'd touched her with both violence and desire, who'd somehow tangled himself in her father's legacy without her knowledge.

"Strategic advantage," she murmured to herself, pausing to stare at the letter again. "Or spectacular trap?"

Her reflection in the window caught her eye—golden irises with those distinctive red flecks that marked her Vale heritage staring back at her with unflinching intensity. She'd spent yearslearning to navigate treacherous waters. Corporate espionage was hardly different from the criminal underworld her father had ruled.

Different clothes, same predators.

The phone buzzed on her nightstand. Elena.

"Tell me you're not actually considering it," the Beta's voice was tight with tension when Serenity answered.

"I'd be a fool not to," Serenity replied, her tone measured. "Castellano's offering me front-row access to his operation. Information I couldn't get any other way."

"He's offering you a collar with your name engraved on it," Elena countered. "You walk into Castellano Tower, you're walking straight into his territory. Every Alpha there will know exactly what you are."

Serenity's jaw tightened. "What I am is the daughter of Marcus Vale. And it's time I started acting like it."

The silence on the other end stretched until Elena finally spoke, her voice softer. "Your father would be proud. And terrified."

"That makes two of us," Serenity admitted, but the decision had crystallized in her mind.

She picked up the letter, running her thumb over Darius's signature. "I'll start Monday."

Monday morning arrivedwith knife-edge clarity, the kind that heightened every sense and sharpened every thought. Serenity stood before her closet, evaluating options with tactical precision. The outfit she selected was armor as much as attire—a crimson silk blouse beneath a charcoal pencil skirt that huggedher curves without announcing them, topped with a perfectly tailored black blazer. Professional. Polished. Powerful.

Her stilettos clicked against the marble lobby of Castellano Tower, each step a declaration of purpose. As she crossed to the executive elevator bank, she felt the weight of stares—some curious, others predatory. Her scent suppressants were industrial-grade, but nothing could fully mask an Omega's presence to Alpha senses.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped in, keeping her gaze level despite the subtle shift in the air as two Alpha executives adjusted their stances, eyes sliding over her form with unconcealed interest.

"Ninth floor," one of them offered, his smile revealing too many teeth.

"Sixty-third," she corrected coolly, pressing the button herself. "Executive suite."

Their surprise was evident, eyebrows rising in tandem as they reassessed her. The taller one leaned slightly closer.

"Castellano's newest acquisition?" His tone turned the question into something sordid.

---