The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating: "He's planning something… something big. And you're at the center of it all."
My breath hitched. "What kind of something?" I demanded, grabbing Wilson's arm. His skin was clammy, his eyes darting nervously around the coffee shop.
"I don't know the specifics," he whispered, pulling his arm away. "He's been… more secretive lately. More intense. He spends hours locked away in his office, muttering to himself. He's been buying up properties around the city, places near where you live, where you work…"
A chill snaked down my spine. I knew Grayson was wealthy, that The Carnival Hook-Up was just one piece of a much larger empire, but the thought of him acquiring property around me… it felt like a noose tightening.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" I hissed, my knuckles white as I gripped the edge of the table.
Wilson's gaze dropped. "I was hoping… I was hoping it was just a phase. That he'd snap out of it. But it's getting worse, Scarlett. I can see it in his eyes. He's losing himself."
Losing himself? He was already lost! Sending cryptic roses, watching me from the shadows, whispering promises of protection… This wasn't protection; it was predation.
"What can I do?" I asked, my voice trembling. "How can I stop him?"
Wilson shook his head. "I don't know. The best thing would be to disappear. To go somewhere he can't find you."
Disappear? Leave everything behind? My family, my friends, my dream of becoming a successful actress? It wasn't an option. I wouldn't let Grayson Thorne dictate my life.
"That's not going to happen," I said, my voice hardening with newfound resolve. "I'm not going to run and hide. I'm going to face him. I'm going to make him stop."
Wilson looked at me with a mixture of admiration and pity. "You're braver than I am, Scarlett. But be careful. He's not rational. He's capable of anything."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, crumpled piece of paper. "Take this," he said, handing it to me. "It's Grayson's schedule for the next few days. It might help you anticipate his movements."
I took the paper, my fingers brushing against his. "Thank you, Wilson," I said sincerely. "You're risking a lot by helping me."
He offered a weak smile. "Just… be careful, Scarlett. Please."
I nodded and stood up, the schedule clutched tightly in my hand. I had a plan forming in my mind, a dangerous, desperate plan. But it was the only way I could see to break free from Grayson's obsession. I would confront him, force him to acknowledge the reality of his actions. And if that didn't work… well, I'd figure something else out. I had to. My life depended on it.
As I walked out of the coffee shop, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I scanned the crowd, but everyone seemed normal, oblivious. But the feeling persisted, a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. Grayson was always watching.
I hailed a cab and gave the driver my address, but as we pulled away from the curb, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed. I glanced in the rearview mirror, but the street behind us was a blur of lights and traffic. Still, the sense of unease lingered, a constant reminder that I was trapped in Grayson Thorne's twisted game.
I needed to talk to James. He knew me better than anyone, understood my strengths and weaknesses. And he had a way of making me feel safe, even in the most dangerous situations.