THE ANOMALY: RISE OF A BILLIONAIRE

6

Morning light slipped gently into the penthouse suite, scattering gold across the white sheets. Jake stretched, his body stiff, his mind restless.

For the first time in his life, he’d crossed a line he’d never imagined crossing—not with any woman, and certainly not with someone like Elara. He lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, replaying the night before.

“So this is what it feels like?” Jake murmured, blushing.

Beside him, Elara stretched languidly, her hair spilling across the pillow like spilled ink. She caught his gaze and smirked.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Jake quickly turned away. “I just… it’s my first time.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. His eyes went wide, his face twisting into a look of self-reproach.

Elara tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes. “First time?” She propped herself up on one elbow. “You mean… ever?”

Jake nodded, embarrassed. “Yeah. Didn’t you notice how stiff I was last night and… how quick?”

Instead of mocking him, Elara smiled softly. “No… I didn’t feel anything strange at all. You actually seemed skilled. I was very satisfied, Brad James.”

Jake froze. Hearing the fake name spill from her lips sent a pang through him. He wanted to be known as Jake—not Brad.

“Why are you so quiet? Did I say something wrong?” Elara asked, almost pleading.

“Um… no, it’s just that I…”

Jake’s words trailed off. He looked at her closely, then shook his head. “Nothing. Nothing happened.”

“Well, if you say so. Anyway, I still don’t know much about you. I mean… where do you live?” Elara asked. “I’ve never seen you around before. Are you new in town?”

“No, I’m just… not visible in your world. I only recently met someone who helped me.”

Elara’s lips curved in curiosity. “Oh yeah? Who?”

“Damian Crowne. Do you know him?”

“Damian Crowne,” Elara repeated with a faint note of disgust. She now sat fully upright, morning light sharpening her features. “Of course. The carrion king. How on earth did you end up with someone like that?”

Jake frowned. “He’s not… that bad. I mean, he gave me a job, money, a place to live. Without him, I’d still—” He cut himself off.

“Still what?” Elara pressed. “I’m not saying this without reason. I was close to him—intimately—for three years.”

Jake flinched, eyes wide, a flicker of worry crossing his face. If Damian ever found out he’d slept with Elara, things could get dangerous fast.

“Don’t worry. He’s not that great. I know you’re scared because we slept together. By the way, what exactly are you doing for that bastard?” Elara asked.

“Something big and dangerous,” Jake admitted. “But I’m glad I’m doing it—it gives me hope to keep going with my miserable life. If it weren’t for Damian, I wouldn’t be sleeping in a hotel this fancy. I wouldn’t have met you…”

Elara shrugged. “The universe has its own ways of making two people meet. But listen, Damian isn’t your savior. He’s your leash. A pawn in his kingdom.” Her voice hardened. “And pawns don’t last long.”

Jake clenched his jaw. “What do you know about that?”

Elara leaned closer, her eyes sharp as glass. “I know enough. Damian uses people until they’re burned out, then discards them. That million dollars he gave you? That’s just the rope. He wants you dependent, desperate, obedient.”

Her words stung because they rang true. Jake had felt it, though he hated to admit it.

“So what, you want me to just walk away?” he asked. “Go back to nothing? Millions of dollars are waiting for me.”

Elara’s gaze turned sharp with suspicion. “Brad, are you working one of his dirty operations?”

Jake swallowed, cornered. He might be doing criminal work, but in front of someone he liked, his naïveté always slipped through. He couldn’t quite lie.

“Um… I…”

“Good. I’ll take that as a yes,” Elara said, her sly smile returning. “I want you to aim higher. Damian isn’t the only player in this city. There are bigger, better ones. People who value loyalty, not destroy it.”

She leaned in, her perfume intoxicating. “Work with my boss instead. He knows how to use someone like you—smart, resourceful, underestimated.”

Jake narrowed his eyes. “Your boss? What do you mean? You don’t even know what I do.”

“Haha, Brad! I’m not new to Damian’s circle. When he handpicks someone, it means they have a talent he needs. Clearly, you’re important to him.”

Elara gently stroked Jake’s face, making his heart pound.

“So who’s your boss?”

“Lucian Davenhall,” she said casually, watching his reaction. “He doesn’t deal in crumbs. He builds kingdoms. And unlike Damian, he doesn’t keep pawns—he keeps partners.”

“And you?” Jake asked quietly. “What’s your role in all this?”

Elara’s smile turned faint. “Let’s just say I connect talent with opportunity. And you, Jake… you’re wasting yourself where you are now.”

Silence stretched between them. Jake’s thoughts raced. Damian had given him a lifeline, but every word Elara spoke carved at a truth he couldn’t ignore. Still, trusting her felt dangerous—too convenient, too fast.

Finally, he muttered, “So I’m just supposed to betray the man who saved me, just like that?”

Elara slid a finger along Jake’s jaw, her voice low and coaxing. “No. You’re supposed to choose yourself. Damian doesn’t care if you live or die. Lucian might. And me…” She let the sentence dangle, staring deep into Jake’s eyes. “…I see you as more than just a pawn.”

Jake swallowed hard, torn between loyalty and survival, between the pull of Elara’s words and the shadow of Damian’s sly smile.

Elara whispered at his ear, “You have a chance, Jake. A chance to destroy your master. A chance to become a legend.”