Chapter 102 — The Invitation
Amber didn't expect the message.
That was the first mistake.
It came three hours later.
Quietly.
No dramatic notification storm.
No media alert.
Just a single email.
Clean.
Simple.
Direct.
She almost ignored it.
Almost.
She was seated on the couch in Alex's office, laptop open, reviewing a set of documents she barely cared about.
Her phone buzzed once on the table.
She glanced at it lazily.
Then paused.
Unknown sender.
Subject line:
Invitation.
Amber frowned slightly.
"…That's vague."
She picked up the phone.
Opened the email.
And immediately understood.
Her expression didn't change.
But her eyes sharpened.
Across the room, Alex noticed instantly.
"What is it?"
Amber didn't answer immediately.
She read the email again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then—
She stood.
Walked toward him.
And placed the phone on his desk.
Alex glanced down.
Read.
Once.
Then again.
His jaw tightened.
"No."
Amber leaned against the desk.
"You didn't even think about it."
"No."
She crossed her arms.
"Why?"
Alex looked up at her.
"Because it's him."
Amber tilted her head.
"Yes."
"And?"
"And you're not going."
Amber sighed.
"You're very repetitive today."
"Amber—"
"It's an invitation, not a trap."
Alex's voice hardened slightly.
"It's both."
Amber smiled faintly.
"That's what makes it interesting."
Alex stood.
Slow.
Controlled.
Dangerously calm.
"You're not meeting Daniel Dawson alone."
Amber met his gaze.
"I wouldn't be alone."
"Yes, you would."
She shook her head.
"No."
He frowned.
"Explain."
Amber tapped the phone lightly.
"He invited me to a public event."
Alex glanced at the email again.
His expression didn't soften.
"Private guest list."
"Still public."
"It's controlled."
Amber nodded.
"Exactly."
Silence stretched.
Alex studied her carefully.
"You want to go."
It wasn't a question.
Amber didn't pretend otherwise.
"Yes."
"Why?"
She walked slowly toward the window.
Looking out over the city.
"Because he didn't invite you."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And that matters?"
"Yes."
She turned back to face him.
"He wants to separate us."
Alex didn't respond.
Amber continued.
"He wants to see how I act without you beside me."
A pause.
"He wants to measure me."
Alex's voice lowered.
"And you want to let him?"
Amber smiled.
"I want to measure him too."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Alex walked closer.
Stopping just in front of her.
"And what happens if he's not just measuring?"
Amber didn't flinch.
"Then I'll deal with it."
His gaze hardened.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
They stood there.
Close.
Tension rising.
Not anger.
Something else.
Something stubborn.
Finally—
Alex exhaled slowly.
"You don't trust me to handle this."
Amber's expression softened slightly.
"That's not it."
"Then what is it?"
She held his gaze.
"I don't want to be handled."
That landed.
Hard.
Because he understood.
Amber Gareth didn't want to be protected like something fragile.
She wanted to stand.
Fight.
Choose.
Always that word.
Choose.
Alex looked away briefly.
Thinking.
Then back at her.
"If you go…"
Amber waited.
"…you don't go alone."
She smiled slightly.
"Compromise?"
"Control."
"Same thing, depending on perspective."
His expression didn't change.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Silence again.
Then—
Amber stepped closer.
Just slightly.
Her voice softer now.
"I won't do anything reckless."
He didn't answer.
"I won't let him corner me."
Still nothing.
"And I won't lose."
That made his gaze flicker.
Because she believed it.
Not arrogance.
Certainty.
He exhaled quietly.
"…When is it?"
Amber's smile widened.
"Tomorrow night."
His eyes narrowed.
"Of course it is."
Across the city—
Inside a dimly lit private office—
Daniel Dawson stood by a glass table, pouring himself a drink.
His assistant entered.
"She received the invitation."
Daniel didn't turn.
"I know."
"Do you think she'll come?"
Daniel lifted the glass slightly.
Studying the reflection of the city lights in it.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Because she's curious."
He took a slow sip.
"And curious people always walk into interesting situations."
The assistant hesitated.
"And Alexander Wilson?"
Daniel's smile didn't fade.
"He'll try to stop her."
A pause.
"But he won't succeed."
He set the glass down.
His gaze shifted toward the city.
Toward Wilson Group's towering building in the distance.
"Because she's not his weakness."
His voice lowered slightly.
"She's his equal."
And that—
That made her far more dangerous.
Back in the office—
Amber checked the time again.
Tomorrow night.
A private event.
Daniel Dawson.
She slipped her phone into her bag.
Then looked at Alex.
"You're coming with me, right?"
Alex adjusted his cuffs slowly.
"Yes."
Amber tilted her head.
"Even though he didn't invite you?"
His gaze met hers.
Cold.
Certain.
"I don't need an invitation."
Her lips curved slightly.
"Good."
Because neither did she.