The Wilfred empire had seen powerful men walk through its doors, politicians, investors, industry giants but never anyone like Zade Russo.
Sylvie didn’t know that yet.
The rowdiness was much reduced compared to yesterday. But as she got to company, there were more guards than usual. The staff whispered in tight circles. The air itself felt heavier.
She and Ryan stood by the lobby.
"What’s going on?" she asked.
Ryan didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched, just once. "Your father is expecting a visitor."
"Okay… and?"
"And it’s someone important."
The tone in his voice, flat but strained, made her stop.
"Ryan," she pressed, "who exactly is coming?"
Before Sylvie could ask more, the doors below opened. Two men in dark suits entered first, guards. Then he stepped inside. Zade Russo.
Young, handsome. His dark hair slicked back with expensive precision. His suit was tailored so perfectly.
Sylvie froze at the top of the stairs, her breath caught in her throat without knowing why. The air around him changed everything like the temperature dropped, like the walls leaned away from him.
Zade's gaze flickered upward, catching Sylvie staring. He smiled slowly, like he knew something she didn’t.
Ryan instantly moved, stepping one inch in front of her. A silent blockade. A warning.
And that’s when her father appeared.
Cole Wilfred walked toward Zade with a stiff spine and a forced smile, hand outstretched. "Zade, you arrived earlier than expected."
Zade shook his hand with a soft, amused exhale. "I don’t like being kept waiting. Not for business or for anything."
"You received the documents?" her father asked.
"I did," Zade replied. "We have things to discuss."
His expression darkened just slightly.
"And they won’t be pleasant."
Ryan subtly shifted, his eyes following every small movement Zade made. He looked ready to jump in front of a grenade if necessary.
Sylvie moved down the stairs slowly, unable to tear her gaze away from the tension that sparked between the two men.
Her father noticed her. His stiff smile wavered. "Sylvie… now isn’t a good time."
Zade, however, looked delighted. He gave Sylvie one last slow glance, curious, interested, amused and followed Cole towards his office. The doors shut behind them.
Sylvie and Ryan stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door.
"Who is he?" Sylvie whispered.
"A problem." Ryan replied without hesitation.
"That’s not an answer."
Ryan’s voice lowered. "Zade Russo isn’t someone you want to know."
"But my father seems to know him very well."
"That’s what worries me."
Inside the office, the voices rose, first sharp, then tense, then dangerously quiet.
Sylvie stepped closer to the door.
Ryan’s hand immediately wrapped around her wrist. "Don’t."
"I just want to hear..."
"And I’m telling you no."
His voice was low, but not angry. For once, Sylvie didn’t pull away.
"What kind of man is he?" she murmured to herself.
After several tense minutes, the office door opened. Zade stepped out first. His smile was gone. Replaced with a more serious expression.
Cole followed him, looking frustrated.
Zade dusted an invisible speck off his sleeve. "Well, Cole… you know what needs to be done."
Her father didn’t respond.
Zade turned slightly, his gaze sweeping the hallway until it settled inevitably on Sylvie and he smirked.
Then, without breaking eye contact with her, he said to her father:
"There is a debt. And I always collect what I am owed."
Ryan’s hand slipped quietly toward the holster hidden under his jacket.
And Zade Russo walked out of the company with the same smooth, confident stride of a man who wasn’t threatening a family but making a promise.
A dangerous one.
