I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands clasped on my bare legs. They were a bit louder than usual – my father and his guards. I could constantly hear them through the night and now that it is morning, they were just a bit louder. I couldn't decipher much about what was going on, but I was slowly becoming entuned with the whole atmosphere. Something was going on. They were the only ones who truly knew the ins and outs of my father's business dealings, but they never spoke about it in front of me.

I was always tired from a lack of sleep. The stress of my father's business dealings kept me up at night, and I could hear the muffled sounds of his late-night meetings through the walls of my room. He was always on the phone, always talking in hushed tones about things I didn't understand. And it bothered me that he sometimes had to walk around the house, mainly past my door. As if to tell me he was there. As if to remind me that he was always working- something I refused to let him pull me into.

I had strict working hours. And that was one thing I would not budge on.

I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the sounds of their movements. But my mind wouldn't let me rest. I knew I needed to do something to find out what was going on, to find out what my father was involved in. That's why I was so determined to get closer to Nate or Claud. Ever since they came onto the playing field, the whole dynamics had changed.

With a deep breath, I got up from my bed and started getting ready for the day. Today was the day I was going to take action. I was going to find out what was really going on with my father's business, no matter what it took.

I sat at my desk in my office, surrounded by piles of paperwork and half-empty coffee cups. Lunch was skipped since I was so into a good flow. I always preferred to work in solitude and my office was a reflection of that. It was my private space, in this shithole company. My laptop was in front of me, my eyes fixed on the screen as I sifted through the latest lead in my investigation. My mind was racing, trying to piece together the puzzle of my father's business dealings.

Suddenly, a loud knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, causing me to jump in my seat. I looked up to see Mr. Johnson, my father's assistant, standing in the doorway. His imposing figure filled the space, casting a shadow across my desk.

"Ellie, your father wants to see you," he said in a deep, stern voice.

My heart skipped a beat. I felt a knot form in my stomach as I wondered what he could possibly want from me.

"Okay, I'll be right there," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

I quickly closed my laptop and gathered my things, trying to compose myself before leaving the office. Whatever my father wanted to talk to me about, I knew it was important. I just hoped that I was prepared for whatever was to come.

I took a deep breath as I entered my father's office. It was a spacious room with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city skyline. My father sat behind his large wooden desk, looking up at me with a stern expression.

"Ellie, I need you to show Nate the contracts for the new business deal," my father said, gesturing towards Nate, who was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.

I felt my heart sink as I looked over at Nate. His stoic expression revealed nothing, but I couldn't help feeling uneasy in his presence. I knew that he was a key player in my father's business, but I had never met him before.

I walked over to the desk and picked up the stack of papers, flipping through them nervously. The contracts were filled with legal jargon that I couldn't make heads or tails of, but I tried my best to appear confident as I handed them to Nate.

"Here you go," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Nate took the contracts from me and began to read them over, his expression remaining unchanged. I couldn't help but feel like he was scrutinizing me as he read, like he knew all of my secrets and weaknesses.

As he finished reading, he handed the contracts back to me without saying a word. "Show me more." Nate said.

My father nodded in approval, and I could feel the weight of his expectations on my shoulders.

"Ellie, show him more.," he said, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.

I took a deep breath and motioned for Nate to follow me back to my office. My heart was pounding in my chest as we walked down the hallway together. I could feel his presence behind me, and it was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking at the same time.

As we entered my office, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious. My desk was cluttered with papers, and we were alone in this room. I heard the door shut behind him. Soft but damn was it loud to my ears. It was a stark contrast from my father's grand office, but it was the only place where we could review the contracts. I gestured for Nate to take a seat across from me, feeling a mix of nerves and curiosity.

As I pulled out the contracts, I could feel Nate's eyes on me, watching my every move. I tried my best to focus on the task at hand, ignoring the growing tension in the room.

"So, what do you think?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

Nate took the contracts from me and began to read them over, his expression unreadable. I could feel the weight of his scrutiny on me as I watched him, waiting for his verdict.

After what felt like an eternity, he handed the contracts back to me, a slight nod of approval on his face. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling like I had passed some sort of test.

"Looks good to me," he said simply.

Memories of what happened in his apartment came swarming to my head and I forced it back away. Now was not the time to think about that. That Nate was someone else. This Nate was slowly scaring me.

Nate watched me with an unwavering gaze. "Why did you approach us at the park?"

My head snapped to the door, double checking if they were closed. I did not expect him to ask me that.

"Just because." I said, shrugging it off. I wasn't so sure where he sat in this world. Was he against my father? Was he against me? Was he with my father?

I was walking on a thin line here, very easily to fall of a side. But what side would I land on?

He stared at me some more before he abruptly pushed off the chair. As Nate turned to leave, I felt a sense of disappointment was over me. I had been hoping for some kind of connection with him, but it seemed like he was only interested in business. I watched as he walked out of my office, his back straight and confident and couldn't help but feel a sense of longing for something that could never be.

I felt like a lost something so vital in my life. It has been such a long time since I saw him at midnight, and I missed him so much. I felt a lump appear in my throat.

I had something so special that I only knew about, and it was snatched from me.

Just as Nate was about to leave my office, he turned back around to face me. His expression was serious, and I could see a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"Ellie, I know why you wanted to get closer to me," he said, his voice low and measured. "You want to find out how to take down your father."

My heart leapt into my throat at his words. How could he know my true intentions? I had been so careful, so calculated in my approach.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to sound casual.

Nate raised an eyebrow, and I could tell that he wasn't buying my act. "Come on, Ellie. We both know what's really going on here. You want to take your father down, and you think I can help you do it." He said in a very low voice.

I felt a rush of panic wash over me. How had he figured it out? And more importantly, what was he going to do about it?

"Keep your voice down," I said, my voice shaking slightly.

Nate studied me for a long moment, and then he let out a deep sigh. "Look, Ellie. This is a dangerous game you're playing, and you could get hurt."

"Please stop talking about it." I said, keeping my eyes on the laptop as shame crept up my face. I hated how he knew I was going against my father. What kind of loving daughter was I?

"I can help."