Bound to the calloway's heir

SIENNA. The elevator hummed softly as it climbed to Zane's penthouse, and I took a deep breath, letting out the air in a whiff. The glass walls reflected my tense expression. When I glanced at Belinda beside me, she could barely contain her excitement. If things hadn't hit off the way it had with Zane, I may have given myself the grace to appreciate and bask in the thrills of being in one of the finest penthouses in Los Angeles. My fingers tightened around the broken pendant in my pocket. I was desperate to know what it held, yet the thought of being in Zane's space again made my stomach churn. I didn't want to face him, not after his laughter had sliced through my confession in the lounge. Belinda, oblivious to my inner chaos, grabbed my wrist, "Girl, I can't believe I'm about to see Zane Calloway's penthouse," she said with a gleeful voice. "You are Bel," I said, half interested. "You know how many blogs rave about this place? I'm ready to be dazzled." I forced a smile to match her enthusiasm. "It's just a fancy apartment, Bel. Don't get too starstruck." "Fancy?" She scoffed, nudging my shoulder. "This is billionaire-level fancy." The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to the sleek foyer. Belinda grasped it instantly, and I glanced at her. Her eyes darted from the crystal chandelier to the panoramic windows showcasing the city's glittering skyline. "Okay, I take it back," she whispered, stepping out of the elevator. "This is next-level. Sienna?" I didn't answer her rhetorical questions as I followed her with Jason trailing behind us silently. Belinda was about to make a comment when Jason's phone buzzed. It kept blaring with such urgency that I froze in my step. I turned to him watching as he glanced at the screen, and I noticed his jaw tightening as he read from the screen. "What is it?" I asked. He met my gaze and looked towards Belinda. He was probably considering whether he could talk in her presence. Belinda was lost in our talks. She had her full attention on a painting. "This is an SOS alert. One of Atlas's branches just got hit. Bomb." My breath caught, and the only image flashing through my mind was Zane's. Was he there? Was he hurt? "My God. Is he...?" My fingers tightened over the pendant in my hand. "Zane's fine," Jason cut in, as if he had read through me. "What happened? How much damage?" I asked. "From my report here, no deaths, just some injuries. Nothing to get you worried." Relief washed over me, knowing Zane was safe. I nodded, relaxing my fingers around the pendant as the realization of the news hit me. Zane wasn't there. That meant we could dig into the flash drive without him watching. "Let's get to the tech room," I said, "Come on Bel, we can do a house tour later," I said, literally pulling her away from her hypnotized state. Reluctantly, she followed me as Jason led us through the hallway. "Sienna, you're living the dream." "I don't live here," I muttered. The idea of calling this place home felt foreign. I didn't belong here. This was Zane's world. The tech room was located at the end of a hallway, and upon entering, it was like stepping into a sci-fi movie. It had lots of monitors and a rack of servers humming quietly. There was a massive touchscreen table that was connected to all the monitors. Jason gestured to one of them. "That's the one with the old ports. I am positive it will read your drive." I pried the pendant open and extracted the tiny flash drive before handing it to Jason, my pulse racing with anticipation of what we were about to discover. "Let's do this." "What spy movie does this remind you of, Sienna?" Belinda asked. "Not now, Bel." Jason plugged it into the desktop. Belinda leaned over my shoulder. "What do you think's on it? Secret government files? Don't be a bore?" I swallowed. "I don't know. But he called it my lifeline. It's got to be something big." "Have a look" Jason said, stepping aside just as the screen prompted for a password, I stared at the screen, my heart sinking. A passcode? I racked my brain, searching for anything my dad might've used, birthdays, names, random numbers he had mentioned. Nothing clicked. "I don't remember him saying anything about a code," I said, feeling some of the hope I had draining out of me. Belinda squeezed my shoulder, "Okay, let's think. What was your dad like? Did he have favorite words, phrases, anything he repeated a lot?" I closed my eyes, picturing my dad's face, "He used to say power is loyalty," I said, "Maybe that?" Jason typed it in, but the screen flashed red with an Access Denied prompt. We tried variations and each attempt ended the same. With each denied access, my frustration intensified. I started to pace the room, trying to remember anything that had happened that night that could be the likely code. Why hadn't my dad told me? Why leave me with a puzzle I couldn't solve? Belinda flopped into a chair, blowing a stray curl out of her face. "Your dad was no joke, Sienna. What kind of accountant hides a flash drive like this?" "Apparently, he wasn't just an accountant," I said. "I had always suspected there was more to him, but now the evidence is staring me in the face. Whatever's on this drive, will explain it all. I know it." Jason leaned back, rubbing his neck. "We're not cracking this today. I think it needs serious decryption software, maybe even a specialist. This is beyond specialty." I shook my head, panic flaring. "No specialists. We don't know who we can trust." The thought of Zane or the cartel discovering the drive made me uneasy. Before Belinda or Jason could respond, the door opened, and Zane stepped in. He looked exhausted, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made me want to shrink and stand taller at the same time. "Mr Calloway!" Belinda's squeaky scream made him turn away from mine to face her. "Miss Adams, welcome to my humble house." He smiled softly, his eyes taking note of everything, yet he acted like he had not just caught us in his tech room. Jason stepped away from the desktop and I hastily flipped the buttons, until the screen went blank. I turned around to find Zane's eyes on me, "Dinner's ready," he said, his eyes leaving mine to Jason and finally on Belinda. Belinda perked up. "Dinner in a billionaire's penthouse? Count me in." She shot me a grin, oblivious to the tension crackling between me and Zane. I wanted to argue, to stay glued to the computer until we cracked the drive, but my stomach growled in hunger, betraying me. And a part of me wanted to be near him, even after everything. "Fine," I said, avoiding his gaze. "Yess" Belinda grinned, marching out of the room. ֍ The air smelled of the braised duck Cantonese. I was munching on having finished the crispy boneless chicken and left with the lettuce when Belinda let out a low whistle, "Okay, Zane, this is straight-up palatial. Do you eat like this every night?" Zane's lips twitched in a smile. "Only when I have guests." Belinda speared a piece of salmon and grinned at Zane. "So, Mr. Billionaire, what's the deal with this place? I heard it is fully smart. Does it make your coffee for you in the morning?" Zane leaned back. "It could, if I wanted. The system controls security basically." "Fancy," Belinda said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "You ever get tired of all this high-class living? Look at this table. It's bigger than our apartment." I snorted, unable to help myself, and Belinda winked at me. Zane's gaze flicked to me, softening for a moment, but I looked away, focusing on my plate. I didn't want his warmth, not when I could still hear his laughter from the lounge. "High-class has its perks," Zane said. "But it's just a tool. Keeps things efficient." "Efficient's one word for it," Belinda said, gesturing to the chandelier. "I'm calling it fabulous. Sienna, you didn't tell me you were chilling in a palace." "I don't chill here," I muttered, poking at my risotto. "I'm just... visiting." Belinda raised an eyebrow but didn't push. Instead, she turned back to Zane. "So, what's the craziest thing this penthouse can do? Like, can it lock out unwanted guests? Or play mood music on command?" Zane's eyes glinted, and he leaned forward, engaging her in a way that made my chest ache. "Voice-activated playlists, sure. And the security system's tight, biometric locks, motion sensors. Nobody gets in unless I want them to." I gripped my fork tightly, his words hitting too close to home. Did he want me here, or was I just another guest he could lock out when he was done? As we finished, Zane stood, his gaze lingering on me. "You're welcome to stay," he said, "All of you." Belinda clapped her hands, grinning. "I'm never leaving. This place is my new home." I forced a smile, but my heart wasn't in it. I needed answers, not Zane's hospitality. I pushed my chair back, the legs scraping faintly against the polished floor, and stood, avoiding his eyes. "Sienna," Zane said as he rose. "Can we talk?" "I'm keeping Belinda company," I said, hastily moving toward her. It was a flimsy excuse, but I would rather hide behind it than face him. I gripped Belinda's arm, steering her toward the living room. "Later," I muttered, not trusting myself to say more. I couldn't let him unravel me again, not when the flash drive in my pocket held secrets I needed more than his apologies. Belinda's eyes flicked to me, a knowing glint in them, but she played along, leaning closer with a grin. "Yeah, Zane, no boys allowed. We've got important things to discuss, like how I'm stealing your interior designer's number." Zane's jaw tightened, but he didn't push. "Fine," he said, standing, "I'll be in the office if you need me." His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, before he turned and strode out, his silhouette disappearing down the hallway. Belinda didn't say anything nor resist as I pushed her along with me into the living room. The plush velvet sofas looked inviting, but I was too restless to sit. She plopped down, kicking off her shoes and tucking her legs under her, "Okay, girl, what was that?" she asked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You practically sprinted out of there. Zane's got those puppy-dog eyes, and you're over here playing hard to get." I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall. "It's not a game, Bel. He doesn't care about me. Not in the way you think." Belinda tilted her head, "Sienna, come on. I saw the way he looked at you at dinner. Like you're the only person in the room. And you're not exactly indifferent, Miss 'I Love You' Mid-Orgasm." She grinned. I grabbed a throw pillow nearest and hauled it to her. "Stop it," I said as she dodged the throw pillow I lobbed at her. "Can we focus? The drive's all that matters right now. I need to know what's on it." She sighed, stretching dramatically. "Fine, fine. But for the record, you two are giving me rom-com vibes, and I'm here for it." She paused. "Zane's gone to his office. Now's our chance to call Travis." "Who is Travis?" I asked. "My IT guy's a genius with this stuff, and he owes me for covering his ass three times in a row." I hesitated at the idea of bringing in a stranger. It made my skin prickle. "Can we trust him? If this drive is as big as I think, we can't risk it getting out." Belinda waved a hand, her bracelets jangling. "Travis is a nerdy pushover. I'll make him swear on his Star Wars collection to keep it quiet. Plus, he's been trying to get me to go on a date with him. He'll behave knowing that could get him a chance." I nodded, my pulse quickening. "Okay. Call him." She pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen. As she chatted with Travis, I glanced out the window. The penthouse's smart lights dimmed slightly, adjusting to the evening, but the tech only heightened my unease. Zane's world was too controlled and I felt like a glitch in his system. "He's on his way," Belinda said, hanging up. "Twenty minutes, tops. Let's get back to the tech room before Zane comes sniffing around for you." "Don't you even start" I eyed her as we made our way to the tech room. The hum of servers greeted us. I sank into the chair while Belinda leaned against the touchscreen table. I texted Jason to bring Travis to the tech room when he arrived before dropping the phone next to me on the chair. "So, what's your bet? Spy secrets? Buried treasure map?" she asked. I managed a weak laugh. "Knowing my dad, probably his old tax returns." But my chest tightened as I spoke. Whatever was on it, it wasn't mundane. "I just want to know why he left, Bel. Why didn't he tell me anything?" She reached over, squeezing my hand. "We'll figure it out. Travis's got this." A soft knock interrupted us, and Jason ushered in a lanky guy with messy brown hair and glasses that kept sliding down his nose. Travis clutched a battered laptop bag, his eyes darting around the tech room like a kid in a candy store. "Holy crap, this setup is insane," he said. "Is that a quantum processor?" Belinda rolled her eyes, stepping forward. "Focus, Travis. You're here for a job, not a tech tour." She crossed her arms, "And before you touch anything, you swear this stays between us. You breathe a word, and I will tell the whole office you've got a micropenis and cry during rom-coms." Travis's face went beet red. "Jesus, Belinda, that a lie and yes I get it! My lips are sealed, I swear." He glanced at me, then back at her, his Adam's apple bobbing. "What's the deal?" I pulled the flash drive from the pendant, holding it up. "This. It's encrypted, and we need to get in. Can you do it?" His eyes lit up, and he adjusted his glasses, suddenly all business. "Old-school Type-A connector? Nice. Let's see what we're working with." He took the drive, plugging it into his laptop, which he'd set up next to the desktop. The screen filled with code and his fingers flew over the keys expertly. Belinda leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Oh, and Travis? Crack this, and I'll go out with you. One date, my choice of place." Travis froze, his fingers hovering mid-keystroke. "For real?" he squeaked, his blush deepening. "For real," she said, winking as she ran a hand through his hair. "Now get to work, nerd." I stifled a laugh, grateful for her ability to lighten the mood. Travis dove in, muttering about firewalls and encryption protocols. I watched the screen, my heart pounding as lines of code scrolled past. Sixty-something minutes later, Travis let out a triumphant "Got it!" and I jolted upright in my chair. "Really?" "Bypassed the initial encryption," he said, pushing his glasses up. "But i have narrowed down the firewall to a a seven-letter word. Any ideas?" I leaned forward, my mind racing. "We have tried most of the words I can remember, what is it?" Belinda tapped her chin, grabbed Travis' noise-canceling headset and placed it over his head. "What?" Travis tried to ask but she shut him off. When she was sure, Travis couldn't hear us. She turned to me. "What about your actual family name? I remember you had to adopt Carter at some point." I hesitated, then nodded. "Ellison?" She nodded. "It is seven letters. Can it be?" I tapped Travis while she took off the headset. "Try this word." I gave him the letters of my family's last name, holding my breath as he typed them in. The screen blinked green, and a folder icon appeared; I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. "It worked." Belinda squealed, launching herself at Travis and planting a kiss on his cheek. "You're a genius!" she cried, then spun to face me, her eyes wide. "Sienna, we're in! Holy shit, we're in!" Travis blinked, dazed, his face flaming. "Uh, yeah. Cool." He cleared his throat, glancing at Jason, who had been silently watching from the corner. "So, uh, what now?" Belinda's expression turned serious. "Now, you give us some privacy. Sienna and I need to see what's on this drive. Alone." Travis, still blushing from the kiss, grabbed his laptop bag and shuffled out, mumbling about being on call if we needed him before leaving me and Belinda alone in the tech room. I reached for the mouse with a trembling hand. "Here we go," I whispered to Belinda. The secrets were finally within reach, and I wasn't sure I was ready for what they would reveal.