Behind Closed Doors and Camera Lenses

Chapter 1

The street was silent at three in the morning, a heavy stillness cloaking the surroundings, with a sleek black Maybach parked along the curb.
Evelyn Stone, a determined photographer with a silver DSLR hanging from her neck, hurried down the road. She cast a wary glance at the suspicious vehicle before quickening her stride.
There was no time to waste; she had just received word that the famed actor, Liam Blackwood, would soon appear at a nearby hotel. She needed to stake out her position now.
As she passed the car, just a few steps ahead, an unexpected sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Suddenly, a powerful grip clasped around her wrist, yanking her back.
“Let go of me!” she instinctively shouted, panic rising in her throat. “What do you want?”
“Don’t scream, or I swear, I’ll blow your brains out.”
With that chilling threat, she felt something cold pressed against her side. She knew it was a gun… and the knowledge froze her in place.
“Lord Cedric.” A towering man loomed next to the car and tapped sharply on the window of the back seat. “We’ve got a woman here with a camera. Not sure if she’s been taking photos.”
“Photos? You’ve got it all wrong! I wasn’t photographing you guys, I swear!” Evelyn raised her hand in a silent vow.
“Take her camera,” came a deep, chilling voice from inside. Evelyn’s heart raced; she recognized that voice. Before she had a chance to react, her camera was yanked from her neck, forced through the window, which rolled up immediately after.
Confusion clouded her mind. She frowned, biting her lip, and tilted her head to try to glimpse what was happening inside the car. But all she could see were the darkened windows, denying her any answer.
“Please, give my camera back!” she pleaded, tapping on the window anxiously, knowing it contained crucial pictures.
After what felt like an eternity—about a minute— the man inside spoke again.
“Let her in.”
Before she could process his words, she was shoved into the back seat. The chill of the air conditioning hit her like a wave, raising goosebumps on her pale arms. She was forced to kneel, wide-eyed in surprise.
In front of her was a strikingly handsome face. The man was impeccably chiseled, his features sharp and deep-set, lips pressed tightly together. Underneath tousled short hair, a pair of dark eyes sparkled with an icy sheen, sending chills down her spine.
For a moment, she found herself lost in his captivating presence.
Her gaze slid sideways, and she suddenly recognized the glamorous woman seated beside him. It was Annabelle Wright, the world-renowned actress. What was she doing here, alone with a man in the dead of night?
Annabelle was flipping through the photos in Evelyn's camera, her teeth gritting in evident frustration. “Lord Cedric, this woman is a paparazzi! Look, her camera is filled with our pictures…”
Indeed, just a week prior, Evelyn had captured Annabelle with a famous billionaire at a hotel, but thankfully, that explosive evidence had not made it onto this camera. For now, Annabelle seemed oblivious to the fact that Evelyn had been the one to expose her last scandal. If she found out… well, Evelyn didn’t even want to think about it.
“Lord Cedric, you can’t let her go. She—”
“Get lost.” The man’s face remained stone-cold as he impatiently cut Annabelle off.
Evelyn was utterly baffled. She had barely arrived and now she was being dismissed?
“Fine, I’ll go. But you have to give my camera back!”
Straightening up, she lunged toward the man to reclaim her camera, but at the glance of his dangerously fierce gaze, she quickly withdrew her hand.
“I meant for you to get lost, not her.” Lord Cedric's tone was chilling as he addressed Annabelle.
“Lord Cedric…” Annabelle protested, frustrated. She had finally snagged some private time with him, only to have it interrupted by a pesky reporter.
With her scandal still looming over her, she hoped Lord Cedric would help her find a way out of it.
But before Annabelle could plead further, Sir Magnus—waiting just outside—seized the moment, flinging the door open to pull Annabelle out.
In an instant, the back seat held only Lord Cedric and Evelyn, their eyes locking in a tense standoff.
“What do you want?” she demanded, though her voice quavered slightly in the face of the man who had disrupted her life entirely.

Chapter 2

“What do you want?” He let out a mocking laugh, his tone dripping with derision. “You journalists just love digging into other people’s private lives, don’t you? Maybe you should experience what it’s like to have your own secrets exposed. How would you feel about seeing a video of you and some guy making out all over the Internet tomorrow?”
Evelyn Stone was still trying to process his words when he yanked her onto his lap. He cupped her chin, his lips crashing against hers in a heated kiss that reeked of red wine. With one hand gripping a camera, he snapped a picture as they kissed, the sound of the shutter echoing in her shocked ears.
Before she could even react, Evelyn bit down hard on his lip. The metallic taste of blood hit both of them like a jolt.
“Damn...” he grunted, pushing her away with enough force that her forehead collided with the side window, stars exploding in her vision.
“What’s your problem?” He shot her a glare that was both piercing and intimidating.
“I want to live!” Evelyn blurted out eagerly.
“Want to live, yet you still dare to resist me?”
Her heart raced at his words, and it took a moment for her to gather her thoughts. Only then did she notice something was off; the silver-gray shirt he wore was disheveled, a number of buttons undone, his chest marked with faint red patches. Despite his effort to maintain composure, his breaths were uneven, and she recalled how heated he felt when they were close.
“Are you on something?” Evelyn ventured cautiously.
Lord Alaric said nothing.
His silence told her everything she needed to know.
“Oh, so you and Annabelle Wright were just having some fun in the car, huh? Sorry to interrupt!” she realized, panic overwhelming her as she instinctively moved to exit the car. But before she could get far, Lord Alaric’s quick reflexes caught her wrists.
He had a serious cleanliness obsession regarding women. The thought of kissing Annabelle made him feel sick; he’d rather endure the intense effects of whatever he had taken than touch her. But with this woman…
Kissing her hadn’t felt so bad.
“You’ll take her place.”
Evelyn stared at him, disbelief washing over her like a tidal wave.
“No! I’ll just go get Miss Annabelle Wright for you. Hold on!” She glanced out of the window, desperately searching for any sign of Annabelle, but the street was empty.
“Not listening, are you?” The blood near his lips only served to enhance his already alluring features. This man, solely based on his looks and physique, was undeniably captivating.
Wait! Evelyn, focus on getting away!
Her mind raced as she scanned the surroundings. There was a narrow alley between the buildings too tight for his sleek Maybach to fit through. She risked one last glance at the man who had caught her, still standing several dozen feet away, unwilling to disturb “his business.”
Then, it hit her.
Evelyn bit her lip and feigned fear as she spoke, “I’ll do whatever you say! If you want me to be the ‘antidote,’ I’ll do it. Just as long as you don’t make my life hell after. I really don’t want to die!”
Lord Alaric’s eyes darkened with a new consideration.
With no further hesitation, Evelyn wrapped her arms around his neck. As his lips neared hers, she subtly leaned to the side, evading his kiss.
Taking the chance, she undid the remaining buttons on his shirt, quickly throwing it aside. His body was sculpted to perfection, but Evelyn couldn’t help but notice several scars on his back — both large and small, looking like knife and bullet wounds…
Something deep inside her stirred; this man was no saint.

Chapter 3

Evelyn found herself trapped between the man's legs, their position brimming with tension and unspoken complications.
With a resonant "click," the sound of a belt buckle unfastening echoed in the confined space.
Evelyn hesitated for a moment, but then fully pulled the belt from its loops. The man’s arousal pressed against her small hand, poised and ready, prompting a sharp withdraw of her hand.
“Stop pretending to be coy.” His deep, husky voice dripped with a seductive challenge. “Just climb on.”
It had to be said, the man's self-control was impressive. Most men, drugged and surrounded by willing women, would succumb to their baser instincts. Yet here was this man, adopting an authoritative demeanor, just waiting for her to serve him.
But then, seizing the moment when his eyes fluttered closed, Evelyn sprang up. She thrust her knee hard into his thigh, then, quick as lightning, flung open the car door, snatched his shirt and belt, and bolted away.
There was no way he would chase her without his clothes, right?
“Damn it.”
Lord Alaric muttered under his breath, doubling over in frustration. His expression twisted into a scowl, teetering on the brink of fury—almost ruined by a woman.
Evelyn ran hard, heart pounding, and a few minutes later, only then did she dare to stop.
Glancing back, she saw no one in pursuit. Finally, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Holding the shirt and belt in her hands, she frowned. The logos emblazoned were from luxury brands, worth a fortune, but what did that matter to her?
With a determined stride, she stepped over to a trash bin and coolly discarded the items.
---
Morning came with an incessant alarm ringing.
Evelyn rubbed her aching head and spent a moment shaking off the remnants of sleep before sitting up and throwing off her comforter. She slipped on a pair of slippers and shuffled to the bathroom, ready to wash up as quickly as possible before heading to work.
Starry Media House.
As soon as she stepped into the office, chaos greeted her. Master Edwin beckoned her over with that familiar stern expression.
“You’ve been following the Annabelle Wright story, right? Well, now you’ve really got a mess on your hands. What are you going to do about it?” His tone was severe, leaving Evelyn utterly bewildered.
Annabelle Wright was the leading star at Chesterfield Media Group, known for her million-plus social media followers and eternally positive press coverage. Only a week ago, Starry Media House had broken a scandalous story: Annabelle was reportedly involved with a wealthy magnate—who, by the way, had an entire family of his own.
Annabelle had built her career on a pure, innocent image, and now, being outed as a mistress had sent social media into a frenzy. The latest issue of Starry had surged to a staggering million copies sold—a phenomenal milestone for such a relatively small magazine.
The scoop had been Evelyn’s discovery, drawing praise from Master Edwin, who had even promised her a bonus by the end of the month. But now…
“Master Edwin, what exactly is going on?”

Chapter 4

“Have you checked the news this morning?” Master Edwin's round face wrinkled with worry, “Annabelle Wright’s agency just released a statement on social media claiming our magazine spread false information. They’ve sent us a cease-and-desist notice and plan to sue Starry Enterprises. With Chesterfield Media Group backing Annabelle, there’s no way a small magazine like ours can fight back. One flick of their finger, and Starry Enterprises will be done for.”
Evelyn Stone scoffed, raising an eyebrow in disbelief, “False information? They’ve published photos of those two leaving a hotel together, and they’re still calling it fake news. What do they want, a video of Annabelle and that man in bed to confirm her role as the mistress?”
Evelyn had always despised mistresses and ungrateful men the most; for those brazen enough to act without shame, ruin was too light a punishment.
Before Master Edwin could respond, the phone rang unexpectedly. Evelyn watched as the tension melted away from his face, replaced by a gleeful smile as he spoke into the receiver, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have her come over right away. Please give us a chance to talk.” After hanging up, Master Edwin turned serious, addressing Evelyn directly. "You need to hurry over to Chesterfield Media Group. They specifically asked for you as the point of contact. You need to negotiate; we can't afford this lawsuit."
Evelyn pieced it together. That was Chesterfield Media Group on the line—just days ago, they were sternly issuing a cease-and-desist. Now they wanted her to come negotiate? Reluctant but understanding the stakes for her team's livelihood, she knew she had to comply.
Standing in front of the imposing Chesterfield Media Group building, she tilted her head back to take in the sky-high structure, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
Master Edwin had been right; with a mere flick, Chesterfield Media Group could obliterate Starry Enterprises.
After all, Chesterfield Media Group was merely the public front for the behemoth that was Cedric Consortium—a sprawling empire with reach into countless sectors, from hospitality to entertainment, transportation, oil, gaming, and arms investment.
Rumor had it that Chesterfield Media Group was established just to conceal Cedric Consortium’s more illicit deals in Asia—to launder money…
What could a small magazine do against such a powerhouse? Fighting them would be like throwing eggs at a rock.
Evelyn detailed her purpose to the receptionist, who quickly dialed the office of the president.
“Lord Cedric, your guest has arrived. Should I escort her to your office?”
Lord Cedric…
A gossip involving an actress had escalated to a matter significant enough to draw the interest of the top boss at Chesterfield Media Group.
This was bad news—clearly, Annabelle Wright held considerable sway in Chesterfield Media Group.
However, while the great leader of the largest media company was indeed powerful, he was as elusive as they come. No one had seen his face, reports about him were scant, and even written descriptions were rare, let alone photographs or videos.
All Evelyn knew was his name: Lord Alaric.
As an entertainment journalist for a third-rate magazine, meeting the enigmatic boss who held the strings of the industry was either an unforeseen stroke of luck or simply another cog in fate’s relentless wheel.
Lost in her thoughts, she found herself at the door to the president's office.
The secretary opened the imposing door, gesturing for Evelyn to enter.
The carpeted floors absorbed the sound of her high heels, and she paused in awe as she entered the spacious office. Honestly, it was larger than their entire magazine office.
Before her sat an enormous curved desk, with a wall of floor-to-ceiling mirrors behind it. Looking out through the window, she could see fluffy clouds drifting in the azure sky, the sunlight spilling gently onto the polished wooden bookshelves, instilling a lazy opulence that enveloped the room. For a moment, Evelyn couldn’t help but admire the decadent space…
“Are you done staring?” a deep, cold voice interrupted her reverie. Frowning, she felt that smooth voice was oddly familiar.

Chapter 5

Evelyn Stone spun around abruptly, her heart racing as she came face-to-face with the man who haunted her thoughts. Lord Alaric leaned casually against the doorframe, his imposing figure silhouetted against the light, and his fierce gaze bore into her.
“Surprised to see me?” he drawled, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
Evelyn bit her lip, forcing her mind to clear. With a subtle smile, she attempted to exude confidence as she bowed her head slightly. “Lord Alaric, I’m Evelyn Stone from Starry Media House. I’m here to discuss—”
“Do you really think there's anything left to discuss between us?” He interrupted, his voice dripping with disdain. It took guts to toy with Lord Alaric, but here she was, undeterred.
Evelyn fell silent, hastily recalibrating her thoughts.
No chance of negotiation? Then what was the reason for this meeting?
“Let’s settle the score from last night,” he continued, his voice low and smooth, resonating in a way that sent shivers down her spine.
She swallowed hard, trying to sort through last night’s chaos. Ever since she had crossed paths with Lord Alaric, things had spiraled out of control. A quarrel had erupted, resulting in her team receiving a lawsuit from Annabelle Wright this morning, and now here she was, summoned to Chesterfield Media Group to face the very man responsible.
“You didn’t have to make a scene over a minor incident,” she retorted, her tone steady. “Honestly, I never meant to take your clothes off or unclip your belt. If you want to blame someone, blame me—I was just trying to defend myself. It’s not like anyone wants to lose their dignity on a public road, right?”
“Lord Alaric…” she continued, trying to remain composed, but her words faltered as he suddenly stepped closer, gripping her chin and forcing her to meet his intense stare.
His eyes were dangerously dark, sharp, and captivating all at once.
Evelyn felt a lump forming in her throat at the closeness. She was taken aback by how he seemed to command the room with just his presence.
“Want to save your magazine?” His words were like steel. “You only have one option.”
Hope flickered in her chest, but it was snuffed out as he continued, “Make me comfortable, and I might consider letting you off the hook.”
Comfortable?
“That’s so unfair!” Evelyn’s head spun with frustration. She had been a stranger in his world, dragged into a mess she hadn’t created. After being forcibly brought into that car last night, how could he expect her not to resist? The blame felt ludicrously one-sided.
“You’ve got a day to think it over. If you come to a decision, meet me at Royal Court Manor by midnight.” His tone left no room for protest.
“Take her out,” he instructed his secretary, his tone final, indicating there would be no further discussion.
“Yes, Lord Alaric.”
Evelyn’s heart raced, a mix of indignation and determination. She'd faced many obstacles in her 23 years, yet never had she encountered an opponent like this—someone who seemed invincible.
“Darn it!” she thought, feeling the intense urge to shred the very clothes she wore. What had she been thinking? Running away would have been the better option. Yet, she had let herself get sucked into that ridiculous situation.

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