C28 The Raven

When Sophia woke up in Lucas's bed the morning after the fire, she was still reflecting on the previous night.

The residual smoke odor seemed to haunt her, reminding her of how close she had been to losing everything—her life, her career. The idea chilled her to the bone.

With a tray filled with coffee and a modest breakfast, Lucas softly made his way inside the room. When his eyes met hers, they became softer.

After setting the tray on the bedside table, he greeted, "Good morning."

Sophia forced a feeble grin. "Good morning."

Lucas sat next to her on the bed and declared, "I've made arrangements for enhanced security. Some guards will be stationed outside the studio as well as at the building entrance. I will not risk your safety in any way.”

Sophia let out a sigh, feeling as though she was being choked. "Lucas, thank you for your efforts, but this feels excessive. I'm used to a simple lifestyle."

"Well, not anymore. It is important that you have security now.," he emphasized. "Whoever did this won't simply stop if you were really the target and while investigation is ongoing, we have to be careful. They might target you again after this failed attempt.”

Her voice was hardly audible as she stated, "I can't live like this. Like a prisoner, always watching over my shoulder. Can you live like this?”

Lucas extended his hand and cupped her face tenderly. “It doesn't matter and I'm not the one in danger. You have to do this, but only until we identify the person responsible. I must know that you are safe.”

Sophia leaned into his touch, feeling a range of conflicting feelings in her heart. She sympathized with his worry, but she felt confined by the idea of being watched all the time.

"I have to return to work," she stated in a stern voice. "I have to complete the commissioned piece."

Lucas paused his urge to help her battling his protective impulses. "The guards will accompany you and remain close by."

Sophia shook her head and said, "No." "Lucas, I have to do this on my terms. I have to get my feeling of normalcy back. I'll be fine.”

After examining her for a while, he reluctantly nodded. "All right, but please be careful."

She kissed his cheek tenderly and said, "I will. I appreciate your understanding."

************************************************

The smell of burnt wood was still present when Sophia returned to her workshop in the afternoon. Although the extent of the damage was less than she had anticipated, she was discouraged by the loss of a portion of her commissioned work.

She immediately set to work, determined to complete the project and repair what had been damaged.

She took solace in the continuous scratching of her pencil on paper as the hours passed, as it let her forget about the chaos that threatened to engulf her.

She was too preoccupied with her work to notice the shadow moving outside her studio window or the faint groan of the floorboards.

She didn't see anything until she stretched, ready for a break, and then she noticed a fresh sketch carefully put on her drafting table.

As she walked toward it, fear accumulating in her belly, her breath stuck in her throat. “What now?” She murmured.

It was a sketch of her, but it wasn't your typical portrait.

Her face was twisted in terror and anguish as the drawing showed her trapped in flames.

From the flames licking at her feet to the wisps of smoke wrapping about her, the details were terrifyingly accurate.

Sophia stepped back, her thoughts racing, her pulse thumping in her chest. What is this about? How does whoever doing this get easy assess to her studio and apartment? What was the meaning of it?

As Sophia gripped the sketch, her fingers shaking, the room became colder and the shadows darker. The danger was far from finished, and that was the unmistakable warning.

************************************************

The faces of several people seated around a large table in a dimly lit room were shadowed by the faint glow of a large screen.

A man only known as The Conductor was seated at the head, leaning forward with his fingers intertwined and his gaze focused on the screen that showed several important figures in the business sector.

Over the speaker, a clear, purposeful voice crackled. "I have compiled a list of the major forces in business as of now. Notable among them is Lucas Hawke. His interest in business and art is still the same. His most recent endeavor, which involved an unknown artist, Sophia Lynns, has attracted a lot of interest. But he is not yet aware of the return of Starlight Incorporated's acting CEO, Damien Cross, from England.

He is not aware that Damien Cross has been working against him.”

The Conductor narrowed his eyes and nodded. “How has Cross been working against him? He just returned to New York, yes?”

“Yes my Lord, Cross has been keeping a careful eye on Hawke even before returning to New York. He has been paying special attention to Lynns because there seems to be more to her relationship with Hawke, other than work.” The voice said, "He's been….harassing her, probably waiting for the right moment to strike at Hawke himself."

The Conductor's face grew serious. “Interesting. The past, you say? How much does this woman know?”

"Not enough to be dangerous or useful. But despite his slow play, Cross is ready to jump. Conversely, Hawke is ignorant of the full scope of Cross's objectives.”

The Conductor tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. “Both men are useful in their own ways, but their rivalry could disrupt our broader plans. They need to be monitored more closely.”

One of the figures at the table spoke up, their voice calm but firm. “Should we intervene?”

The Conductor shook his head slowly. “Not yet. Let them play their game a little longer. After all, they have a score to settle. But double the surveillance on them. I want every move captured. When the time is ripe, we shall decide their fates.”

The chamber grew hushed, the weight of the Conductor’s remarks settling over the assemblage like a dense cloud.