Capítulo 17: Chapter 17: First Encounter
The city's air was cold and heavy as Emma walked toward the place where she would finally meet William Harris. Ana had given her clear instructions: approach without drawing attention, integrate into his world slowly, like a shadow he wouldn't notice until it was too late.
But this time, Emma was different. She was no longer the insecure, naïve girl who had started down this path. After what happened with John, her emotions were under strict control. She couldn't afford to feel anything. Every step, every decision, every word had to be calculated. There was no room for error.
She stopped in front of the luxurious bar where she knew William would be that night. It was one of those exclusive places he frequented, surrounded by lawyers, politicians, and businessmen. The perfect spot for someone like him: powerful, arrogant, confident that he controlled the world around him.
Emma took a deep breath and walked in. The bar was lit with warm, dim lights, filled with the murmur of elegant conversations and the clinking of glasses. She knew William would be seated at one of the private tables, away from the crowd, enjoying his drink as if the entire place belonged to him. The mission wouldn't be easy, but Emma was prepared—or at least, she wanted to believe she was.
She saw him immediately, sitting alone, wearing a nonchalant expression as he looked at his phone. William Harris was everything she expected: elegant, confident, and with that air of superiority that men like him always had. Emma couldn't help but feel a slight chill seeing him. This man wasn't like John. William was much more calculating, much colder. But that made him vulnerable.
Emma sat at the bar, ordering a glass of red wine. She didn't want to approach him directly; she had to wait for the right moment. Ana had warned her that William wouldn't be easy to win over. Seduction wouldn't be enough. She needed to make him trust her, make him believe he could control her. But this time, Emma would stay one step ahead.
As she waited, the memories of what had happened with John resurfaced for a moment. She had been naïve, let her guard down, and allowed someone to get too close. But that wouldn't happen again. Feelings were a weakness, and now she knew better than to let them get in the way.
"You can't let feelings interfere this time. Not again."
Her gaze shifted back to William, still engrossed in his phone, oblivious to what was about to unfold. That would be her advantage. While he thought he was in control, Emma would be lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Finally, William lifted his gaze from his phone, and his eyes scanned the bar until they landed on her. Emma's eyes met his, and for a second, she felt that familiar tension that always accompanied the first contact. William studied her with curiosity, his expression showing a calculated interest. But Emma was ready. She wouldn't be an easy target this time.
She took a sip of her wine and held his gaze, confident, but giving nothing away. She wasn't going to make the first move.
And it worked.
William set his glass down and rose, walking toward the bar with the confidence of a man who knew what he wanted. He approached slowly, his movements smooth and measured. This was a man used to being in control, to having things go his way. But Emma wasn't like the other women he had encountered.
"I haven't seen you around here before," William said, his voice low and calm, but carrying an authority Emma couldn't ignore.
She gave him a small, controlled smile, careful not to reveal too much.
"I don't usually come to places like this," she replied, keeping her tone light but mysterious. "I suppose I made an exception tonight."
William raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. He was a man used to reading people quickly, figuring out what women wanted almost instantly. But Emma gave him a different feeling, something he couldn't quite pin down.
"Well, I'm glad you did," he said, leaning casually against the bar. "What brings you here?"
Emma didn't move an inch, maintaining her relaxed but calculated posture. She knew William was assessing her, analyzing every word, every gesture. She couldn't show any weakness.
"Maybe I was looking for something... different," she answered, leaving the phrase hanging in the air.
William's smile widened, but Emma saw the gleam of arrogance in his eyes. He thought he had won something in this conversation, that she was just another woman falling into his web. But Emma wasn't falling into traps anymore. This time, she was the one weaving the web.
"And have you found it?" William asked, his tone softening as if he were slowly closing in on his prey.
Emma held his gaze, unwavering.
"That remains to be seen."
William chuckled softly, apparently pleased with her response. He didn't realize Emma was playing a much bigger game.
The conversation flowed for a few more minutes, with William asking subtle questions, trying to read her. But Emma remained steady. Every word, every gesture was calculated to make him think he was in control, but he wasn't.
Finally, after exchanging a few more words, William signaled to the bartender to refill Emma's glass.
"Let me buy you this round," he said confidently. "So we can keep talking."
Emma gave him a faint smile, accepting his offer. Everything was going according to plan.
Doubts and Decisions
As she took another sip of her wine, a small doubt crept into Emma's mind. Could she really do this? She knew that what she was doing was far from any moral line she had once followed. She was no longer the innocent girl unaware of the world she had stepped into. Now, she knew exactly where she was—and had accepted the price.
But sometimes, in the darkness of her thoughts, she wondered who was really winning. Was she in control of the situation, or was the world she had given herself to slowly stripping away who she once was?
She forced herself to push those doubts aside. There was no room for them. After what had happened with John, Emma had learned that feelings only made her weak. She had let her guard down once, and she wouldn't make that mistake again.
She took a deep breath, feeling her determination return. William Harris was just another obstacle in her path. One she would eliminate with the same coldness he used to treat everyone around him.
William watched her, confident, as if he already had the situation under control. Emma didn't correct him. He thought he had won something that night.
But the real game was just beginning.
An Unexpected Challenge
Just as Emma began to feel everything was under control, her phone vibrated softly inside her purse. Ana.
A chill ran down her spine. It wasn't common for Ana to contact her in the middle of a mission, especially not at a moment like this.
Discreetly, she checked the screen.
"We have a problem. I'll give you more details later. Stay alert."
Emma felt a knot tighten inside her. A problem? Her eyes flicked back to William, who was still talking to the bartender. Everything seemed fine, but the sense of danger was unmistakable.
What did Ana know that she didn't?
Emma took another sip of her wine, keeping her composure, but now her mind was racing. Something was off, and what was supposed to be a simple mission of manipulation could turn into something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.
The mission wouldn't be so simple after all.
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