Chapter 36
The knock on the door was sharp and deliberate, cutting through the quiet hum of Emma’s office at The Hamilton Corporation. She looked up from her desk, the dim light of her laptop screen casting a faint glow on her face. It was late—nearly midnight—and the building had emptied hours ago.
Thomas had ensured extra security measures were in place before leaving for the night, and Marcus had sent an update confirming all angles were covered. Jack had even checked in to remind her to be cautious. Despite their precautions, a prickle of unease settled over her.
The knock came again, louder this time, making her tense. Rising slowly from her chair, Emma moved toward the door, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Her hand hovered over the handle, her instincts warning her against opening it.
“Who is it?” she called, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest.
“It’s Luka.”
Her breath caught. Luka Diaz. The man responsible for so much of the chaos in her life. She considered calling security, but something about his tone gave her pause. It wasn’t his usual cocky arrogance or venomous menace—it was quieter, almost subdued.
Against her better judgment, she unlocked the door and opened it just enough to see his face. Luka stood there, dressed in his signature tailored suit, every detail immaculate. His dark eyes bore into hers, unreadable yet carrying a strange weight. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension between them almost suffocating.
“What do you want?” Emma demanded, her grip on the door firm.
“I want to talk,” Luka said, his voice measured. “Just you and me.”
Emma’s eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Maybe not,” Luka replied, his lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. “But I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”
Emma didn’t move, her heart pounding as she weighed her options. Luka raised an eyebrow, his voice dropping lower. “If I wanted to harm you, Emma, I wouldn’t knock.”
Emma’s first instinct was to slam the door, but Luka raised a hand, his palm open in a gesture of peace.
“Believe me, I’m not here to threaten you,” he said, his voice calm. “Not this time.”
Her jaw tightened. “You’ve already said enough, Luka. You and Elliana are supposed to be on your way out of New York. What more could you possibly have to say?”
He smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “May I come in? Or would you prefer I say it out here, where your security team can overhear every word?”
Emma hesitated. She hated the idea of letting him into her space, but curiosity—and a gnawing sense of foreboding—compelled her to step aside.
“Five minutes,” she said, her voice sharp. “Then you leave.”
Luka stepped into the room with the controlled ease of someone who always commanded his surroundings. His eyes swept across Emma’s office, taking in the sleek furniture, the neatly stacked files, and finally the framed photo of her ultrasound resting on her desk. His lips curled in a faint, humorless smirk.
“Cozy,” he said, though his tone was devoid of warmth.
Emma stood near her desk, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Say what you need to say and get out.”
Luka turned to face her, his expression darkening but composed. “You’ve won this round, Emma. You and your little band of heroes managed to outmaneuver me and Elliana. Congratulations.”
Her gaze hardened. “If you’re here to concede, don’t bother. We both know you’re not the type to give up.”
“You’re sharper than I expected,” Luka admitted, the smirk returning. “No, I’m not here to wave a white flag. I came to give you something far more valuable: a warning.”
Emma’s stomach twisted, but she refused to let him see her unease. “What kind of warning?”
Luka stepped closer, his movements deliberate, the air between them heavy with tension. His voice dropped, low and almost conspiratorial. “Do you really think this little war between us started with you? With Alex? You’re mistaken. This is bigger than you, bigger than Alex. It’s older—deeper.”
Emma’s brows knitted together, her instincts screaming that he was playing a dangerous game. “Stop speaking in riddles, Luka. If you have something to say, say it.”
He leaned against the desk, his fingers brushing lightly over the edge of her papers, an action as casual as it was unsettling. “Our families have been tied together for decades,” he began. “The Barretts and the Diazes… we share a history that you’ve barely scratched the surface of. It’s not just about business. It’s personal.”
Emma took a step forward, her voice firm despite the growing knot in her chest. “Whatever history you’re talking about doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is stopping you and Elliana from destroying everything Alex and I have built.”
Luka’s smirk faded, replaced by something darker, sharper. “That’s where you’re wrong. This isn’t just a battle over Barrett Industries. It’s a legacy. My family’s, your family’s. And you don’t even know half of it.”
Her heart pounded, but she held her ground. “If this is some attempt to intimidate me—”
“Intimidate you?” Luka interrupted, laughing softly, though the sound was devoid of mirth. “No, Emma. I’m giving you clarity. Because once you dig deep enough, you’ll realize the truth about your precious Alex. You’ll realize what he’s done. And when you do, you won’t need me to ruin him. You’ll do it yourself.”
Emma’s breath hitched, her pulse pounding in her ears. She forced her expression to remain neutral, though every instinct screamed at her to bolt from the room. “What are you talking about?”
Luka tilted his head, his dark gaze unrelenting. “Did Alex ever tell you about Buenos Aires? About what really happened there—and why it wasn’t just an accident?”
Her blood turned to ice, but she squared her shoulders. “We already know about the fire, Luka. We know about your bribes, your cover-ups. Alex had nothing to do with it. He was only trying to help the people you endangered—people who died because of you.”
Luka’s smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. “That’s where you’re wrong. Alex wasn’t just some bystander caught in the crossfire. He was a Barrett, doing what Barretts do best—cleaning up messes to protect their legacy. And he wasn’t acting alone.”
Emma’s head shook in denial, her feet moving backward as though the physical distance could protect her from his words. “You’re lying. You’ll say anything to get inside my head.”
“I don’t need to lie,” Luka countered, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. “Ask yourself this: Why did Alex agree to marry you in the first place? Was it really a business arrangement, or was it something more… calculated?”
Her breath caught, the weight of his insinuation crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She had asked herself that very question countless times in the quiet of night but had always buried it under layers of trust—or what she thought was trust.
“You’re trying to confuse me,” she said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to steady it.
Luka stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, his expression almost pitying. “I’m trying to help you see the truth. The Barretts aren’t just a family, Emma. They’re an institution. Everything they do, every decision they make, is designed to protect that institution. Including Alex’s choices.”
Emma’s stomach churned, her mind racing as Luka’s words slithered into cracks she hadn’t even known existed. “What are you saying?”
Luka’s smirk returned, sharper now. “I’m saying that Alex isn’t the hero you think he is. He made choices in Buenos Aires—choices he’s been hiding from you. And when you finally uncover them, you’ll see who he truly is. Not the man you fell in love with, but a Barrett through and through.”
Emma clenched her fists, her anger rising.
“And what about you, Luka? What’s your excuse for all the lives you’ve ruined? Are you protecting your ‘institution,’ too?”
Luka’s smirk returned, but it lacked its usual confidence. “I’ve never claimed to be a saint, Emma. But I know how the game is played. And you… you’re playing a dangerous one.”
She squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated. “Is that your warning? That I’ve crossed some invisible line? You’ve lost, Luka. You don’t get to dictate the rules anymore.”
Luka’s expression hardened. “You think you’ve won, but you’ve only scratched the surface. There are things you don’t know—things that could destroy everything you’re trying to protect.”
The air between them grew heavy, the silence stretching like a taut wire. Finally, Luka stepped back, his gaze softening into something almost… regretful.
“Elliana and I will leave,” he said quietly. “For now. But this isn’t the end, Emma. You’ve forced our hand, but you’ve also opened a door you can’t close.”
Emma’s pulse quickened, but she kept her voice steady. “If you ever come near me, my family, or my children again, I’ll make sure you regret it. Do you understand me?”
Luka studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Loud and clear.”
Without another word, Luka turned and walked to the door. He paused with his hand on the handle, glancing over his shoulder.
“Take care of yourself, Emma. And take care of those twins. They’re going to need all the protection they can get.”
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