Chapter 28 - Threats

Natalie stood outside Dario’s office, her heart pounding in her chest. The hallway was eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity in the building reduced to a distant murmur. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind a dozen times, but now that she was here, facing the heavy wooden door that separated her from Dario, the gravity of what she was about to do weighed heavily on her.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open without knocking. Dario was seated behind his sleek mahogany desk, his gaze focused on the papers in front of him. He looked up, his expression flickering with mild surprise before settling into a guarded neutrality.

“Natalie,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Natalie didn’t bother with pleasantries. She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a deliberate click. “We need to talk, Dario.”

Dario’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. “About what? I thought we already discussed everything at the hou