Chapter 226 Naya’s Scheme Deepens

Chapter 226: Chapter 226 Naya’s Scheme Deepens

?The small neighborhood café was quiet and nearly empty at this hour of the afternoon.

?Xander sat alone at a corner table tucked away in the back. His back was pressed firmly against the solid wall so he could keep his eyes fixed entirely on the front door. A white ceramic cup of coffee sat untouched right in front of him, the liquid inside completely cold and forgotten.

?He had already been sitting there waiting for twenty full minutes. Xander hated waiting for anyone, and his patience was wearing thin.

?Finally, the front door swung open, and a bell chimed overhead.

?Naya Whitmore walked into the room with a confident stride. Her high heels clicked sharply against the tile floor with every step. She wore an expensive designer dress that commanded attention, and her face wore a smile that looked utterly cold and calculating.

?She walked straight to his table and pulled out the chair across from him, sitting down without offering a single word of apology for being late.

?"Mr. Hale," she greeted coolly.

?"Ms. Whitmore," Xander replied, keeping his voice flat.

?She folded her hands neatly on the wooden tabletop, leaning slightly forward.

?"I need a complete update on the situation."

?Xander’s jaw tightened instantly. "About what, specifically?"

?"About the retail shop. About Veyra. About how far along her progress is."

?He kept his mouth shut, staring back at her without answering.

?"Is she still spending all her time renovating that place? Is she still planning to open it to the public?"

?"Yes, she is," he muttered.

?"Well, just how close is she to actually finishing the whole project?"

?He hesitated for a second before shaking his head. "I honestly do not know."

?Naya’s eyes narrowed into sharp, distrustful slits. "You do not know the status of your own property?"

?"I do not sit around keeping track of her daily schedule, Ms. Whitmore."

?"You are her landlord, Mr. Hale. You should know every single detail."

?Xander shifted uncomfortably in his hard wooden chair.

?The truth was that he did know. He drove past the building all the time, and he had seen the steady progress with his own eyes. He had watched the workers put in the new glass windows, apply fresh coats of paint to the exterior, and hang up the brand-new sign above the front entrance.

?He had also caught glimpses of Veyra herself. He had seen her working late into the evening, carrying cardboard boxes inside, and laughing cheerfully with her friends who came by to help.

?He had no intention of sharing any of that with the woman sitting across from him.

?"She is making normal progress, that is all," he said evasively. "That is the only thing I know for sure."

?Naya leaned in closer across the table, her voice turning sharp and venomous.

?"That answer is simply not good enough for me."

?"It is the only answer you are going to get from me."

?Naya’s eyes blazed with sudden irritation.

?"You are deliberately dragging your feet," she accused, pointing a manicured finger at him. "You are stalling."

?"I am doing no such thing."

?"Yes, you are. You are sitting here trying to protect her."

?Xander’s jaw locked so tight his teeth ached. "I am not protecting anyone at all."

?"Do not lie to me. You are either terrified of her, or you are holding back for some other pathetic reason."

?He did not give her the satisfaction of a response.

?Naya leaned back slowly against her chair, her voice dropping to a freezing whisper.

?"Let me remind you of something very important, Mr. Hale. You own a lot of businesses around this city. Quite a few businesses. And if anyone were to look closely, they would find that some of your operations are not entirely legal."

?Xander felt his blood run instantly cold in his veins.

?"If I decide to ask my father to launch a full audit into your companies, his people will uncover plenty of things. Things that could easily throw you in prison for a very long time."

?Xander stared at her across the small table in sheer disbelief.

?His hands curled into tight fists hidden underneath the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white. His heart hammered wildly against his ribs.

?She was threatening him right out in the open, without a shred of hesitation.

?And the worst part was that she actually had the power to follow through on it. Her father was a powerful city councilman with his sights set on the presidency. He commanded vast political resources, deep connections, and terrifying influence.

?If that man wanted to ruin Xander and tear his entire life apart, he could do it with a single phone call.

?"You would not actually do that," Xander said, though his voice lacked conviction.

?"Oh, really? Try me and find out."

?A heavy, suffocating silence stretched out between them.

?Xander’s mind raced, thinking of his aging mother and her delicate heart condition. He thought about how desperately she still relied on Dr. Harrison’s treatments and how fragile her daily life truly was.

?He thought about his various business ventures, his loyal men who depended on him, and the hard-earned reputation he had built from the ground up.

?Then, unexpectedly, his thoughts drifted to Veyra. He remembered the woman who had helped save his mother’s life, the person who had stood up to him without flinching, and someone he had grown to genuinely respect.

?He realized with a sick feeling in his stomach that he was completely trapped in a corner.

?Naya offered a thin, unpleasant smile that looked more like a smirk of pure victory.

?"So," she purred softly. "Let us try this little question again. Just how close is she to finishing the shop?"

?Xander took in a long, shaky breath, knowing he had lost.

?"She is getting very close now."

?"Define very close."

?"A few weeks at most. Maybe even less than that."

?Naya gave a slow, satisfied nod of her head. "Good. That is the kind of useful update I wanted to hear."

?She pushed her chair back and stood up smoothly from the table. She reached down to smooth out the fabric of her expensive dress.

?"You keep me informed of every little detail, Mr. Hale. And remember what I told you. If you even think about betraying me, I will destroy everything you have."

?Without waiting for a reply, she turned around and walked briskly out of the café.

?Xander sat completely alone at the corner table for a long time.

?His cup of coffee remained completely cold, and his hands were still shaking slightly on his lap.

?He stared down at the surface, fully realizing that he was completely trapped with no way out.