Love lies and a billionaire’s secret

CHAPTER SIXTY–FIVE–A GAME OF SHADOWS

Nia took a step back, her mind reeling. “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Allistair, but I think you’re reading too much into this. I’m just a lowly janitor. I’m not important enough to be causing any issues between you and your brother.”

Justin’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You underestimate yourself, Nia. I’ve seen the changes you’ve made in your department, the way you’ve inspired your coworkers. You’re not just anything.”

Nia felt a mix of pride and unease at his words. “Thank you, I think. But really, you don’t need to worry about me. I can handle myself.”

“I hope so,” Justin said, his voice softening. “I just… I care about this company, Nia. And believe it or not, I care about my brother. I don’t want to see either of them damaged by… misunderstandings.”

Nia nodded, trying to process everything she’d heard. understand. Is there anything else?”

Justin straightened up, adjusting his tie. “No, that’s all Just… be careful, Nia. Leon can be… intense. Don’t let yourself get swept up in something you might not be prepared for.”

With that, he opened his car door, pausing before getting in. “Have a good evening, Ms. Espinosa.

Nia watched as Justin’s car pulled out of the parking lot, her mind buzzing with questions and doubts. She pulled out her phone to call a taxi, her hands shaking slightly as she dialed.

As she waited for her ride, Nia replayed the conversation in her head. Was Justin really concerned about her, or was there something else going on? And Leon.. had she misinterpreted his friendliness? Was she Just another project for him to lose interest in?

The taxi arrived, pulling Nia from her thoughts. As she climbed in and gave her address, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just stepped into something much bigger and more complicated than she’d realized

The rest of the week passed in a blur of heightened awareness and second–guessing. Every interaction. with Leon took on new significance in Nia’s mind. She found herself analyzing his tone, his body. language, searching for signs of the intense focus Justin had mentioned.

During meetings, Nia became acutely aware of the dynamic between the Allistair brothers. She noticed the subtle tensing of Leon’s jaw when Justin spoke, the way Justin’s eyes would narrow almost imperceptibly when Leon praised her ideas. Were these signs of the rivalry Justin had hinted at, or was she seeing things that weren’t there?

By Friday, Nia was a bundle of nerves. She jumped at every mention of either Allistair brother, her mind racing to interpret hidden meanings in the most innocuous conversations. The confidence she’d built in her new life at Colossius Tech felt like it was unraveling, thread by thread.

As she cleaned the executive boardroom that afternoon, Nia found herself lingering over Leon’s usual seat, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. Was she really just a project to him? Was she unknowingly causing problems between the brothers? And most troublingly, why did the thought of Leon losing Interest in her bother her so much?

Nia was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the door open behind her.

“Nia? Do you have a moment?”

Nia spun around, her heart racing as she found herself face to face with Heather Tyson, Leon’s assistant.

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“Heather! I’m sorry, t was just finishing up here,” Nia said, trying to compose herself.

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Heather smiled warmly. “No worries. Actually, I was hoping to catch you. I have a bit of a… secret project I could use your help with.”

Nia’s curiosity was piqued despite her lingering anxiety. “Oh? What kind of project?”

Heather glanced around conspiratorially before leaning in. “I want to organize a surprise party for Leon. His birthday is coming up in two weeks, and I think after everything that’s been going on, he could use a morale boost.”

Nia felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. “A surprise party? That sounds great, but… why me? Surely there are others who know him better.”

Heather shook her head. “Leon speaks very highly of you, Nia. And I’ve seen how you’ve brought people together in your department. I think you’d be perfect to help coordinate this.”

Nia hesitated, Justin’s warnings echoing in her mind. But as she looked at Heather’s hopeful expression, she found herself nodding. “Alright, I’m in. What do you need me to do?”

Over the next two weeks, Nia threw herself into party planning with a fervor that surprised even her. She followed Heather’s directives to the letter, coordinating with various departments to ensure every detail was perfect.

th the h

One afternoon, Nia found herself in the company cafeteria, discussing catering options with -chef.

head

“So, Chef Morales, Leon’s favorite is the lemon tart, right?” Nia asked, scribbling notes on her clipboard.

Chef Morales nodded enthusiastically. “Oh yes, he always orders extras when it’s on the menu. But for a party. we should have a variety. How about we do a dessert bar with the lemon tart as the centerpiece?”

Nia grinned. “That sounds perfect. Can you handle the setup as well?”

“Leave it to me,” Chef Morales assured her. “It’ll be a spread worthy of the CEO himself.”

Later that week, Nia met with the facilities team to discuss decorations.

“Okay, so we’re thinking blue and silver for the color scheme,” Nia explained, gesturing to the conference room they were using as a stand–in for the party space. “We want it to look elegant but not too stuffy.”

Tom from facilities nodded, making notes. “We can do that. How about some subtle lighting to create atmosphere? We’ve got some new LED setups that would be perfect”

“That sounds great,” Nia agreed. “Just remember, it all has to be easy to set up quickly. We’ll only have about an hour to decorate before Leon arrives,”

As the day of the party approached, Nia found herself caught up in a whirlwind of last–minute preparations. She coordinated with IT to ensure the surprise wouldn’t be spoiled by a stray calendar notification, and worked with security to arrange for Leon to be “detained” in the lobby just long enough for everyone to get into position.

The morning of the party, Nia arrived at work two hours early, her stomach a knot of excitement and nerves. She met Heather in the conference room they’d chosen for the event, both of them surveying the empty space.

“Okay, let’s do this,” Nia said, clapping her hands together. “Decorations team should be here any minute. Heather, can you oversee the setup while I check on the catering?”

Heather nodded, a grateful smile on her face. “Absolutely. Nia, I can’t thank you enough for all your

th for all your help with this. Leon is going to be so surprised.”

As employees began to filter in, Nia found herself at the center of a controlled chaos. She directed the placement of tables, oversaw the arrangement of the dessert bar, and helped hang a large “Happy Birthday, Leon!‘ banner across one wall.

as the last details were being put into place, Heather rushed over to Nia. “He’s on his way up! Everyone get ready!”

The room fell silent as they heard footsteps approaching. The door opened, and Leon stepped in, his eyes widening in surprise as a chorus of “Surprise!” filled the air