Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 614: Maia studied his face intently, searching for cracks in his composed facade. "Mr. Cooper, what exactly does your boss do for a living?" A gentle evening breeze wove through the city streets, threading its way like a whispered secret, teasing the leaves above. Streetlights spilled golden pools across the treetops, their glow fracturing into faint, dancing shadows on the pavement below. Chris halted mid-step, a slow, easy grin spreading across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. "I'm just a driver, Maia. The ins and outs of my boss's dealings?

Honestly, I'm clueless." Maia tilted her head, her eyes glinting with skepticism under the lamplight. Her fingers twitched at her side, betraying her doubt. "Come on, Chris. You tag along on his business trips all the time. Last time, you took a bullet shielding him from that attack." Chris' gaze drifted, settling on the swaying shadows of the trees lining the street. "Most days, the boss handles the client talks solo. I'm not in the room for those. My job is simple - drive, keep him safe. That mess last time? Pure bad luck.

Some thug ambushed him, and I was just there." His voice stayed steady, smooth as the breeze, not a ripple of deceit to be found. He leaned against a lamppost, arms crossed casually as he added, "Even with the promotion, I'm still stuck on the sidelines, handling the small stuff." Maia studied his profile, her heart softening like wax under a flame. Maybe she was reading too much into this. Chris had fought tooth and nail to rebuild after Kolton dragged his name through the mud. A steady job, a legitimate one, couldn't have come easy.

It was likely for this reason that Chris cherished his current position so much - enough to foolishly take a bullet for his boss. But listening to his description, Maia couldn't help but feel that Chris' boss was the type who could be a crime lord or something similar - especially since his boss had dealings with Maxwell. That connection alone made Maia almost certain that Chris' boss was involved in shady, illegal operations. Lᴀτєѕτ chⲁρτєrs ιn glovєls. It was the only explanation for why Chris, despite his promotion, still didn't know what his boss's business entailed.

The real workings of such illegal enterprises were usually a secret, known only to the inner circle. For an outsider, hidden behind layers of well-designed disguises and excuses, it was almost impossible to uncover the truth or even find any clues. Her worry deepened, coiling tight in her chest. She brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, the breeze catching it as she spoke. "Chris, we need to talk." The soft wind played with her hair, framing her sharp features in a warm, fleeting glow. She looked almost fragile under the streetlights, a rare contrast to her usual steel.

Chris blinked, caught off guard. He straightened, his hands slipping into his pockets. "About what?" "I know some top-notch professors in the medical field." Maia's voice was light, but her fingers curled into her palm, nails biting into skin. "They could help with your headaches. Their schedules are packed, though. If you're off on some business trip or something else comes up, rescheduling will be a nightmare. So..." Chris' brow arched, catching the thread of her meaning. "So, you want me to ditch my job?" Maia unclenched her hand, meeting his gaze with firm determination.

"Yes." In truth, with her connections to those professors, rescheduling an appointment would never be an issue. . . .