Chapter 3: A Dangerous Proposal

Benjamin Hamilton stared at the office door, his confident expression disappearing the moment his secretary mentioned the visitor's name.

"Marco De Luca?"

His secretary nodded nervously. "Yes, sir. He's waiting in the executive conference room."

Benjamin immediately adjusted his expensive navy suit. Very few people in New York could make him uneasy, but Marco De Luca was certainly one of them.

"Escort him in," he ordered.

A moment later, the conference room doors opened.

Marco De Luca entered without haste, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. Behind him followed three silent bodyguards whose cold expressions warned everyone not to make a mistake.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

"Mr. Hamilton," Marco greeted calmly.

"Mr. De Luca," Benjamin replied with a forced smile, extending his hand.

Marco merely looked at the offered hand before calmly ignoring it.

"I won't take much of your time."

"Please, have a seat," Benjamin offered.

"I'll stand."

Benjamin slowly lowered his own hand.

"What brings you here today?"

"I'm looking for your son."

"Devon?"

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

Marco's expression remained unreadable.

"He caught my attention."

Benjamin frowned.

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"You don't have to."

"Tell me where he is."

"I honestly don't know."

Marco studied Benjamin for several seconds before speaking again.

"Then find him."

"Immediately."

Without another word, Marco turned and walked out of the conference room.

Only after the elevator doors closed did Benjamin finally breathe again.

"Find Devon," he ordered his head of security.

"I don't care where he is. Bring him back today."

"Yes, sir."

Within minutes, several company vehicles left Hamilton Group headquarters.

Meanwhile, Devon had no idea he was being searched for.

After leaving the office, he wandered through Central Park with a coffee in one hand and his jacket hanging over his shoulder.

The cool breeze helped ease his headache from the previous night's drinking.

"What was I thinking?" he muttered.

"I kissed a complete stranger..."

"A mafia boss."

"Brilliant, Devon."

His phone suddenly rang.

It was Miriam.

"Mr. Hamilton, where are you?"

"Out."

"Your father has been looking everywhere for you."

"That's not surprising."

"There's something else."

"What?"

"Marco De Luca came to Hamilton Group this morning asking for you."

Devon stopped walking.

"You're joking."

"I wish I was."

"Nobody knows why he wants to see you."

"Mr. Hamilton... please be careful."

The call ended.

Devon slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"This keeps getting worse," he whispered.

Across the street, a black Rolls-Royce remained parked beneath a row of trees.

Inside the luxurious vehicle, Marco quietly watched Devon through the tinted window.

"That's him," Luca Romano said from the passenger seat.

"Exactly where our people predicted."

Marco nodded.

"Did you finish investigating him?"

"Everything."

Luca handed him a thick folder.

"Twenty-six years old."

"Harvard graduate."

"Vice President of Hamilton Group."

"No criminal record."

"No gambling debts."

"No known enemies."

"Completely controlled by his father."

"And according to every source we interviewed... last night's kiss was completely out of character."

Marco smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

"You're unusually interested in him," Luca observed.

"He kissed me without knowing who I was."

"Most people avoid even making eye contact with you."

"Exactly."

Marco continued watching Devon.

"Fear makes people predictable."

"He wasn't afraid."

"He was drunk," Luca reminded him.

"Alcohol lowers masks," Marco replied.

"Sometimes that's when you discover who someone truly is."

Devon eventually reached a quiet bench overlooking the lake.

He sat down, completely unaware he was being observed.

Families walked past while children chased pigeons across the grass.

For a few peaceful minutes, he almost forgot everything.

"Maybe I should leave New York for a while," he sighed.

"Running rarely solves anything."

The familiar deep voice came from behind him.

Devon froze instantly.

Slowly turning around, he found Marco standing only a few feet away.

"You..."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hamilton."

"How did you find me?"

"I have people who are very good at finding things."

Marco sat beside him without waiting for permission.

"Relax."

"If I wanted to hurt you, yesterday would've been the perfect opportunity."

Devon remained silent.

"You're wondering why I'm here," Marco said.

"Yes."

"Because I dislike unfinished conversations."

"We barely spoke."

"Exactly."

"Which means we should fix that."

Devon looked at him carefully.

"About last night..."

"You were intoxicated," Marco finished.

"Yes."

"Do you regret kissing me?"

Devon hesitated.

"I... don't know."

"An honest answer."

"It's the only one I have."

Marco's lips curved into a small smile.

"Good."

"Why?"

"Because honest people are rare."

Marco stood up.

"Walk with me."

"Where?"

"Lunch."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Probably not."

"Then why ask?"

"Because I'm curious."

"About what?"

"About the man who kissed me in front of an entire nightclub without asking who I was."

Devon couldn't help laughing awkwardly.

"When you put it like that, it sounds insane."

"It was."

"Yet here we are."

After a long pause, Devon finally stood.

"Fine."

"Just lunch."

"Just lunch," Marco agreed.

They had barely taken three steps toward the waiting Rolls-Royce when the sound of screeching tires shattered the peaceful afternoon.

Three black SUVs stopped beside the curb.

Doors opened simultaneously.

Benjamin Hamilton stepped out first, surrounded by several security guards.

His furious eyes immediately locked onto Marco.

"Step away from my son," Benjamin ordered.

Marco didn't move.

"Your son?" he asked calmly.

"He's an adult, Mr. Hamilton."

"He can decide who he speaks to."

"Not while you're involved."

"You have no business with my family."

Marco smiled.

"On the contrary..."

"I believe your family has suddenly become my business."

Benjamin's jaw tightened.

"What exactly do you want from Devon?"

Marco looked directly at Devon before answering.

"That's a conversation I'd rather have with him..."

"Not with you."