Taming My Sugar Mommy
Chapter 65: Dangerous Connections

Chapter 65: Dangerous Connections

The evening continued without further incident. David disappeared as mysteriously as he had arrived. The Davies team departed shortly after eleven, with Samuel promising to call the next day to discuss the "adjusted terms" Isabella had proposed.

By midnight, the last guests were leaving. Isabella stood at the entrance, bidding farewell to the Japanese fashion designer who had flown in specifically for the event. When the doors finally closed, she allowed her shoulders to drop, the weight of the evening settling over her.

"Everything alright?" Liam asked, approaching with two glasses of scotch.

Isabella accepted one gratefully. "Just tired. These events take more out of me than board meetings."

Liam studied her face. "It wasn’t just the event. Something happened when that man approached you."

Isabella tensed slightly. "Just an unwelcome guest," she said finally.

Across the now-empty gallery, Liam could see the man’s face clearly in his mind—aristocratic features, confident stance, expensive suit. Something about him had been instantly familiar, though Liam couldn’t place why. He watched Isabella carefully, noting the tight set of her jaw, the slight tremor in her hand as she raised her glass.

’Harrison,’ Liam thought suddenly. ’That’s where I’ve seen him before. The file Seraphina asked me to bring her three months ago—investment history for Ashworth Events. His photo was there.’

"He seemed to know you well," Liam said carefully, not revealing his realization.

"We have history," Isabella replied vaguely. "Not all of it pleasant."

Liam nodded, not pressing further. "What did he want?"

Isabella sipped her scotch, buying time. David’s warning about Davies echoed in her mind, along with his insinuation about Liam. "To remind me of his continued existence, primarily."

Liam’s eyes drifted to where Marcus stood across the room. The security chief was watching them with an intensity that seemed out of place. Liam had noticed it throughout the evening—the way Marcus’s attention had remained fixed on him, rather than scanning the room for threats as a bodyguard should.

’Something’s not right with Marcus tonight,’ Liam thought. ’Why is he so focused on me? And when Harrison entered, Marcus didn’t even attempt to stop him. He just let him walk right in, despite Isabella’s clear policy about uninvited guests.’

"The security team did an excellent job tonight," Liam commented, his tone deliberately casual.

"They always do," Isabella replied.

They fell into thoughtful silence, finishing their drinks as the staff dismantled the event around them. Isabella’s mind raced with connections and possibilities. David’s appearance, Marcus’s unusual behavior, Seraphina’s absence, Davies’s aggressiveness—separate threads that somehow felt connected.

"I should go," Liam finally said. "Early meeting tomorrow with the technical team."

Isabella nodded, suddenly reluctant to be alone with her thoughts. "Of course. I’ll have Marcus drive you."

"Christina will handle it," Liam replied. "I think Marcus has enough to manage tonight."

Their eyes met, an unspoken current passing between them. In the aftermath of the evening’s tensions, the connection between them felt both essential and dangerous.

"Liam," Isabella began, unsure what she intended to say.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Whatever’s happening, Isabella—whatever game is being played—you don’t have to face it alone."

She studied his face, searching for any sign of deception. David’s words echoed in her mind: *Davies isn’t who you think he is. But then again, neither is your handsome assistant.*

"I know," she finally said, though uncertainty gnawed at her.

Liam nodded, squeezing her hand briefly before turning to leave. Christina fell into step behind him, her observant gaze sweeping the room one final time before they disappeared through the exit.

As soon as Liam was gone, Isabella approached Marcus, who was still overseeing the cleanup operations.

"Marcus," she said quietly. "A word."

He turned to her, professional as always. "Of course."

"David Harrison was here tonight. Again. I want to know how he got in."

Marcus’s expression remained neutral. "He had what appeared to be a legitimate invitation, Ms. Ashworth. He showed it to the team at the entrance."

"An invitation I never authorized," Isabella said, her voice sharp.

"I apologize for the oversight. Our team verified it against the digital guest list—it must have been added by someone with system access." Marcus met her gaze steadily. "I’ve already launched an internal investigation to identify the security breach."

Isabella studied him carefully, not entirely convinced. "Ensure it doesn’t happen again. I expect a full report tomorrow."

"Of course," Marcus replied, showing the perfect amount of professional concern. "It won’t happen again."

As Christina drove him home, Liam stared out at the city lights, his mind turning over the events of the evening. ’Harrison wasn’t just some business associate,’ he thought. ’The way Isabella reacted to him was too personal. And why was his photo in Ashworth’s investment files? More importantly, why did Seraphina specifically want me to bring her that file months ago?’

The connections were starting to form, but the picture was still unclear. One thing was certain—Isabella was at the center of something larger than a simple business deal with Davies Tech. And whether she knew it or not, Liam was involved too.

Isabella remained in the gallery long after everyone else had gone, nursing a second scotch as she stared out at the city lights. The anonymous text message from earlier played on repeat in her mind: *Be careful who you trust.*

Was Davies Tech really the biggest threat? Or was there something larger at play? David’s mention of Seraphina troubled her deeply. Her oldest friend had been the one to introduce her to Davies, insisting the partnership would solve Ashworth’s financial troubles. At the time, Isabella had been grateful for the connection.

Now, she wondered if Seraphina had orchestrated this situation—pushing her toward Davies while knowing what his true intentions were. It wouldn’t be the first time Seraphina had played both sides of a business deal.

The thought that David and Davies might be working together—perhaps even with Seraphina’s involvement—sent a chill down Isabella’s spine. And where did Liam fit into all this? His appearance in her company had coincided with the beginning of their financial troubles. Was that merely coincidence?

’I’ve been so focused on Davies,’ she thought, swirling the amber liquid in her glass, ’that I might have missed the real threat.’

Isabella drained her glass, making a decision. Tomorrow, she would start digging—into Davies, into David’s current business dealings, and, most painfully, into Liam’s background. Someone was manipulating the situation, and she needed to know who.

As she gathered her things to leave, Isabella’s phone chimed with a new message. Expecting another cryptic warning, she was surprised to see Seraphina’s name on the screen.

*Sorry I missed tonight. Breakfast tomorrow? We need to talk about Davies.*

Isabella stared at the message, suspicion and hope warring within her. Perhaps Seraphina had answers—or perhaps she was part of the problem. Either way, Isabella knew she would accept the invitation. In the intricate power play that was unfolding around her, information was her most powerful weapon.

She typed a quick reply—*8 AM, The Palladian*—and called for her car. Whatever was happening, she would uncover the truth. She hadn’t built Ashworth Luxury Events by being naive, and she wouldn’t lose it by being trusting.

As her car pulled away from the gallery, Isabella didn’t notice the black sedan that pulled out three cars behind, following at a discreet distance. Nor did she see the figure watching from the shadows across the street—a figure who had observed the entire evening with keen interest.

The strategic maneuver was only beginning, and Isabella had yet to discover all the players.