The card burned in Elena's hand long after Victoria Hale disappeared into the crowd. Smooth paper. Elegant black ink. A name that carried the same poison as Richard's.
When she finally slipped it into her clutch, Adrian's voice broke the silence.
"Throw it away."
Elena's head snapped toward him. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." His tone was clipped, final. "You don't want to touch anything tied to the Hales."
Her chest tightened. "You dragged me into this room, paraded me in front of Richard, forced me into his line of sight—and now you're telling me to stay out of it?"
Adrian's jaw ticked. "That was strategy. This is suicide."
Something inside her snapped. She took a step closer, her voice sharp. "You don't get to decide what's suicide for me. You don't get to decide anything for me."
His eyes darkened, his gaze steady, unyielding. "You're under contract, Elena. That means every move you make reflects on me. And I won't let you walk into a trap I can't control."
Her fingers tightened around her clutch. "Maybe I don't want your control."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them. The orchestra swelled, laughter rippled from across the room, but here—on the balcony overlooking the glittering city—the only sound was their breaths colliding in the cold night air.
Finally, Adrian leaned in, his voice low. "Then tell me what you want."
Elena's throat tightened. She wanted freedom. She wanted answers. She wanted her father's name cleared. But more than anything, she wanted the Hales to pay.
"Revenge," she said softly, her voice trembling with truth.
Adrian's eyes flickered. Not surprise—recognition. As if he'd been waiting for her to say it.
Back in the limousine, silence stretched thick between them. Elena stared out the window, the city's neon glow reflecting in her eyes. Adrian sat rigid, his jaw tight, his gaze unreadable.
When the car finally rolled to a stop outside her apartment building, she reached for the door handle.
"Don't meet with her," Adrian said suddenly.
Her hand froze. "Why? Afraid I'll hear something you don't want me to know?"
His stare cut into her. "Afraid you'll be used. The Hales destroy everything they touch."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Then maybe it's time someone destroyed them."
Before he could respond, she stepped out of the car and disappeared into the night.
The next morning, Elena sat at her kitchen table, Victoria's card in front of her. She hadn't slept. Every time she closed her eyes, her father's face haunted her. His trial. His downfall. Richard's smug testimony.
Her fingers hovered over her phone. One call could change everything.
But before she could dial, her phone buzzed with an incoming message.
From: Adrian Blackwood
Be in my office. 9 AM. Don't be late.
Elena exhaled sharply. She almost didn't go. Almost. But her curiosity about why Adrian had reacted so strongly to Victoria's card pulled her in.
When she entered Adrian's office, he was standing at the window, hands clasped behind his back. The skyline stretched wide behind him.
"You look like hell," he said without turning.
Her jaw clenched. "Good morning to you too."
He turned finally, his eyes sweeping over her. "You're distracted. Dangerous habit."
Elena crossed her arms. "If you dragged me here just to critique my mood, I'll save us both time."
Adrian ignored the jab. He walked to his desk, pulled out a folder, and slid it across to her.
Inside were documents—articles, financial reports, old court transcripts.
Her breath caught as she scanned the first page. "This is about the Hales."
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "Your father wasn't the only one they ruined. They've been pulling strings for years—buying influence, destroying competitors, silencing anyone who stood in their way. I've been building a case. Quietly. Carefully."
Elena looked up, her heart racing. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Because you asked for revenge."
The words sank into her bones.
Adrian leaned closer, bracing his hands on the desk. "I can give it to you. But it won't be easy. It won't be quick. And it won't leave you clean."
Her chest rose and fell. "What's your price?"
His lips curved slightly, though it wasn't a smile. "Loyalty. Absolute loyalty. You don't take meetings without me. You don't make decisions without me. You follow my lead, no matter how much you hate it."
Her pulse hammered. "So basically… you want me to sell my soul to you."
Adrian's eyes locked onto hers. "No, Elena. I want you to sharpen it into a weapon."
For hours, they sat together, pouring over files. Elena absorbed every detail—financial networks, shell companies, political allies. It was bigger than she had ever imagined.
At one point, Adrian pushed a document toward her. "This is proof of Richard Hale's offshore accounts. If it goes public, it ruins him."
Her fingers brushed the page. The idea of exposing Richard made her chest tighten with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
But she caught Adrian watching her closely, as though measuring her reaction.
"What do you get out of this?" she asked finally.
His expression hardened. "The Hales are my enemies too."
Elena studied him, searching for cracks in his armor. But his face remained a mask.
Still, she couldn't ignore the fire burning in his words. It wasn't just business. It was personal.
By the end of the day, Elena's head spun with information, her body buzzing with restless energy.
As she gathered her things, Adrian spoke again. "Think carefully, Elena. If you want this… if you want revenge… you can't go halfway. Once you step into this, there's no turning back."
Her throat tightened, but her voice was steady. "I've already been living in the ruins they left behind. What's left to lose?"
Adrian's gaze lingered on her, something sharp and unspoken in his eyes.
"Everything," he said quietly.
That night, Elena lay awake in her apartment, staring at the ceiling. Adrian's words echoed in her head. His offer was dangerous. Reckless. But it was also the first time someone had given her a path forward instead of telling her to stay silent.
When her phone buzzed again, she half expected it to be Adrian.
But it wasn't.
From: Unknown Number
Miss Carter. I hear you're curious about my family. Meet me tomorrow. Discretion required.
No name. But she didn't need one.
It was Victoria.
Elena's pulse quickened. She glanced at the folder Adrian had given her, then back at the phone.
Two paths stretched before her: follow Adrian's rules, or take her chances with Victoria.
Her hand trembled as she typed back a single word.
Where?
The reply came instantly.
Pier 19. Midnight.
Elena stared at the message, her heart pounding.
Adrian had warned her not to. He had demanded loyalty.
But as the clock ticked toward midnight, Elena found herself reaching for her coat.
Because sometimes, the most dangerous proposals were the ones you couldn't resist.