Advik leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowing with a calculated intensity. He knew that confronting Leo directly would be futile; Leo was cunning and ruthless, always a step ahead. To outmaneuver him, Advik needed to delve into the shadows, to employ strategies that mirrored Leo's own devious tactics.
An evil smile curved Advik's lips as he made his decision. He needed to bait Leo into a trap, one that he would never see coming. Without hesitation, he picked up his phone and dialed Deval's number.
Deval answered on the second ring, his voice light-hearted. "Hey, Advik. What's up?"
Advik's tone was sharp, business-like. "Deval, I need you to arrange a meeting with Leo."
There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end. "Are you serious?" Deval finally managed to ask, his voice tinged with shock. "Why would you want to meet with him?"
Advik's smile widened, though it held no warmth. "Trust me, Deval. I have a plan. We need to play his game to beat him. Set up the meeting as soon as possible."
Deval hesitated, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in Advik's approach. "Alright, Advik. If you say so. I'll get in touch with Leo and set it up. But are you sure about this?"
Advik's voice was cold and resolute. "I'm sure, Deval. Just make it happen."
As Advik ended the call, he leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing with the possibilities. He couldn't afford to underestimate Leo, but he also couldn't allow Leo to think he had the upper hand. To outwit him, Advik would need to be as cunning and ruthless as his adversary.
Deval, meanwhile, was still reeling from the conversation. He trusted Advik implicitly, but the idea of setting up a meeting with Leo, a known manipulator and threat, was unsettling. However, Deval knew better than to question Advik's judgment. If Advik believed this was the best course of action, then he would follow through.
Within the hour, Deval had managed to contact Leo's office and arrange a meeting for the following day. He relayed the details to Advik, who listened intently, his mind already several steps ahead.
"Good work, Deval," Advik said, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "Now, we wait. But be prepared. This meeting could change everything."
Deval nodded, though Advik couldn't see it. "Understood, Advik. I'll be ready."
As Advik ended the call, he allowed himself a moment of reflection. The path he was about to take was fraught with danger, but he was determined to see it through. Leo had made a grave mistake targeting Nivik, and Advik intended to make him pay dearly for it.
The smile returned to Advik's face, darker and more determined than before. He would step into the shadows, play Leo's game, and when the time was right, he would bring Leo down. The thought of outmaneuvering his cunning adversary filled him with a grim satisfaction.
In his mind, the game had already begun, and Advik was ready to win, no matter the cost.
...
Leo lounged in his opulent office, the dim light casting shadows on his sharp features. He swirled a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the light as he stared out the window, lost in thought. He knew Advik well enough to anticipate his next move. Advik was too principled, too protective of his family to let this slide. The moment Leo's plans against Nivik had failed, he knew Advik would come for him.
A grim smile tugged at the corners of Leo's lips. This was exactly what he wanted. The bitter taste of his recent failures still lingered, each one a wound inflicted by the family he despised. His business had taken a significant hit, their meticulously crafted schemes crumbling in the face of Advik's relentless pursuit of justice. The school his mother had run so proudly was shuttered, her license revoked. His father's once-thriving company now floundered, drowning in debts. And his brother, the heart of their family, lay in a hospital bed, a victim of the collateral damage.
Leo's mind was a storm of anger and frustration. They had ruined everything. His family was in shambles, their empire reduced to rubble. And it was all because of Advik and his insufferable integrity. Leo's dark eyes glittered with malice as he considered the upcoming meeting. Advik thought he could confront Leo and come out unscathed. But Leo had other plans.
He had set the trap for Nivik with the intention of striking at the heart of Advik's family. If Nivik had fallen victim to his machinations, it would have been a devastating blow. But Nivik had escaped, and Leo's carefully laid plans had been thwarted. Now, Leo would have to adapt. He would turn this meeting to his advantage, using it as an opportunity to lay another trap.
Leo set his glass down and leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he plotted. Advik's family had to pay for what they had done. He would ensure that the meeting went exactly as he planned. There would be no room for error this time. Advik would walk into his trap, and Leo would make sure he suffered.
The thought of revenge, of watching Advik's carefully controlled world unravel, brought a twisted sense of satisfaction to Leo. He would make sure Advik felt the same helplessness, the same desperation that his own family had endured. And when the time came, Leo would be there to watch it all fall apart.
Leo's smile widened as he imagined the look on Advik's face when he realized he had been outmaneuvered. The taste of victory was tantalizingly close. He picked up his glass again and took a slow, deliberate sip, savoring the burn of the whiskey. This time, Leo would not fail. This time, he would ensure that Advik paid the ultimate price for crossing him.