The soft hum of classical music filled the opulent room as Victoria Blackwood swirled her glass of red wine, her gaze fixed on the cityscape beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Her instincts told her something was off. Ethan had been distant, preoccupied with something she couldn't quite place. She prided herself on knowing every move her stepson made, but lately, he'd been slipping through her grasp. And then there was that woman—Sophia Grey. A name from the past she thought she had buried.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention. She turned to see Ethan entering the room, his expression carefully neutral. He was always a hard one to read, a trait he had inherited from his father. But tonight, there was a tension in his posture, a stiffness in his movements that set off alarms in Victoria's mind.
"Ethan," she greeted him with a cool smile, masking the unease simmering beneath the surface. "Thank you for coming."
Ethan inclined his head slightly as he approached her, his eyes betraying nothing. "What's this about, Victoria?"
She took a sip of her wine, savoring the rich flavor before responding. "I've been hearing some concerning things, Ethan. Rumors that you've been meeting with certain individuals who don't have our best interests at heart."
Ethan's jaw tightened imperceptibly, but his voice remained calm. "I'm handling business matters, as I always have. If you're concerned about something specific, perhaps you should be more direct."
Victoria's smile didn't waver, but her eyes sharpened. "Direct? Very well. I'm concerned about Sophia Grey."
There it was. The name that had been haunting her thoughts for weeks. Victoria watched closely for any reaction, but Ethan's expression remained impassive.
"She's been in contact with you, hasn't she?" Victoria pressed, her tone edged with suspicion. "I've noticed her involvement with the merger. I find it strange that you've allowed her to become so close to our operations, given her family's history."
Ethan met her gaze evenly, his voice steady. "Sophia is a skilled strategist, and her involvement has been beneficial to the company. Her family's history is irrelevant to the work she's doing now."
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "Irrelevant? Do you truly believe that? Or are you simply too blind to see what she's really after?"
Ethan remained silent, and for the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Victoria's face. She set her glass down on the table with a soft clink, her composure faltering slightly.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Ethan," she said, her voice low. "If you think you can trust her, you're making a grave mistake. The Grey family was destroyed because they crossed us. She hasn't forgotten that, and neither should you."
Ethan's eyes hardened, and he took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "And what exactly do you mean by that, Victoria? Are you admitting to something?"
Victoria's expression turning icy. "Don't be foolish, Ethan. I'm simply reminding you of the consequences of betrayal. We have enemies who would love nothing more than to see us fall. You must be vigilant."
The tension in the room was palpable, both of them locked in a silent battle of wills. Victoria had always considered herself the master of this game, but for the first time, she felt the ground shifting beneath her feet. Ethan was no longer the obedient stepson she could easily manipulate. He was challenging her, and she didn't like it.
After a long, tense moment, Ethan finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "I'm fully aware of the stakes, Victoria. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect this family. But I won't allow you to dictate how I handle my affairs."
Victoria felt a surge of anger but forced herself to remain composed. "You may think you're in control, Ethan, but don't forget who built this empire. I won't stand by and watch you throw it all away because of a woman with a vendetta."
Ethan's expression darkened, and he took a step back, putting distance between them. "I don't need you to remind me of my responsibilities. I suggest you focus on your own."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Victoria standing alone, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. The door clicked shut behind him, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot.
Victoria's calm façade finally cracked as she picked up her wine glass and hurled it across the room. The glass shattered against the wall, red wine splattering like blood on the pristine white paint. She took a deep breath, trying to regain control, but the fury and fear coiled inside her like a viper.
Sophia Grey was a threat—one that needed to be eliminated before she could do any more damage. Victoria wasn't going to sit idly by and watch everything she had fought for crumble. She needed to act, and soon.
But first, she needed to figure out just how deep Ethan's involvement with Sophia went. If he had truly turned against her, then he was no longer an asset—he was a liability. And Victoria had no qualms about cutting out liabilities.
Her mind raced as she considered her options. There were people she could call, favors she could cash in, and resources she could deploy. She needed to gather information, to find out exactly what Ethan and Sophia were planning. Only then could she make her move.
With renewed determination, Victoria strode across the room and picked up her phone. It was time to call in some old favors.
***
Meanwhile, Ethan drove through the city streets, his mind reeling from the confrontation with Victoria. He had known this day would come, but it still felt surreal. For years, he had played the role of the dutiful stepson, allowing Victoria to control the Blackwood empire while he focused on other ventures. But now, everything had changed.
He couldn't stand by and let her continue her reign of terror. The guilt of what had happened to Sophia's family weighed heavily on him, and he knew that he had to make things right. But it was more than that—Victoria's grip on the company was suffocating, and if he didn't act soon, she would destroy everything he had worked for.
As he pulled up to his penthouse, Ethan's phone buzzed with a new message. He glanced at the screen and saw Sophia's name. A sense of relief washed over him as he read her message.
Sophia: How did it go with Victoria?
Ethan typed a quick reply as he stepped out of the car.
Ethan: It went as expected. She's suspicious, but I think she's more concerned about keeping control than anything else. We need to move quickly before she makes her next move.
Sophia's response was immediate.
Sophia: Agreed. I've been looking into some of her connections. There's a weak link we can exploit—a former associate who might be willing to talk. I'll send you the details.
Ethan felt a surge of admiration for Sophia's resourcefulness. She was relentless, determined to bring Victoria down, just as he was. But he also knew that this was a dangerous game they were playing, and one wrong move could cost them everything.
Ethan: I'll take care of it. Be careful, Sophia. Victoria is more dangerous than we thought.
There was a brief pause before Sophia's reply came through.
Sophia: I will. You too, Ethan. We're in this together.
Ethan pocketed his phone and entered his penthouse, the weight of their mission heavy on his shoulders. As he made his way to the living room, he poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat down on the leather couch, staring out at the city lights.
He had always known that his life was built on a foundation of secrets and lies, but he had never imagined it would come to this. The battle lines were drawn, and there was no turning back now.
As he sipped his drink, Ethan's thoughts drifted to Sophia. Despite everything that had happened, he couldn't deny the growing connection between them. She was fierce, intelligent, and passionate—everything he admired in a person. But there was also a vulnerability beneath her strong exterior, a pain that mirrored his own.
He knew that their partnership was built on a shared goal, but he couldn't ignore the pull he felt toward her. It was dangerous to let his emotions get involved, especially now, but the more time he spent with her, the harder it became to keep his distance.
Ethan set down his glass and leaned back, closing his eyes. He needed to stay focused on the task at hand. There would be time to explore whatever was happening between him and Sophia once Victoria was dealt with.
For now, he had to play his role carefully, bide his time, and wait for the perfect moment to strike. The storm was coming, and Ethan was determined to be the one standing when it passed.