The morning air felt sharp, cutting through the tension that lingered over Cole Enterprises like a storm cloud. Elizabeth paced Xavier's penthouse, her phone clutched in one hand as she tried to process the latest fallout from Thomas's schemes.
"Xavier," she said, turning to him. "This isn't just about the company anymore. Thomas is targeting you personally. He's trying to dismantle everything—your reputation, your legacy, everything you've worked for."
Xavier stood near the window, his jaw tight. He had spent the better part of the night reviewing the evidence Victoria had compiled. While they'd managed to expose Thomas and Crestfield, the fallout was far from over. There were whispers among the board about Xavier's ability to lead, fueled by Thomas's public insinuations and the ongoing investigations into Cole Enterprises' internal security breaches.
"You think I don't know that?" Xavier said, his voice low but firm. "This has never just been about business for Thomas. This is personal for him—he's been waiting for a chance to take me down since we were kids."
Elizabeth crossed the room, placing a hand on his arm. "Then let's make it personal for us, too. We've already started dismantling his alliances, but we need to get ahead of his next move. What does he still have left to throw at us?"
Xavier sighed, his eyes scanning the city skyline. "If I knew, I'd already be dealing with it. The problem with Thomas is that he doesn't follow the rules. He's unpredictable, and that makes him dangerous."
Meanwhile, Thomas was far from giving up. Sitting in his private office at Crestfield Enterprises, he reviewed a file sent by one of his contacts. A smug smile crept across his face as he read through its contents.
The file contained detailed records about Elizabeth—a glimpse into her life before Xavier. Thomas leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with possibilities.
"She's the weak link," he murmured to himself.
One of his advisors, a sharp-eyed woman named Veronica, raised an eyebrow. "You're going after the wife now? Isn't that a little... excessive?"
Thomas waved her concern away. "This isn't about her. It's about Xavier. If I can make him doubt her—make him question who she really is—I can force him to make mistakes. And when he does, I'll be ready to strike."
Veronica frowned but said nothing more. She had learned long ago that questioning Thomas was a waste of time.
By the time Xavier arrived at the office later that day, Elizabeth had already begun meeting with Clara to discuss the next steps in their public relations strategy. Clara's ideas were sharp and proactive, but Elizabeth's mind kept wandering.
Something felt off.
It wasn't just Thomas's antics or the relentless media scrutiny. It was a gut feeling—a nagging sense that she was being watched.
"Elizabeth?" Clara's voice broke through her thoughts.
Elizabeth blinked, realizing Clara had been speaking. "Sorry. What did you say?"
"I said we need to tighten your public image," Clara repeated gently. "The press conference worked, but there are still plenty of vultures looking for dirt. We need to stay ahead of them."
Elizabeth nodded. "You're right. Let's—"
Before she could finish, her phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at the screen and froze.
The message was from an unknown number. Attached was an old photograph of her from years ago, standing outside a small-town diner with a man she hadn't seen in ages. The text beneath the photo read:
"Does Xavier know about your real past? Let's see how long you can keep the truth hidden."
Her heart pounded as she stared at the screen.
"Elizabeth?" Clara asked, her brow furrowing.
"I—I need a minute," Elizabeth said, standing abruptly. She excused herself and hurried to an empty office, locking the door behind her.
Her hands trembled as she stared at the message. She hadn't spoken to the man in the photo in years—not since she'd left that life behind. But whoever had sent this knew about her past, and they were using it against her.
Elizabeth's first instinct was to delete the message, but she stopped herself. If this was Thomas's doing—and she had no doubt it was—then she needed to show it to Xavier.
Xavier was in the middle of a meeting with Caldwell and Victoria when Elizabeth walked into his office, her expression pale but determined.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I need to speak with Xavier. Alone."
Victoria and Caldwell exchanged glances but didn't argue. Xavier, sensing the urgency in Elizabeth's tone, nodded for them to leave.
As soon as the door closed, Elizabeth handed him her phone. "You need to see this."
Xavier took the phone and read the message. His eyes darkened as he studied the photo and the accompanying text.
"Who is this?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with tension.
Elizabeth hesitated, her mind racing. She had always planned to tell Xavier about her past—but on her own terms, not like this.
"His name is Mario," she said finally. "We were... close, years ago, before I ever met you. It's not something I'm proud of, but I left that life behind. I thought it was over."
Xavier's gaze softened, though his jaw remained tight. "And now Thomas is digging it up to use against you. Against us."
Elizabeth nodded, her chest tightening. "I'm sorry, Xavier. I should have told you sooner, but I didn't think it would ever matter."
Xavier stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "Elizabeth, listen to me. Whatever this is, it's in the past. It doesn't define who you are now, and it sure as hell doesn't change how I feel about you."
Elizabeth blinked back tears, relief washing over her. "Thank you."
"But," Xavier added, his tone turning serious, "we need to figure out exactly what Thomas has on you and how far he's willing to go. If he's trying to use this against us, we'll turn it back on him."
Elizabeth nodded, her resolve hardening. "Then let's do it. Together."
By the end of the day, Victoria had already begun investigating the source of the message. Meanwhile, Xavier and Elizabeth prepared themselves for whatever Thomas's next move would be.
As they stood in the penthouse that evening, Xavier wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, holding her close.
"We've come too far to let him win," he said softly.
Elizabeth leaned into him, drawing strength from his presence. "Then we won't let him."
But deep down, she couldn't shake the fear that Thomas's games were just beginning—and that her past might hold more secrets than even she realized.