The following evening, Layla found herself standing outside Room 1207 at The Griffin Hotel. Her pulse quickened as she knocked on the door, unsure of what to expect. Ryan Bennett opened it moments later, his sharp, calculating gaze studying her before stepping aside to let her in.
"Miss Carter," he greeted, his voice calm yet carrying an undertone of urgency. "Thank you for coming."
The suite was lavish, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city. But Layla wasn't here to admire the scenery.
"Let's cut to the chase," she said, crossing her arms. "Why did you want to meet?"
Ryan gestured for her to sit, but she remained standing. Sighing, he reached for a folder on the coffee table and handed it to her.
"Because you need to know what you're getting involved in," he said.
Layla opened the folder and froze. Inside were detailed reports, emails, and financial records—all pointing to Aiden Blackstone's covert operations to sabotage Bennett Innovations. Some of the tactics included planting false information, bribing key suppliers, and threatening potential investors.
"This isn't just business," Ryan said, his tone grim. "This is a war. Aiden doesn't want my company; he wants to destroy it because we're a threat to his empire."
---
Revealing Ryan's Past
Layla couldn't deny the evidence before her, but her instincts told her there was more to Ryan's story. "And what about you?" she asked, meeting his gaze. "You're not exactly spotless yourself. I've seen the allegations—stolen patents, insider trading, even connections to organized crime."
Ryan's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "Those are half-truths spun by people like Aiden to discredit me. The stolen patents? I bought them legally, but the original owners weren't happy with the deal. Insider trading? Never proven. As for the organized crime…" He hesitated. "Let's just say, in my younger years, I made some questionable alliances to get my company off the ground."
Layla arched a brow. "And now you're the moral compass of the business world?"
"I'm not perfect," Ryan admitted. "But my work—what we're doing at Bennett Innovations—has the potential to change everything. Aiden wants to stop that because he knows our technology could make his entire empire obsolete."
Layla leaned back, processing his words. It was a lot to take in, but one thing was clear: Aiden Blackstone wasn't the only one playing dirty.
---
Ethan's Unexpected Arrival
Before Layla could respond, there was a knock at the door. Ryan stiffened, clearly not expecting anyone. He crossed the room and opened the door cautiously.
"Relax, Bennett," came a familiar voice. Ethan Cross stepped into the suite, his usual smirk firmly in place. "I'm not here to kill you. Yet."
Layla's eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"
Ethan's gaze flicked to her, his smirk deepening. "Funny, I could ask you the same thing. But since we're all here, why not make this a productive meeting?"
Ryan scowled. "What do you want, Cross?"
"To broker a deal," Ethan said, his tone casual as he poured himself a drink from the bar. "You both want to take down Aiden, and I have the resources to make it happen. But if we're going to do this, we need to trust each other."
"Trust you?" Ryan scoffed. "You're just as ruthless as Aiden."
"True," Ethan admitted, raising his glass. "But the difference is, I'm willing to share the spoils."
Layla stepped between them. "Enough. If we're going to work together, we need to be honest. No more games, no more secrets. Do we have a deal or not?"
Ethan and Ryan exchanged a long, tense look before Ethan extended his hand. After a moment's hesitation, Ryan shook it.
"Fine," Ryan said. "But if you cross me, Cross, you'll regret it."
Ethan chuckled. "Noted."
---
A New Alliance
As the three of them discussed their next move, it became clear that their alliance would be uneasy at best. Ryan's ethical stance clashed with Ethan's pragmatism, and Layla found herself caught in the middle, trying to mediate.
Their plan was simple in theory but dangerous in execution: they needed to gather enough evidence to expose Aiden's illegal activities and dismantle his empire from within. Ryan would focus on protecting his company, Ethan would provide the resources and connections, and Layla would act as their inside agent.
A New Alliance (Continued)
But as the night wore on, Layla couldn't shake the feeling that she was being pulled in too many directions. She didn't fully trust Ryan or Ethan, and their opposing methods left her walking a razor's edge. A single misstep could cost her everything.
By the time they finalized their plan, it was past midnight. Layla stood to leave, her mind buzzing with everything they had discussed.
"One last thing," Ethan said as she reached the door. "Aiden isn't stupid. If he catches even a whiff of what we're doing, he'll crush us before we can blink."
"Then we'll make sure he doesn't," Layla replied, her voice firmer than she felt.
Ryan walked her to the door, his expression softening as Ethan remained in the background. "Be careful, Layla," he said quietly. "Aiden's ruthless, but Ethan's not far behind. If you ever feel like you're in over your head, call me."
She nodded, appreciating the gesture but unsure of his motives. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda, and she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
---
The First Test
The next morning, Layla returned to Blackstone Enterprises, determined to play her part in the plan. Her first task was to uncover the full extent of Aiden's sabotage efforts against Bennett Innovations. If they could prove his illegal dealings, it would be a major step forward.
As she entered Aiden's office with his morning coffee, she noticed a file on his desk labeled "Bennett Project." Pretending to adjust the papers in her hand, she scanned the document briefly before Aiden walked in. It was a list of Bennett Innovations' suppliers, along with notes on how to pressure them into cutting ties with Ryan's company.
"Miss Carter," Aiden said, startling her. "Good to see you're punctual. We have a busy day ahead."
Layla straightened and offered a polite smile. "Of course, Mr. Blackstone. What's on the agenda?"
Aiden motioned for her to sit as he outlined the details of a new project. But as he spoke, Layla couldn't help but notice his calculating gaze. It was as if he suspected she knew more than she was letting on.
"By the way," Aiden said suddenly, leaning back in his chair. "How was your evening?"
Her heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral. "Quiet. Just catching up on some reading."
Aiden smirked, but he didn't press further. "Good. I need you sharp for what's coming."
---
Unveiling the Real Threat
That evening, Layla met with Ethan in a private parking garage to hand over the information she had gathered. He scanned the photos she had taken of the Bennett Project file, his expression darkening.
"This is worse than I thought," Ethan muttered. "Aiden's not just targeting Ryan's suppliers—he's planning to use shell companies to buy out key patents and bury the technology."
"Can we stop him?" Layla asked.
Ethan nodded. "We'll need Ryan's help, but yes. If we expose these shell companies before the deals go through, it'll ruin Aiden's plans."
"What about Ryan?" Layla asked, crossing her arms. "You said he's hiding something. Is there more I should know?"
Ethan hesitated, then sighed. "Ryan's clean now, but he wasn't always. Aiden's digging into his past, looking for anything he can use. If he finds proof of those old alliances I mentioned, it'll destroy Ryan's credibility—and ours by association."
Layla frowned. "So, we're fighting on two fronts: stopping Aiden's sabotage and protecting Ryan from his own past."
"Exactly," Ethan said. "Welcome to the big leagues."