The pre-summit event was everything Aria expected: ostentatious, crowded, and brimming with powerful people trying to outshine each other. The venue, one of Damon's luxury properties, was a sleek glass-and-steel structure perched on a hill overlooking the city. Inside, the decor screamed wealth, with crystal chandeliers, gold accents, and servers weaving through the crowd with trays of champagne.
Aria stepped into the grand hall alongside Liam, her black cocktail dress blending her seamlessly into the high-society crowd. Her nerves were taut, but she forced herself to appear calm, her steps confident.
"This is… impressive," she said, glancing around.
Liam chuckled. "Damon doesn't do subtle."
That much was clear. At the center of the room stood Damon himself, commanding attention as he spoke to a small group of executives. Even from across the room, his presence was imposing, his tailored suit and sharp gaze radiating authority.
"You'll meet him soon enough," Liam said, following her gaze.
Aria's stomach churned. Meeting Damon face-to-face wasn't part of her plan—at least not yet. But if it came to that, she was determined to keep her mask in place.
---
As the evening wore on, Aria mingled with the crowd, listening intently to conversations while keeping an eye on Damon and Liam. The event was a minefield of opportunities and risks, and she couldn't afford to miss a single detail.
"Aria, there you are!"
She turned to see Liam approaching, a glass of champagne in hand. "Having fun?" he asked, handing her the glass.
"I'm not sure 'fun' is the right word," she replied with a smile. "But it's… fascinating."
Liam laughed softly. "That's one way to put it. Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."
Before she could protest, Liam led her across the room to where Damon stood, his conversation winding down. Up close, Damon was even more intimidating than she'd imagined. His sharp features and piercing gaze gave him an almost predatory air.
"Damon, this is Aria Reynolds," Liam said. "She's one of our newest hires. I thought you might like to meet her."
Damon's gaze swept over her, his expression unreadable. "Reynolds," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. "You've made an impression on my brother."
Aria forced a polite smile. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Stone. I've heard a lot about your work."
"I'm sure you have," he said, his tone sharp. "I hope you're ready to contribute to it."
"I'm looking forward to it," she replied evenly, refusing to let him rattle her.
Damon's eyes narrowed slightly, but before he could say more, someone called his name, pulling him away.
As he walked off, Aria let out a quiet breath. The encounter had been brief, but it was enough to leave her rattled.
"You handled that well," Liam said, his voice low.
She glanced at him, her expression carefully neutral. "What do you mean?"
"Most people get nervous around Damon," he said with a shrug. "But you held your ground."
Aria smiled faintly. "I've dealt with intimidating people before."
Liam studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Good. You'll need that around here."
---
Later that evening, Aria slipped away from the crowd, her mind racing with possibilities. The stolen files had revealed pieces of Damon's plans, but she needed more.
The opportunity presented itself when she overheard two executives discussing a locked study on the upper floor.
"Damon's got half his life locked up in there," one of them said with a laugh. "Not even Liam has access."
Aria's pulse quickened. If Damon's study held the answers she needed, she had to find a way in.
---
While the event continued downstairs, Aria made her way to the upper floor, her heels silent on the plush carpet. The hallway was dimly lit, lined with artwork that likely cost more than her apartment.
At the end of the hall, she found the study. The door was sleek and unassuming, with a keypad lock glowing faintly in the darkness.
She pulled a small device from her clutch—a signal interceptor she'd used before. Attaching it to the keypad, she held her breath as it began cycling through possible combinations.
Minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. Finally, the lock clicked open, and she slipped inside.
The study was as lavish as the rest of the property, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a massive mahogany desk, and a state-of-the-art computer system. Aria moved quickly, connecting her USB drive to the computer and initiating the extraction program.
As the files transferred, she scanned the room, her eyes landing on a safe tucked behind a painting. It was a classic trope, but Damon's arrogance made it believable.
She was debating whether to attempt opening it when the sound of footsteps outside the door froze her in place.
Someone was coming.
Aria's heart raced as the footsteps approached. There was no time to think, no time to plan. She unplugged her USB drive, tucking it into her clutch just as the door handle began to turn.
Without hesitation, she darted behind a heavy velvet curtain near the window, pressing herself flat against the wall. Her breath was shallow, her pulse deafening in her ears.
The door creaked open, and she heard the unmistakable sound of polished shoes on hardwood.
"Damon?"
It was Liam's voice again.
Aria bit her lip to keep from cursing. Of all the people to stumble in, it had to be him.
She peered through a small gap in the curtain, watching as Liam moved further into the room. He scanned the desk, his brow furrowing as he noticed the computer screen still lit.
"Strange," he murmured to himself.
Liam reached out and touched the mouse, his expression darkening as he saw the log-in prompt.
Aria's mind raced. He hadn't seen her yet, but it was only a matter of time before he noticed something out of place. She needed to create a distraction—and fast.
Her eyes darted to a vase perched precariously on the edge of a nearby shelf. Slowly, she extended her foot, giving the curtain just enough movement to tip the vase over.
It fell with a loud crash, shattering into pieces.
Liam spun around, his eyes narrowing as he approached the source of the noise.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
Aria didn't wait for him to investigate further. She slipped out from behind the curtain, keeping low as she moved toward the door. As Liam stepped closer to the shattered vase, she bolted.
"Hey!" Liam shouted, but she was already out the door, sprinting down the hallway.
The sound of his pursuit echoed behind her, but Aria had one advantage: she had memorized the layout of the building.
---
She rounded a corner, slipping into a side room just as Liam turned the corner behind her. She pressed herself against the wall, her chest heaving as she listened to his footsteps fade into the distance.
When she was certain he was gone, she made her way back downstairs, blending into the crowd as if nothing had happened.
Her pulse was still racing, but she forced herself to smile and engage in polite small talk with the other guests.
Liam returned a few minutes later, scanning the room with a stormy expression. His gaze lingered on her for a moment, but he didn't approach.
---
Later that night, safely back in her apartment, Aria plugged the USB drive into her laptop. The files she'd stolen from Damon's study were extensive—blueprints, financial records, and a list of names that sent chills down her spine.
The names were all high-profile figures: politicians, CEOs, even law enforcement officials. Each name was followed by a series of numbers—bribes, Aria realized. Damon had been buying influence on an unimaginable scale.
But what caught her attention most was a single folder labeled "Zenith - Final Phase."
Inside were detailed plans for a massive industrial complex in a remote part of South America. The project was set to displace entire communities, with no regard for the environmental or social consequences.
Aria's stomach turned as she read through the documents. Damon wasn't just corrupt—he was ruthless.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she considered her next move. The files were enough to ruin Damon, but releasing them too soon would alert him to her presence. She needed to tread carefully.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from an unknown number:
"Nice work tonight. But be careful who you trust. – H"
Aria's blood ran cold.
Who was H? And how had they found her so quickly?