Evelyn Chase sat at her desk, her sharp eyes scanning through documents detailing the latest developments within her company. The Chase Enterprises board had begun to stabilize after the recent chaos, but the battle was far from over. She had barely settled into her work when her secretary's hesitant voice crackled over the intercom.
"Miss Chase, there's a man here to see you. He says his name is Castellano."
Evelyn froze for a brief moment, the name reverberating in her mind. Then, with a deep breath, she composed herself and spoke evenly, "Send him in."
The door opened, and Castellano strode in with a measured, almost predatory gait. His dark suit was immaculate, his expression unreadable, and his presence commanding. Evelyn rose to her feet, her chin held high as she met his gaze without flinching.
"Mr. Castellano," she said coldly. "What an unexpected visit."
He smiled faintly, his eyes studying her with curiosity. "Miss Chase, you're as formidable as your reputation suggests. I must admit, I wanted to see for myself what Henry Chase left behind."
Evelyn's lips twitched, but she didn't return the smile. "If you're here to gloat or intimidate me, let me save you the trouble. I'm not afraid of you."
The air between them grew tense, and Castellano's smirk faded slightly. "You're bold," he remarked. "But boldness can be dangerous, especially in your current position."
Evelyn stepped out from behind her desk, her heels clicking against the floor as she approached him. "Danger doesn't scare me. Losing doesn't scare me. What scares me is sitting idly by while men like you think they can control everything. So let me make one thing clear—I'll do everything in my power to bring you down."
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, and for the first time in his life, Castellano found himself momentarily caught off guard. He studied her, searching for a crack in her armor, but there was none.
"You're braver than I gave you credit for," he said finally, his tone laced with amusement. "And here I thought Adrian Black was the only one with fire. Speaking of Adrian…" He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "It's a shame he's no longer around to finish what he started. A pity, really. I would have liked to see how far the two of you could have gone to tear each other apart."
Evelyn's expression didn't waver, but there was a flicker of emotion in her eyes that Castellano caught.
"Oh, don't misunderstand me," she said, her voice steady. "Adrian and I were never allies. I know you two worked together to bring me down, but I suppose one of his enemies beat me to it. It's unfortunate—his death robbed me of the chance to see him suffer the way he deserved."
Castellano's brow arched, a glimmer of doubt crossing his face. Evelyn's words were sharp, but there was something about her demeanor that didn't add up. He let out a low chuckle.
"For the first time in a long while, I'm genuinely entertained," he said. "A woman who stands toe-to-toe with me without fear—how refreshing. But don't get too comfortable, Miss Chase. I'll be watching. And when the time comes, I'll make sure you regret this bravado."
"I'll be ready," Evelyn replied, her voice like steel.
Castellano turned and walked out of the office, his mind whirring with thoughts. She was good, he admitted to himself. Too good. Her words were convincing, but her eyes betrayed a storm he couldn't fully decipher.
As Castellano exited the building, he turned to one of his men waiting in the car. "Keep a close eye on her," he ordered. "She's hiding something. I want to know where she goes, who she talks to, and what she's planning. Report back to me immediately if you find anything."
"Yes, sir," the man replied, slipping away discreetly.
Back in her office, Evelyn leaned against her desk, her hands gripping the edge tightly. She had expected Castellano to be dangerous, but standing face-to-face with him was something else entirely. She took a steadying breath, knowing that every move she made from now on would be scrutinized.
She pulled out her phone, quickly deleting all her recent exchanges with Adrian and Renee, except for a few innocuous ones that wouldn't raise suspicion. Her fingers trembled slightly as she worked—her resolve was strong, but she knew the stakes had never been higher.
Satisfied, she tucked her phone away and glanced out the window, her mind racing. Castellano had made a mistake by underestimating her, but she wouldn't allow herself to make the same error.
For now, she would play the grieving and vengeful woman. But in the shadows, Evelyn Chase was already preparing for the next move.