The informant sat nervously in Castellano's grand office, the room dimly lit except for the glow of a desk lamp. Castellano's imposing figure loomed over him, his piercing gaze cold and calculating.
"You lost her?" Castellano's voice was sharp, each word dripping with barely contained fury.
"Yes, boss," the informant stammered. "But I know she's up to something. Evelyn Chase doesn't just vanish for no reason."
Castellano turned away, his fingers drumming on the polished wood of his desk. His mind churned with frustration. Evelyn had become a thorn in his side—cunning, resourceful, and far more difficult to crush than he had anticipated.
"She's hiding something," Castellano muttered to himself. "And if I can't figure out what it is…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening.
He spun around, fixing the informant with a glare. "Find her. I don't care how you do it, but find her. And if you fail me again—"
The informant swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. "Yes, boss. I'll double my efforts."
As the informant scurried out of the room, Castellano sat down, steepling his fingers. He needed leverage, and he needed it now. His thoughts turned to Victor Hart, the infamous CEO and one of his key allies in the Black Sun Syndicate. If anyone could get close enough to Evelyn to deliver results, it was him.
Victor Hart received Castellano's call with a mix of anticipation and dread. He knew better than to cross Castellano, but he also understood the danger of underestimating Evelyn Chase. Still, the promise of greater power and wealth was too tempting to resist.
"You want me to deal with Evelyn?" Victor asked, his voice cool and composed.
"Precisely," Castellano replied. "You've worked with her before. She'll trust you more than anyone else I could send."
Victor leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "Trust might be a stretch, but I'll get it done. What's in it for me?"
"If you succeed, you'll have my full backing," Castellano said. "Fail, and…" He left the threat hanging in the air.
Victor's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of determination. "Consider it done."
Instead of devising a meticulous plan, Victor decided to act on impulse, driven by his own greed and desire to prove himself to Castellano. He knew Evelyn was a formidable opponent, but he believed that brute force and fear would yield faster results.
One night, Victor dispatched a team of his most loyal men. Their mission was simple: kidnap Evelyn Chase and bring her to him.
Evelyn had been staying vigilant, carefully monitoring her movements to avoid Castellano's watchful eye. But even she couldn't anticipate Victor's rash decision.
She was on her way back from a brief meeting with an old family friend when her car was intercepted. A black SUV swerved in front of her, forcing her driver to slam on the brakes. Before she could react, masked men surrounded the car, yanking the doors open.
"Get her!" one of them barked.
Evelyn fought back, her nails digging into one man's face, but the odds were stacked against her. Despite her resistance, they managed to subdue her, binding her hands and blindfolding her before shoving her into the SUV.
As the vehicle sped away, Evelyn's mind raced. She didn't need to see her captor to know who was behind this. Victor Hart.
"Victor, you idiot," she muttered under her breath, the fire in her eyes unwavering despite her predicament.
At his private estate, Victor waited impatiently for his men to return. When they finally arrived, dragging a defiant Evelyn behind them, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Evelyn Chase," Victor drawled, stepping closer. "We meet again."
Evelyn lifted her chin, her expression one of pure disdain. "What's this, Victor? Your last desperate attempt to prove yourself to Castellano?"
Victor's smirk faltered, her words striking a nerve. "You'll regret underestimating me, Evelyn."
She let out a bitter laugh. "The only thing I regret is not seeing through your pathetic act sooner."
Victor's jaw tightened, but he forced a smile. "You'll sing a different tune soon enough."
As his men restrained her, Victor's mind raced with possibilities. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but the potential rewards were too great to ignore.
Unbeknownst to him, Evelyn's mind was already working on an escape plan. She wasn't one to go down without a fight, and she certainly wasn't going to let Victor Hart or Castellano have the last word.