Isabella had barely stepped into her office the next morning when she sensed something was wrong. The usually sleek and organized space was untouched, but a strange tension hung in the air.
Her assistant, Claire, was already at her desk, her expression uneasy.
"You're not going to like this," Claire said, sliding a tablet across the desk.
Isabella frowned as she scanned the email on the screen. Her Everett Deal proposal had been altered. The financial projections were incorrect, the marketing strategy had been modified, and—worst of all—several key data points had been omitted entirely.
Rage simmered in her veins.
Alexander Blackwood.
She had expected him to play dirty, but this? This was a declaration of war.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remain calm. If she let anger control her, she would lose. And losing wasn't an option.
"Get me the original files," Isabella said, grabbing her laptop. "And find out who had access to my account in the last 24 hours."
Claire nodded and rushed off. Isabella cracked her knuckles, her mind already racing through counterattacks.
He wanted a fight? He just got one.
---
Later That Afternoon – Blackwood Enterprises HQ
Isabella didn't bother knocking as she stormed into Alexander's office.
He looked up from his desk, completely unfazed by her intrusion. "Miss Carter," he greeted smoothly, as if she were an expected guest rather than a furious adversary. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
She slammed a printed copy of her altered proposal onto his desk. "Nice try."
Alexander leaned back in his chair, lazily glancing at the document. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"Cut the act, Blackwood. You tampered with my proposal."
He smirked. "That's a serious accusation."
She crossed her arms, holding his gaze. "And yet, we both know it's true."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, to her utter irritation, Alexander laughed.
Low, deep, and completely unbothered.
"I see now," he mused. "You thought this would be easy, didn't you? That you could walk in here, challenge me, and not face the consequences."
Isabella clenched her jaw. "I thought you'd play fair."
Alexander leaned forward, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. "Fair doesn't exist in the corporate world, sweetheart."
She bristled at the term. "Then you should know something about me, Blackwood." She stepped closer, palms flat against his desk. "I don't go down without a fight."
His smirk widened. "Good. I'd be disappointed if you did."
With that, Isabella straightened, turning on her heel to leave. But just as she reached the door, she paused.
"Oh, and Alexander?" She glanced over her shoulder, smirking. "Check your inbox."
Curiosity flickered across his face, but he didn't respond.
The moment she stepped into the elevator, she pulled out her phone. Claire's text was already waiting.
Claire: Confirmed. We tracked the access log—someone from Blackwood's IT team tampered with your files. The original proposal is already in Everett's hands.
A victorious thrill surged through Isabella.
Game, set, match.
Let's see how Alexander Blackwood liked playing against someone who knew how to win.