The next morning, Isabella arrived at her office earlier than usual. She could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on her shoulders, but she wasn't about to let it break her. If anything, it only made her more determined.
As soon as she stepped inside, Claire handed her a stack of files.
"We've got a problem," Claire said, a worried frown creasing her brow. "There's been a breach. Someone from inside Carter Consulting is leaking information to Blackwood Enterprises."
Isabella's heart skipped a beat. She knew what this meant—a traitor.
She dropped into her chair, her fingers gripping the edge of the desk. "How much has been leaked?"
"Enough to be dangerous. It looks like Blackwood is already aware of the next few projects we were planning to pitch, including the one with Evergreen Logistics. The timing could cost us the deal."
Isabella's pulse quickened. She had been planning to secure Evergreen, a major player in the global logistics sector. If Blackwood already knew about it…
She stood up, her mind working furiously. She wasn't going to let him beat her this time. Not like this.
"Find out who's responsible for the leak," Isabella ordered. "And pull every project from the calendar. We'll need to move fast, and we'll need to do it in the shadows."
Claire nodded and rushed out of the room, leaving Isabella alone with her thoughts. The betrayal stung, but she was a woman who thrived under pressure. Alexander had his spies—now she would turn the tables and make him regret ever thinking he could take her down.
She reached for her phone and dialed the number of her most trusted contact—Jacob Lawson.
"Jacob, I need a favor," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I need you to infiltrate Blackwood Enterprises. I need you to find out who's feeding him intel, and I need you to stop them."
Jacob's voice crackled through the line. "You got it. I'll be in touch soon."
Isabella hung up, then leaned back in her chair. Her mind whirred as she considered her next move. There was one thing she had learned from all of this—Alexander Blackwood didn't play fair, and neither would she.
She wasn't going to sit back and let him outsmart her again. She was done being on the defensive.
The fight was about to get even more brutal.
Blackwood Enterprises – Alexander's Office
Alexander sat at his desk, reviewing the latest updates on his empire. The Global Shipping Network deal was already proving to be more profitable than he'd anticipated, and the news of the Vanguard merger was still fresh. Yet, despite his success, something gnawed at him—something he couldn't quite shake.
Isabella.
She had secured Evergreen Logistics. He'd heard the rumors, seen the early numbers, and he knew the deal was hers. But why had she suddenly gone silent? Why hadn't she made a move to secure the deal?
It didn't sit right with him.
His phone buzzed with a message from Ethan Reed.
Ethan Reed: Carter's gone quiet. She's hiding something.
Alexander frowned, staring at the message. Ethan was right. Isabella was always a woman of action, always in motion.
Then why the sudden hesitation?
A new thought struck him. Was she planning something? Something bigger?
Before he could dwell on it further, his office door swung open, and Philip Langston, the CEO of Vanguard Logistics, walked in.
"Morning, Alex," Philip said, sliding into the chair across from him. "I heard there's a new development with Evergreen Logistics. I've been hearing rumors, and I thought we should discuss it."
Alexander's eyes narrowed, his mind instantly on high alert. Rumors.
He crossed his arms, staring at Philip. "What rumors?"
Philip smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Let's just say… I have a feeling you might be getting a little competition. And if I were you, I'd watch my back."
Alexander leaned forward, his voice low. "Isabella Carter, I presume?"
Philip's grin widened. "You've been keeping an eye on her. Smart. She's a force to be reckoned with. But don't worry—I'm sure you'll find a way to stay ahead."
Alexander's pulse quickened. Carter. She had to be planning something. And if she was, he was going to be ready for it.
But in that moment, something darker flickered in his chest. A thought, a realization that hit him hard.
He wasn't just competing with Isabella Carter anymore.
She had become the competition. And that meant he had more than just his empire at stake.
It meant his pride.
He stood up, his jaw clenched. "Let's make sure she knows exactly who she's up against."