The moment Isabella hit send, there was no turning back.
The carefully curated leak—documents hinting at Westport Global's bribery attempts and offshore dealings—was now out in the world, and within minutes, the ripples would begin.
She exhaled slowly, fingers still hovering over the keyboard. "It's done."
Across the table, Alexander studied her with something between admiration and calculation. "That was fast."
She smirked. "Efficiency is key."
But despite the confidence in her voice, a tight knot formed in her stomach. Had they just started a war bigger than either of them expected?
The Fallout Begins
Claire's voice crackled in her earpiece. "Isabella, it's working. Financial news outlets are already picking it up."
She glanced at Alexander. "Your turn."
Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and sent a single message. Moments later, one of the city's biggest investigative journalists tweeted about 'suspicious financial activity linked to a major corporation.'
Isabella's pulse quickened. This was happening.
Alexander leaned in slightly, his voice low. "By morning, Vaughn won't have a company left to fight for."
She should have felt victorious. So why did something feel… off?
An Unexpected Reaction
Not ten minutes later, Isabella's phone buzzed with an unknown number.
She answered cautiously. "Carter speaking."
A familiar, steely voice came through the line. "I expected a lot from you, but this?"
Her breath caught. Charles Vaughn.
"Ms. Carter," he continued smoothly. "You just made the biggest mistake of your career."
Alexander immediately noticed her shift in expression. "Who is it?" he mouthed.
She covered the speaker. "Vaughn."
Alexander's gaze darkened.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Isabella said carefully.
Vaughn chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, I think you do. You and Blackwood think you've won?" A pause. "You don't even know who you're really up against."
Ice slid down her spine.
Before she could respond, the line went dead.
She lowered the phone slowly, her pulse racing.
Alexander watched her intently. "What did he say?"
She met his gaze, her voice steady but low. "That we don't know who we're really up against."
For the first time, a flicker of unease crossed Alexander's face.
Because if Vaughn wasn't their biggest threat…
Then who was?