The city skyline glowed under the moonlight, the towering skyscrapers standing like silent sentinels over the bustling streets below. From his penthouse office, Ethan Lu stared out at the shimmering lights, his mind deep in thought. The revelation from Eileen had confirmed his suspicions—Victor Chen was plotting something big.
But Ethan Lu wasn't the kind of man to sit back and let others make their moves first.
He reached for his phone and dialed a secure number. A deep voice answered almost immediately.
"Boss."
"Gather all the intel on Victor's recent financial activity. I want a full report within the hour." His tone was calm, yet it carried the weight of absolute authority.
"Understood."
Ethan ended the call and turned his attention back to the cityscape. His fingers tapped lightly against the glass, his mind calculating his next move. Victor thought he could manipulate the game from the shadows, but Ethan had built his empire by anticipating threats before they materialized.
This wouldn't be a battle of brute force—it would be a war of strategy.
Meanwhile, Eileen sat in her apartment, sipping on a cup of black coffee. The dim lighting cast soft shadows on the walls, and the only sound in the room was the rhythmic tapping of her fingers against the keyboard. She was going through more financial records, piecing together the elaborate scheme Victor had orchestrated.
A knock on the door startled her. She wasn't expecting visitors this late.
Approaching cautiously, she peered through the peephole.
Ethan.
She sighed, unlocking the door. "You could have called."
Ethan stepped inside, his sharp eyes scanning her apartment before settling on her. "I don't like waiting."
Eileen smirked. "And yet, here you are, seeking answers."
Ethan chuckled, unbuttoning his suit jacket and taking a seat on her couch. "Let's talk."
She crossed her arms. "About what?"
"Victor."
Eileen studied him for a moment before sitting across from him. "You don't trust easily, do you?"
Ethan met her gaze. "Trust is expensive. And right now, you're the only person providing useful information. So, convince me why I shouldn't consider you a threat."
Eileen leaned back, tapping her fingers on the coffee table. "If I were a threat, I wouldn't be telling you what I know. Victor is dangerous, Ethan. He doesn't just play to win—he plays to destroy."
Ethan smirked. "So do I."
Eileen narrowed her eyes. "You think this is just business, but it's more than that. Victor isn't just trying to steal your deal—he's trying to dismantle everything you've built. This isn't about profit; it's personal."
Ethan's expression darkened slightly. "Then he's made a mistake."
Eileen raised an eyebrow. "Because you're not someone to cross?"
Ethan leaned forward, his voice low and firm. "Because I don't lose."
A charged silence settled between them.
Eileen finally broke it with a sigh. "Fine. If we're going to do this, we need a plan."
Ethan smirked. "I already have one."
The next day, Ethan arrived at his headquarters, his presence commanding immediate attention. His assistant, James, followed closely behind, briefing him on the morning's developments.
"Sir, we've analyzed Victor's transactions. He's been funneling money through several dummy corporations, all leading to an offshore account. We traced it back to a holding company under a fake name, but—" James hesitated.
"But?" Ethan's tone was sharp.
James handed him a file. "We ran a deeper check. The real owner of that holding company is someone you know."
Ethan flipped open the file, his eyes narrowing at the name.
Nathan Zhou.
A former associate, once loyal, now seemingly in Victor's pocket.
Ethan's jaw tightened. Betrayal was something he did not tolerate.
He closed the file. "Set up a meeting. Tonight."
James nodded. "Understood."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in thought.
If Victor was using Nathan as a pawn, then Ethan would make sure he turned that pawn into a liability.
Later that evening, Eileen found herself standing in an upscale restaurant, waiting for Ethan. He had called her, instructing her to meet him here, but hadn't explained why.
The moment she saw him walk in, she knew something had changed. His usual composed expression carried a sharper edge, his gaze more calculating than usual.
"You found something," she stated as he took a seat.
Ethan nodded, sliding the file across the table. "Victor has allies. One of them is Nathan Zhou."
Eileen frowned as she flipped through the documents. "I remember him. He used to be part of your investment division, right?"
Ethan's expression remained unreadable. "He was. Until he got greedy."
Eileen exhaled. "What's the plan?"
Ethan smirked. "Simple. We turn the tables."
Hours later, Nathan Zhou sat in a private lounge, sipping on expensive whiskey. He thought he was in control, that his deal with Victor would set him up for life.
That illusion shattered the moment Ethan Lu walked in.
Nathan stiffened. "Ethan."
Ethan took his time, pouring himself a drink before sitting across from him. "Nathan. It's been a while."
Nathan forced a smile. "It has."
Ethan swirled his glass, his voice calm but sharp. "You always were ambitious. I respected that. But you made one mistake."
Nathan swallowed hard. "And what mistake was that?"
Ethan's smirk was cold. "You thought I wouldn't find out."
Silence hung between them.
Nathan shifted uncomfortably. "Ethan, it's just business—"
Ethan leaned forward. "No. Business is playing fair, competing for deals. What you did? That was betrayal."
Nathan opened his mouth to speak, but Ethan cut him off.
"Here's how this is going to go," Ethan continued. "You're going to cut ties with Victor. You're going to leak certain information to me. And in return, I won't make your life a living hell."
Nathan paled. "And if I refuse?"
Ethan's smirk widened. "You won't."
Nathan hesitated, but he knew the truth—going against Ethan Lu meant destruction.
Finally, he exhaled. "What do you need me to do?"
Ethan leaned back, satisfied. "Good choice."
An hour later, Eileen received a message.
"Game on."
She smirked. Ethan Lu had made his move.