t at the gala, sleep had eluded me. The conversation I had overheard between James and Alexander replayed in my mind, a hauntin

would give me confidence. A sharp knock on the door startle

ready f

et them destroy everythi

irs. He's having breakf

om. James looked up as we entered, his exp

said, forcing a smile.

heart pounding. "We need

s alone. I took a seat across from James, my hands

ing on, Ch

Sterling last night, you were plotti

s widened,

were discussing business, yes, b

iling over. "I heard everything. 'She doesn't suspect

out of proportion, Charlotte. Alexander and I were

ing your own sister?" I shot back.

I'm under, Charlotte. Running this

rd as you have, if not harder, to keep this

been pushing for a merger. He believes

ou think I woul

uld agree to, It's about w

What's in it for you, James? Wh

eded. Anger and disappointment surged thr

u would do this to

to protect our legacy,

I trust you when yo

know this: I will do whatever it takes

hts. I felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and sadness. James's words echo

nd kept drifting back to the confrontation with James and the enigmatic Alexande

uzzed with a message. It was from an

ind Alexander's interest in Winters Corp, meet me a

did they know about Alexander? Despite my reservations, I knew I h

rowd. I scanned the room, looking for someone who might be waiting for me. A woman sitting in the cor

ers?" she asked

And yo

I used to work for

informatio

d the unethical practices. But before I left, I discovered something. Ale

rso

do you

ls years ago. Your father's company nearly ruined Alexander's first b

, stunned.

e's targeting

years. He wants to destroy e

exander's pursuit of Winters Corp wasn't just a business st

ou telling

use I believe in doing the right thing. Even if

ess everything. "Thank you, Rachel.

l, Charlotte. Alexander is dangerous. And

lexander's vendetta changed everything. I needed to confront him, but I had to

olished wood. I had to think strategically. How could I use this information to

my concentration. It was another

nder isn't working alone. He has alli

uld I trust? Marcus Fitzgerald, one of my closest advisors, came to

alone. I needed allies of my own, people I could trust implicit

some of the board members I trusted most, laying the groundwork for what was to c

ations pressing down on me. My mind churned with plans and str

came just as I was about to l

. The people closest to you

me. I had to be vigilant, cautious. The stakes w

in the middle of it. But I was not about to back down.

he truth, no matter h

had never b

ttle lines were drawn, and there was no turning back now. Alexander's vendetta, James's

r come next. Because this was

about s