Julie knocked twice before pushing the door open, the tension evident in her eyes. "You need to see this," she said, holding out a tablet.
Aria glanced up from the reports strewn across her desk. "What now?"
Julie handed her the device. "An encrypted email. No sender information. It came through our private server. Whoever sent this knows what they're doing."
Aria's brows furrowed as she scanned the message. Short. Direct.
I have information on the one you're searching for.
A meeting will provide the answers you need.
One condition: Face to face.
Location details to follow.
Julie crossed her arms. "This screams setup."
"Maybe. But if they have real information..." Aria's voice trailed off. The mysterious figure's moves had been calculated, devastating. Any lead was worth the risk.
"It's not worth walking into a trap," Julie pressed. "Whoever this is could be connected to Logan, or worse."
Aria's jaw tightened. "But it's the only lead we have. Someone's pulling the strings behind Logan's downfall. If this person knows something, I can't ignore it."
Julie crossed her arms. "And what if it's a trap?"
"Then I'll be ready."
---
The restaurant was a beacon of elegance amidst the shadows of the city. Discreet, luxurious, and far too expensive for anyone seeking casual anonymity. Aria arrived minutes before midnight, scanning the dimly lit space.
A waiter approached her. "Ms. Vance? Your guest is waiting."
Her pulse quickened as she followed, the weight of uncertainty pressing down. At a corner table, a man stood as she approached. Tall, sharply dressed in a tailored black suit. His presence commanded attention, yet there was a deliberate calmness about him.
"Aria Vance," he greeted, his voice low and steady. "I'm Damian Cross."
"And who exactly are you, Mr. Cross?" Her tone was guarded, eyes narrowed.
"A corporate strategist, among other things." He gestured to the seat across from him. "I dismantle what others work so hard to hide. Corruption. Deception. I've seen it all."
"And now you've taken an interest in Logan's downfall?" Aria's voice didn't waver.
Damian's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Logan's fate was inevitable. But your battle isn't over. The figure behind this? He's playing a dangerous game."
"You seem to know a lot," she shot back. "Why should I believe you?"
"Because I know what happens when the wrong people win," he replied. "And I've made it my business to stop them."
Aria's skepticism remained. "And what's your price for this noble cause?"
"I want to see justice served," Damian answered without hesitation. "And perhaps... I like a challenge. You're up against a force that thrives in the shadows. I can help you bring it to light."
Aria narrowed her eyes, leaning slightly forward. "You're asking for a lot of trust without giving me a single reason to believe you. People like you don't get involved without an agenda. So what's yours?"
"You're right," Damian admitted, his tone cool. "I've made powerful enemies by exposing the truth. But I also know the satisfaction of watching corrupt empires fall. Logan Hale was just the beginning."
"And you think I need your help?" Her voice was laced with defiance.
Damian met her gaze unflinchingly. "No. I think you'll fight with or without me. But strength without information is weakness. You want to win? Then you need to know who you're up against."
Aria held his stare, searching for the cracks, the ulterior motives. "I don't trust easily, Mr. Cross. And I'm not desperate enough to rely on a stranger."
"Good," Damian said, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Desperation makes people careless. But consider this—when the next strike comes, and it will, you'll wish you had more than instinct to rely on."
She hated the truth in his words. But there was no denying the pull of his confidence — like a force she couldn't quite decipher.
"I'll think about it," she said at last. "But don't think for a second I'll let my guard down."
Damian's smile deepened. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
As Aria left the restaurant, the city air felt heavier. The game was shifting once again, and Damian Cross had just made his move.
And she would be ready.
---
Back at her office, Julie was waiting, perched anxiously on the edge of Aria's desk.
"So?" she asked. "Who was it?"
"Damian Cross," Aria replied, tossing her bag aside. "A corporate strategist. Claims he dismantles corrupt businesses."
Julie's brow furrowed. "And you believed him?"
"No," Aria said firmly. "But I didn't dismiss him either. He knows things, Julie. Things he shouldn't."
Julie sighed. "Cross has a reputation.
Ruthless, calculated. But if he's offering help, it's not out of kindness. He always has an angle."
"I know," Aria admitted, her jaw tight. "But if he has information on the figure pulling the strings, I'm willing to hear him out. I won't trust him, but I'll keep him close."
Julie nodded, though the worry in her eyes remained. "Just promise me one thing. Don't let him pull you under. Damian Cross may not be Logan, but he's dangerous in his own way."
Aria's lips curled into a grim smile. "I promise."
But even as she said the words, the weight of Damian's presence lingered. And she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
---
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit study, Damian Cross adjusted the cuff of his suit and picked up a secure phone. The line clicked after one ring.
"She played it smart," Damian said, his voice calm. "She asked for time to think. No rash moves."
A distorted voice responded from the other end. "Good. The cautious ones are always the most predictable."
"She's not predictable," Damian countered.
"She's resourceful. And she's not going to trust easily."
A low chuckle echoed through the line. "That's what makes her dangerous. But no matter how careful she is, Aria Vance will walk straight into the storm."
Damian's expression remained unreadable. "We'll see."
The call ended, leaving the shadows undisturbed. The game had begun, and every move mattered.
And Damian Cross had just taken his first step.