Logan Hale sat in his dimly lit office, his fingers tapping a sharp rhythm against the mahogany desk. The weight of the past few weeks pressed down on him—scandals, betrayals, and now an uneasy suspicion gnawing at the back of his mind. Someone close to him was playing a dangerous game. He just didn't know who yet.
His gaze flickered to the multiple screens in front of him, each displaying reports of his empire crumbling piece by piece. The headlines were relentless. *Insider Trading Scandal Deepens*, *Logan Hale Under Investigation*, *Hale Enterprises in Freefall*.
His jaw clenched. He needed control, and he needed it now.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed a number with an impatient flick of his thumb. The line barely rang twice before the familiar voice answered.
"Logan," Damian Cross greeted smoothly, his tone as relaxed as ever.
"Cut the pleasantries," Logan snapped, his grip tightening around the phone. "I need to know where your loyalties lie."
There was a brief pause before Damian let out a soft chuckle, the sound laced with amusement. "Logan, if you're calling to question me, I have to say, I'm offended. After everything I've done for you?"
"Don't play games with me, Damian," Logan growled. His patience was razor-thin. "I see the way you've been maneuvering. You tell me you're handling things, but Aria is still standing. And now, I hear whispers that you've been… too close to her."
Damian leaned back in his chair, the city lights casting a faint glow against his sharp features. He swirled the glass of whiskey in his hand, watching the amber liquid catch the light. "I told you, Logan. I'm keeping her where I want her. She thinks she's making progress, but I control the information she gets."
Logan wasn't convinced. "And as for your loyalty?"
Damian smirked, letting the silence stretch, knowing it would unnerve Logan. "My loyalty is always with the one who plays their cards best. Right now, that's still you. But if you're doubting me, maybe I should reconsider where I stand."
Logan's jaw clenched. He could hear the smirk in Damian's voice, the arrogance oozing from every word. This wasn't a man who could be easily controlled. That made him both a valuable asset and a dangerous liability.
"Don't test me, Damian," Logan warned, his voice lowering to something lethal. "You're useful—until you're not."
Damian exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "Noted. Now, do you want my help or not?"
Logan exhaled sharply, his anger barely contained. "Find out who's leaking information from my side. Someone is feeding intel to the media, to Aria—hell, maybe even to you."
Damian smirked but said nothing.
Logan leaned forward, his voice dropping into a menacing whisper. "If it's someone close to me… handle it."
A flicker of something dark crossed Damian's features before he let out a slow, measured breath. "Consider it done."
The line went dead, but the tension in the air remained. Logan set his phone down, his fingers tightening into fists. He didn't trust Damian. Not entirely. But for now, he was the only option he had.
And if Damian ever became a threat? Logan would make sure he never had the chance to switch sides.
----
Aria Vance paced in her office, the weight of her discovery pressing down on her. The pieces were finally coming together, each revelation sharpening her focus. Across from her, Julie leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, skepticism clear on her face.
"Are you sure about this?" Julie asked, her tone laced with concern.
Aria stopped, turning to face her. The fire in her eyes was unwavering. "Yes. One of Logan's top associates—Russell Pierce—has been feeding information to someone else. And I have proof."
Julie frowned, shifting forward. "Russell? That doesn't make sense. He's been glued to Logan's side for years. If there's one person I thought would never betray him, it's him."
Aria tossed a thick file onto the desk between them. "That's what I thought too, until I came across this. Bank transactions. Encrypted messages. Meetings he didn't report back to Logan. Someone's been paying him off, and I intend to find out who."
Julie picked up the file, flipping through the pages, her expression darkening. "This… This isn't just small leaks. This is dangerous, Aria. If Logan finds out Russell has been selling him out, he won't just fire him—he'll bury him."
"Exactly," Aria said, her jaw tightening. "Which is why Russell might be desperate enough to talk. If he knows Logan's downfall is inevitable, he might be willing to cut a deal."
Julie's fingers drummed against the desk. "And you're going to confront him?"
"At the charity gala tomorrow night," Aria confirmed. "He won't see it coming. He'll be surrounded by people, forced to keep up appearances. That's when he'll be the most vulnerable."
Julie exhaled sharply, setting the file down.
"You're walking into a snake pit, Aria. Logan will be there. Damian will be there. And now we don't even know if Russell's playing a third side in this game. If Damian's still playing both sides, you have no idea who's really pulling the strings."
Aria's grip tightened around the document in her hand, her resolve hardening. "That's exactly what I plan to find out. One way or another, Russell is going to talk."
Julie studied her for a long moment before shaking her head. "Just… don't go in blind. If things go sideways, you need a way out."
Aria smirked, a glint of confidence flashing in her eyes. "Don't worry. I always have a plan."
Julie didn't look convinced. "That's what worries me."
A knock at the door made both women tense. Aria exchanged a glance with Julie before striding over to open it. A courier stood there, holding a sleek black envelope.
"For you, Ms. Vance."
Aria took the envelope, her heartbeat quickening. She tore it open and pulled out a single card. The message was simple but sent a chill down her spine.
*You're not the only one watching. See you at the gala.*
Julie stood, her eyes narrowing. "What is it?"
Aria folded the card, slipping it into her pocket. "It means tomorrow night just got even more interesting."