Chapter 10: Into the Lion's Den

The soft hum of classical music filled the room as I swirled my glass of red wine, my gaze fixed on the cityscape beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Something felt off. Ethan had been distant lately, preoccupied with something I couldn’t quite place. I prided myself on knowing every move my stepson made, but lately, he’d been slipping through my grasp. And then there was that woman—Sophia Grey. A name from the past I thought I had buried.

 

The sound of approaching footsteps drew my attention. I turned to see Ethan entering the room, his expression carefully neutral. He was always a hard one to read, a trait he had inherited from his father. But tonight, there was a tension in his posture, a stiffness in his movements that set off alarms in my mind.

 

“Ethan,” I greeted him with a cool smile, masking the unease simmering beneath the surface. “Thank you for coming.”

 

He inclined his head slightly as he approached me, his eyes betraying nothing. “What’s this about, Victoria?”

 

I took a sip of my wine, savoring the rich flavor before responding. “I’ve been hearing some concerning things, Ethan. Rumors that you’ve been meeting with certain individuals who don’t have our best interests at heart.”

 

His jaw tightened imperceptibly, but his voice remained calm. “I’m handling business matters, as I always have. If you’re concerned about something specific, perhaps you should be more direct.”

 

I smiled, but my eyes sharpened. “Direct? Very well. I’m concerned about Sophia Grey.”

 

There it was. The name that had been haunting my thoughts for weeks. I watched closely for any reaction, but Ethan’s expression remained impassive.

 

“She’s been in contact with you, hasn’t she?” I pressed, suspicion edging my tone. “I’ve noticed her involvement with the merger. I find it strange that you’ve allowed her to become so close to our operations, given her family’s history.”

 

He met my gaze evenly, his voice steady. “Sophia is a skilled strategist, and her involvement has been beneficial to the company. Her family’s history is irrelevant to the work she’s doing now.”

 

My eyes narrowed. “Irrelevant? Do you truly believe that? Or are you simply too blind to see what she’s really after?”

 

Ethan remained silent, and for the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed my face. I set my glass down on the table with a soft clink, my composure faltering slightly.

 

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Ethan,” I said, lowering my voice. “If you think you can trust her, you’re making a grave mistake. The Grey family was destroyed because they crossed us. She hasn’t forgotten that, and neither should you.”

 

His eyes hardened as he took a step closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “And what exactly do you mean by that, Victoria? Are you admitting to something?”

 

My expression turned icy. “Don’t be foolish, Ethan. I’m simply reminding you of the consequences of betrayal. We have enemies who would love nothing more than to see us fall. You must be vigilant.”

 

The tension in the room was palpable, both of us locked in a silent battle of wills. I had always considered myself the master of this game, but for the first time, I felt the ground shifting beneath my feet. Ethan was no longer the obedient stepson I could easily manipulate. He was challenging me, and I didn’t like it.

 

After a long, tense moment, Ethan finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “I’m fully aware of the stakes, Victoria. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect this family. But I won’t allow you to dictate how I handle my affairs.”

 

A surge of anger threatened to break my calm, but I forced myself to remain composed. “You may think you’re in control, Ethan, but don’t forget who built this empire. I won’t stand by and watch you throw it all away because of a woman with a vendetta.”

 

Ethan’s expression darkened, and he took a step back, putting distance between us. “I don’t need you to remind me of my responsibilities. I suggest you focus on your own.”

 

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me standing alone, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The door clicked shut behind him, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot.

 

My calm façade finally cracked as I picked up my wine glass and hurled it across the room. The glass shattered against the wall, red wine splattering like blood on the pristine white paint. I took a deep breath, trying to regain control, but the fury and fear coiled inside me like a viper.

 

Sophia Grey was a threat—one that needed to be eliminated before she could do any more damage. I wasn’t going to sit idly by and watch everything I had fought for crumble. I needed to act, and soon.

 

But first, I needed to figure out just how deep Ethan’s involvement with Sophia went. If he had truly turned against me, then he was no longer an asset—he was a liability. And I had no qualms about cutting out liabilities.

 

My mind raced as I considered my options. There were people I could call, favors I could cash in, and resources I could deploy. I needed to gather information, to find out exactly what Ethan and Sophia were planning. Only then could I make my move.

 

With renewed determination, I strode across the room and picked up my phone. It was time to call in some old favors.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, I drove through the city streets, my mind reeling from the confrontation with Victoria. I had known this day would come, but it still felt surreal. For years, I had played the role of the dutiful stepson, allowing Victoria to control the Blackwood empire while I focused on other ventures. But now, everything had changed.

 

I couldn’t stand by and let her continue her reign of terror. The guilt of what had happened to Sophia’s family weighed heavily on me, and I knew that I had to make things right. But it was more than that—Victoria’s grip on the company was suffocating, and if I didn’t act soon, she would destroy everything I had worked for.

 

As I pulled up to my penthouse, my phone buzzed with a new message. I glanced at the screen and saw Sophia’s name. A sense of relief washed over me as I read her message.

 

Sophia: How did it go with Victoria?

 

I typed a quick reply as I stepped out of the car.

 

Me: It went as expected. She’s suspicious, but I think she’s more concerned about keeping control than anything else. We need to move quickly before she makes her next move.

 

Sophia’s response was immediate.

 

Sophia: Agreed. I’ve been looking into some of her connections. There’s a weak link we can exploit—a former associate who might be willing to talk. I’ll send you the details.

 

A surge of admiration for Sophia’s resourcefulness washed over me. She was relentless, determined to bring Victoria down, just as I was. But I also knew that this was a dangerous game we were playing, and one wrong move could cost us everything.

 

Me: I’ll take care of it. Be careful, Sophia. Victoria is more dangerous than we thought.

 

There was a brief pause before Sophia’s reply came through.

 

Sophia: I will. You too, Ethan. We’re in this together.

 

I pocketed my phone and entered my penthouse, the weight of our mission heavy on my shoulders. As I made my way to the living room, I poured myself a glass of whiskey and sat down on the leather couch, staring out at the city lights.

 

I had always known that my life was built on a foundation of secrets and lies, but I had never imagined it would come to this. The battle lines were drawn, and there was no turning back now.

 

As I sipped my drink, my thoughts drifted to Sophia. Despite everything that had happened, I couldn’t deny the growing connection between us. She was fierce, intelligent, and passionate—everything I admired in a person. But there was also a vulnerability beneath her strong exterior, a pain that mirrored my own.

 

I knew that our partnership was built on a shared goal, but I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt toward her. It was dangerous to let my emotions get involved, especially now, but the more time I spent with her, the harder it became to keep my distance.

 

I set down my glass and leaned back, closing my eyes. I needed to stay focused on the task at hand. There would be time to explore whatever was happening between me and Sophia once Victoria was dealt with.

 

For now, I had to play my role carefully, bide my time, and wait for the perfect moment to strike. The storm was coming, and I was determined to be the one standing when it passed.