𝟻. "... 𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎'𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝"

"Any reason why the summit got brought closer? " I asked, flicking the lighter and it illuminated and caught on the cigar. "There's been an unrest" she answered, grounding the ash of her cigar on the table.

"Everyone knows that"

"I'm not talking in the country, in the Society" she still spoke In more riddles, I brought out the cigar front my lips and blew out the smoke. "You promised me a two weeks head start, Josephine" I reminded.

"I know but with the way things are going, there is no time, it's time to begin" she answered and I held on a look with her.

I expected this.

"When will you be flying to Greece?" She asked. "Probably tomorrow, I have to get myself prepared"

"With the recent turns of events, major partners and corporations will be joining the Committee in the meeting" she explained.

Of course, the party/dinner was always a front to hide what really went on in the shadows. "What are the turns of events?"

"They've been words of betrayal in the circle" she answered, blowing out the smoke. "He isn't happy"

At the mention of 𝐇𝐢𝐦, I looked away, ashing the cigar. "Betrayal towards him?" I asked. "Even worst, towards the trade and all the supply. The likes of the Prime minister, making a decree against us"

"No wonder his wife died" I muttered under my breath as I took another drag of the cigar. "So, what are we expecting at the meeting? "

She let out a breath, clearly frustrated by the whole thing. "We are expecting a total restructure of the organization" she glanced at me before going on with the explanation. I noticed she has abstained from mentioning his name too.

"He's known to be unpredictable and since he has been away, structuring and fixing things from within. And he doesn't report back to the Committee, so there's nothing to expect. He's unruly" she muttered that part, her frustration dripping from her tone.

"And what are the other members saying?" I asked, picking up my glass and taking a sip from it. "They are turning a blind eye but I know there's more to that than they let on and...that's where you come in" she said, leaning on the table.

I let out another breath of smoke, not being phased by her statement. "You're an official member of the Committee and I'm not, I'm sure you know how this works, you're higher"

She flicked the ash on the tray, shaking her head. "And I'm admitting to you, I don't have the power to. I may sit at the table but I can't do anything even if I wanted to...but you can. You have leverage"

"Time's past"

"And you couldn't have changed thoroughly" she reminded and I paused. "You will be surprised, my interest has changed"

"But you still crave power, don't you? Dominance... revenge."

Her eyes glinted with mischief as she spoke the last word, and I could feel the weight of it—the sharp edge in her tone that made my stomach tighten. I looked away instantly, already knowing exactly where this was headed.

She was poking at old wounds, reopening the boxes I’d carefully shoved deep inside, the ones full of things I’d buried long ago.

"You could have it all," she continued, her voice coaxing, tempting, as if trying to lure me back into the web she'd spun. But I wasn’t blinded by her words.

I knew the game she was playing, the pieces she was shifting on the board. This was all strategy—nothing more. We were all just pawns, each trying to move the others to our advantage.

She needed me. She needed me to reaffirm her seat at the table, to remind her of what she once had. And she would use me, just like she had used so many before, to get back what she’d lost. I wasn’t foolish enough to let her think I didn’t see it.

And as much I hate being used without my consent, she had something going with this. I only did something when it's beneficial to me and this seemed like one of those things.

She was right on one thing, I still craved...revenge—and of course, power and the rest of them.

As I took another drag from the cigar, still silent, she knew I was deliberating on it and slowly she leaned back on her seat, a satisfied smile on her lips.

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I pulled over and glanced up at the building of RedCo, it was today or never. With that I stepped out of the car, my orange bag in hand as I got up the steps to the lobby.

Throwing the door open, I stepped into the deserted hall, my eyes landed on the supposed security man who was fast asleep with the newspaper perched on his face.

How sad.

I headed straight to the elevator, even with the thud of my heel on the marble floor, he still didn't wake or budge. I tapped on the button and the doors slid open and I stepped in.

Today felt like some kind of rare luxury—a free day at the office. I’d suggested the retreat and, of course, footed the bill for everyone's expenses. A little getaway for the team, who wouldn’t want that, right?

Well, I didn’t need it. What I needed was some peace, uninterrupted, with the office empty for once. And that’s exactly what I had.

I stepped out of the elevator, the familiar hum of the building fading into the background. My heels clicked sharply on the floor as I made my way down the hallway, heading straight for Caius’s office. I wasn’t here for vacation. I was here for something else entirely.

This was the final piece of the puzzle I've been working on for years.

The quietness of the whole place was eerie, I was used to the bustling and noise of the office. I stopped at the door and gently pulled it open before stepping into the cool room.

I expected to see him seated at that seat for some reason but it was vacant as it should, the windows drawn and everything left the way it was yesterday—which was messy.

It didn't surprise me, I know the man and he isn't put together 99% of the time. Placing my bag on the desk, I settled on the seat and turned on his laptop.

His password was predictable, 12345. Old people. I shook my head and went on.

I logged in easily and redirected it to the page I was in search for and I found it at once because it was part of the emails he was about sending to the headquarters back at LA.

The list of workers about to be promoted to that branch and surprise surprise...I wasn't a part of it. My hand tightened over the mouse, that sly devil cunt, Caius!

He didn't even consider me for the promotion, I knew it! After everything, he is trying to keep me here for himself, I get the clients and he takes the credit.

I knew this would happen and that's why I was here, at his office without his consent, prolly breaking a law but I don't give a shit.

Someone had to go down for me to get what I wanted. I tapped on it and began inputting, whoever Caterina Rinaldi was, she just lost her promotion.

I sighed and leaned back on my seat, sending the email at once, since he was too lazy to do it. I took in the office, twirling in the seat.

What about I sort around more for...things that might be of help in the future. After all, it's the boss's office.

Minutes later, I stood by the shelf reading through a ledger, a satisfied smile on my lips, it was too easy. Like they were begging me to find this, this little ledger contained a lot of things that shouldn't be seen by the other eyes but I have...and I'm taking it with me.

I'm sure Caius wouldn't mind, this is what he get for snobbing me on that promotion. I slow slid it into my blazer jacket, turning to walk out, I froze.

"Pearl" Leandro called, standing by the door, his brows knotted together as he stared at me. What the hell is he doing here?!

I gulped down, not letting anything show, he looked around the room. "What...what are you doing here? " he asked, stepping in fully.

I glanced down first to make sure nothing was peeking out of the blazer before looking up at him, "I could ask you the same, shouldn't you be with the others at the retreat?" I asked.

"You're here too...and you sponsored the retreat" he pointed out and I looked away. "Yes, I have errands to run, that's why I'm here, I came to drop off some files"

"I guess, Caius isn't fair to his favourite" he mentioned. "You'd be surprised" I muttered before looking back up at him. He had his blazer in hand, his tie loosened and his hair messy.

"Why are you here?" I asked and he glanced down at himself. "I had work too, couldn't wait for the weekend" he answered and silence followed for a while.

I had to admit, he was one of the few hardworking people in this corporation who also deserves to be on that list but...that will do me no good and I will admit, he deserves better than this shithole.

"I'll be off now" I spoke up, grabbing my bag from the table. "I'll be away for a day or two... "

"More business dinners?" he asked and I glanced up at him, he was teasing me, he had a small smile on his lips. "Get a life" I replied, walking past him while he chuckled from behind.

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RedCo really be getting their hands dirty, since I couldn't go to sleep, I spent my evening, sitting crossed legged by the glass walls, watching the rain fall.

The house could be really lonely at this hour, and all I did was walk around, sort out documents and make business calls.

I finally shut the ledger and sighed before grabbing the glass and sipping from it again. The plan was in motion, I'll be heading to LA soon.

And it isn't because of the promotion, most of my businesses were there, like the fashion show coming in few weeks and the new store opening at the mall.

As much as I didn't want to attend, I still had to, it was my business and it was something I had to do to finish this game. Getting up, I walked to the glass walks, watching the rain fall.

I've abstained from traveling over there for  years now, I've postponed and cancelled plans so not visit that city but...it was inevitable. It was something I'll always have to do, I couldn't run away forever, even though I wanted to, even though I wanted to stay as far away as possible.

Letting out a breath, I crossed my hands over my chest. The next couple of months might be harder than the years behind me now, I could see it.

As everything came together, it made it impossible for it not to go down without a bang, it was gonna be chaos. And how much I love chaos.