The next morning arrived with gray clouds hanging low over the city. Javier sat in his office, the panoramic view behind him blurred by an early drizzle. The world outside was unaware of the storm brewing inside the Everhart headquarters. Javier’s calm, however, remained unshaken, his expression cool and contemplative as his fingers tapped lightly on the sleek surface of the conference table.Heather stood by the large screen, her posture rigid. “The overnight audits confirm the new threat is not just opportunistic. They’re precise—targeting niche assets, old investment routes, and even former Everhart Holdings partners.”Javier’s gaze was fixed on the screen, which displayed a spiderweb of connections—lines pointing from anonymous offshore accounts to recently disrupted markets, all converging on one label in bold: UNKNOWN.“They’ve caused ripple effects in Brazil, South Korea, and Eastern Europe. Small but deliberate,” Heather continued. “Enough to draw attention, but too spread out

The heavy doors to the executive lounge creaked open moments later, revealing a tall man dressed impeccably in a slate-gray suit. His stride was casual, his smirk deliberate. He moved as though he owned the room, his eyes sharp and cold, scanning every face before locking onto Javier’s.“Sable,” Javier greeted simply, his tone neutral, calm as ever.Sable’s grin widened. “You’ve been busy, Everhart. Crushing Langston, humiliating the Azure Crown, making waves wherever you go.”Heather shifted uneasily at Javier’s side, already tapping into her tablet discreetly. Sable wasn’t just another businessman—he was a ghost from the past, one they had neutralized years ago, or so they thought.Javier remained motionless, watching. “I thought you disappeared.”“I did,” Sable replied smoothly, circling the table, dragging his fingers along its polished surface. “But while you were enjoying your quiet power, I was rebuilding. You shut me out of the East European market… but I adapted. You destroye

Javier’s expression remained composed as he walked alongside Valeria through the villa’s quiet hallway. Outside, the sounds of the Everhart security teams securing the perimeter echoed faintly, but inside, Javier’s mind was already moving several steps ahead.Heather caught up quickly, tablet in hand. “We traced Marquette’s last movements. He’s attending the Mirador Private Auction tomorrow. High-end, invitation-only. Rumors suggest several confidential business exchanges happen behind the auction façade.”Valeria’s brow arched slightly. “And I assume we have no invitation?”Javier’s lips curved into a calm, faint smile. “Not yet.”Heather nodded. “I’ve already spoken to Antoine from the European desk. An invitation will ‘appear’ under a different name, but they’ll never realize it’s you.”Javier continued walking, unbothered, his tone smooth. “Perfect. Tomorrow, Marquette will believe he’s among sheep. We’ll let him think that—until the cage locks around him.”Valeria placed a hand o

Alexander Morsetti’s heavy footsteps echoed in the tense ballroom as he strode confidently through the sea of silent onlookers. His expression was one of manufactured arrogance, but Javier noticed it instantly—tight jaw, restless fingers, eyes that darted to exits. The man wasn’t as steady as he pretended to be.Javier stood still, hands relaxed in front of him, Valeria calmly at his side. He didn’t blink as Morsetti stopped a few paces away.“Well,” Morsetti sneered, “looks like you’ve caused quite the scene, Everhart. Humiliating your peers in public? I expected you to be classier.”The room collectively tensed, expecting Javier to snap, but he remained perfectly composed.“Class,” Javier said quietly, “is not something measured by noise or theatrics… but by truth.”Heather stepped forward, tablet in hand. “The financial data has already been forwarded to the Swiss authorities. Solera Investments’ shell accounts have been flagged, and the Internal Commission will review every transa

The atmosphere in the Everhart executive suite thickened, the quiet hum of the city far below contrasting with the sharp tension in the room. Javier stood at the center, his expression unchanging, but his posture sharpened with every new revelation. Valeria remained at his side, flipping through decrypted documents on her device, while Heather’s voice filled the room with a steady stream of updates.“Sir, Nicholas just confirmed preliminary findings on Project Sable,” Heather said, her tone clipped, professional. “It dates back eight years—initiated by a covert coalition of high-tier executives, including Langston, Morsetti, and… Quentin Hawthorne.”Valeria’s brow furrowed. “Eight years? That predates your acquisition of Everhart Holdings.”Heather nodded. “Exactly. It was an off-the-books operation—illicit trafficking through shell corporations, leveraged blackmail, political manipulation… but here’s the worst of it.”Javier’s gaze didn’t shift. “Go on.”Heather’s fingers danced acro