Victoria Shaw sat in her car outside Bella Vista, her hands trembling on the steering wheel, when her phone rang. Unknown number. She almost didn't answer, but something within her told her not to keep the call. Ignoring the warnings, she picked up the call."Mrs. Shaw." Dorian's voice . "I heard about your lunch with Sera. Unfortunate."Victoria's breath caught. "How did you—""I have people watching your daughter. For strategic purposes, you understand. When she left the restaurant looking angry and you remained inside for another twenty minutes, it wasn't difficult to deduce that things didn't go as planned." There was a pause. "She recorded the conversation, didn't she?"Victoria's hand shook slightly. It was at this moment that she knew that the person who she was working for was a deadly one. Her free hand was clutched to the hem of her garment."Yes," Victoria whispered."And now you're thinking about pulling back. Maybe calling your husband, telling him this has gone too far,

Preston Shaw sat at the dining table; the one that they had converted to an office after selling furniture from his study staring at the laptop screen. His anxiety ticked every minute. Dorian's latest instructions had arrived that morning via encrypted email; and they were very specific: leak confidential development plans for Shaw Realty’s upcoming Harbor East expansion to three competing firms.Preston could not access the development plans because he did not have the access codes. He had gotten close to an employer in the foundation in order to get the login details. He found out that the login details had been changed making the one he had null and void.He had been sitting there for two hours, trying to navigate folders and subfolders, downloading files that looked relevant. The Harbor East project was Elias's flagship development, a mixed complex worth over two hundred million dollars that would reshape an entire waterfront district. If Preston could get those plans to competit

The Riverside Foundation Gala was the type of event that Victoria Shaw had once navigated without stress. The foundation had five hundred people in attendance, as they drank their champagne and talked about other’s interests.The city elites mingled beneath the crystal chandelier that had more worth than some people's homes. But tonight, standing near the entrance in a borrowed gown that was not fitting for her, Victoria began to develop the imposter syndrome.She had received Dorian's instructions and hour before the event through a text message“Create a scene, embarrass Elias publicly. Make people remember this night for the wrong reasons. Let the act be emotional, be visible, be irresistible to ignore.Victoria had read the message a few more times as she shook her head. She pondered for a while, trying to understand Dorian's instructions. Create a scene? She had used thirty years of her life to avoid scenes, maintaining dignity and having the aura of a dignified lady. Was she sup

Elias Vance's phone began to vibrate at around 6:00 AM dragging him from the little sleep that he had managed after spending most of the night analyzing the stock market losses. He reached for it lazily, his mind was still foggy and he saw the name: Robert Sterling, CEO of Sterling Bank.That alone was enough to wake him completely. Bank CEOs didn't make personal calls at dawn unless something was definitely wrong."Mr. Robert," Elias answered, already sitting up and reaching for his laptop. "What happened?""Elias, I'm sorry to call so early, but I wanted you to hear this from me directly before the formal notification arrives." Robert Sterling said in a cold tone."Sterling Bank's risk management committee held an emergency session last night. Given yesterday's market volatility and the concerns about structural integrity issues in your properties, we're implementing a temporary suspension of your credit facility pending a comprehensive review."Elias' heart raced at a faster pace.

Sarah Winters, walked into Elias office at 9:14 AM carrying a thick folder which contains files of different kinds; she had a troubled expression on her face. Behind her, Thomas Bradford from the banking relationship teams, his expression looking grim. Elias had been on the phone with the insurance company about the Harbor Point fire for three hours straight and the interruption meant that something serious had occurred."We have a problem" Sarah began as she placed the folder on his desk. "A big one" She continued.Elias ended his call and gestured for them to sit down. "Given that our building project burned down two days ago, our credit facilities are suspended, and our stock dropped eighteen percent, I'm curious what qualifies as a bigger problem.""Someone is spreading rumors through the financial community that Shaw Realty is under federal investigation for securities fraud," Thomas said. "And those indictments are imminent."Elias was confused but masked it with a calm look, h