Over the next several days, the problems surrounding Mia's company began disappearing one by one. The supplier called on Friday morning and apologized for the price increase, citing an internal error. The forum post vanished overnight. Two of the three silent clients suddenly reached out again, expressing renewed interest.Sarah noticed the pattern immediately. "Something is strange."Mia looked up from a contract she was reviewing. "What do you mean?""Every problem we had last week is gone. Just like that. The supplier reversed the price hike. The fake post disappeared. Clients are calling back." Sarah tapped her pen against the desk. "Problems do not just solve themselves, Mia.""Maybe the supplier realized they made a mistake.""And the forum post deleted itself? And three clients simultaneously changed their minds?" Sarah shook her head. "Someone is helping us. We just cannot see who."Mia pressed her lips together but did not respond. The thought had crossed her mind too, but sh

Word of what happened on that empty stretch of road in Whitestone traveled fast through certain circles of the city. Not the police. Not the news. A different kind of network entirely. The kind that operated in private clubs, encrypted phone lines, and back rooms where men with money and secrets discussed things the public would never see.Someone had gathered a team, ambushed Alex on an isolated road, and pointed a loaded gun directly at his chest. And that someone had walked away with nothing but bruises and a wounded pride.In a penthouse suite overlooking Central Park, a man in his sixties sat in a leather chair with a glass of scotch untouched on the side table. His assistant stood a respectful distance away, reading from a tablet."The attack failed completely, sir. Four men were left on the ground. Simone Greene personally attempted to shoot him and was disarmed within seconds."The old man's lips curved into a slow, thoughtful smile. He was not angry. He was not even surprised

The apartment had turned into a small command center over the past week. Papers covered every surface of the dining table. Mia's laptop stayed open at all hours, the screen glowing well past midnight. Sarah had started sleeping on the couch twice just to avoid the commute, and even then, Mia was usually still awake when she dozed off and still awake when she woke up.Alex found her hunched over the table one night, dark circles forming under her eyes, three empty coffee cups lined up beside her laptop."You need to sleep." He set a glass of water down beside her."I need to finish the vendor contracts." Mia did not look up from the screen. "The catering company keeps sending me revised quotes and none of them make sense.""The launch is in two days. You have been running on four hours of sleep for a week.""I am fine.""You are not fine." Alex pulled out the chair beside her and sat down. "You look like you have not slept since Tuesday."Mia finally glanced at him, irritation flickeri

"More closely than you would imagine." Reginald turned to face the rest of the hall, raising his voice just enough for it to carry across the room. "I came here tonight to make an announcement. My corporation, Blackwood Holdings, would like to sign a long term partnership with Miss Vinda's company. Effective immediately."The silence that followed lasted exactly four seconds.Then the room exploded into whispers. Marcus Webb turned to the man beside him with wide eyes. Patricia Ainsley pressed her hand over her mouth. Several smaller business owners exchanged glances that ranged from shock to naked envy.Sarah grabbed Mia's elbow and squeezed it so hard that Mia almost winced. "Did he just say what I think he said?"Mia's lips parted but no words came out. She looked at Reginald, then at the crowd, then back at Reginald. "Mr. Blackwood, I am honored. Truly. But are you certain you want to commit to this publicly without a formal review?""I have already completed my review." Reginald

Sarah rushed back through the crowd with her face drained of all color. She grabbed Mia's arm and pulled her close, her lips trembling against Mia's ear."The contract is gone. I searched everywhere. Someone took it from the office."Mia's fingers went rigid at her sides. Her stomach dropped but her face stayed perfectly still. She turned back toward the crowd, every pair of eyes in the room now locked onto her.Derek Holloway did not need to hear what Sarah whispered. The expression on the assistant's face told him everything he needed to know. He threw his head back and let out a laugh so loud that it bounced off the ceiling."There it is!" Derek clapped his hands together and spun toward the crowd. "Look at her face! She sent her little assistant to fetch the contract and now the girl comes back looking like she just saw a ghost!" He pointed at Mia with one finger, his grin stretching wider. "No contract! No agreement! No proof! Because there was never a real partnership in the fir