The city skyline shimmered like a chessboard under the moonlight, each glowing tower representing a player in this corporate war.

While Chloe plotted her revenge, the Jamesons were orchestrating their own calculated strike, a move that would send shockwaves through Miller Enterprise before the Millers even knew what hit them.

The Jameson estate exuded an aura of unrelenting power. The sprawling grounds, with their pristine gardens and wrought-iron gates, were more fortress than home, a testament to the family’s wealth and ruthless ambition. Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was no warmer. The study, with its dark oak paneling and looming bookshelves, felt like the nerve center of a war room.

Mr. Jameson sat behind the massive desk, his piercing eyes scanning a confidential file. The dim light from the desk lamp cast long, jagged shadows on the walls, amplifying the tension in the room. A glass of bourbon sat untouched beside him, condensation pooling on its surface.

Mrs. Jameson entered quietly, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Her every movement was deliberate, her expression composed yet brimming with intensity. She crossed her arms, her sleek black dress and stiletto heels embodying control.

“Have we confirmed it yet?” she asked, her voice sharp but measured.

Mr. Jameson looked up briefly, his lips curling into a grim smile. “We have. Ava Miller owns sixty percent of our company. The old man left it to her in a trust, and it activated the moment she turned twenty-five.” He leaned back, his eyes gleaming with predatory satisfaction. “But she doesn’t know. Yet.”

Mrs. Jameson’s perfectly arched brow rose. “Interesting. That gives us a narrow window. If she remains unaware, we can dismantle the Millers’ empire before she even has a chance to wield her influence.”

Mr. Jameson’s fingers tapped a calculated rhythm on the desk. “Exactly. She’s the key to their future. If we take her out of the equation, the rest of the board will scramble. We’ll position ourselves as the solution they desperately need. Her father has been nothing but eager to get her out, in return, he’s proposing we give him twenty percent.”

Mrs. Jameson nodded slowly as she walked to the desk, picking up the file he’d been studying. Her cold smile deepened as she flipped through its contents: Ava’s trust details, internal company reports, and—most importantly—a detailed outline of Miller Enterprise’s financial vulnerabilities.

“But we’ll need more than this to break them,” she mused, setting the file down.

Mr. Jameson smirked. “Oh, we have more. Hunt has been thorough.”

At that moment, as if on cue, the door opened, and David Hunt entered the study. Though unassuming in appearance, Hunt’s sharp gaze and confident demeanor marked him as a man used to navigating treacherous waters.

“Mr. and Mrs. Jameson,” he greeted with a nod, placing a sealed envelope on the desk.

“Is this it?” Mrs. Jameson asked, her voice dripping with anticipation.

Hunt nodded. “It’s all there. Financial discrepancies in their quarterly reports, shady practices in one of their subsidiaries—small enough to avoid scrutiny so far, but big enough to stir up trouble if it goes public. With the right pressure, it could lead to a board meeting. Their stock will take a hit, and the ensuing chaos will leave the Millers scrambling to retain control.”

Mrs. Jameson’s smile was icy. “Excellent. And what about Orion?”

Hunt’s lips twisted in a knowing smirk. “Orion’s too focused on Ava. He’s overprotective after the attempt I made to kidnap her, which makes him blind to everything else. If we keep applying pressure in the right places, he won’t have time to counter us.”

Mr. Jameson picked up the envelope, weighing it in his hands. “You’ve done well, Hunt. Your loyalty will be rewarded.”

“Just make sure my name stays out of it,” Hunt replied, his voice firm.

“Discretion is guaranteed,” Mr. Jameson assured him. “Now, go. The less time you spend here, the better.”

As Hunt left, Mrs. Jameson turned back to her husband. “This is just the beginning. The Millers won’t recover from this if we play our cards right.”

Mr. Jameson leaned forward, his expression dark with determination. “Then let’s make our move. First, we leak the financial discrepancies to the board. Once the board is in turmoil, we’ll position ourselves as the only viable option. Ava will be sidelined before she even realizes the power she holds.”

Mrs. Jameson tilted her head, her tone contemplative. “And Chloe? She’s reckless. Her obsession with revenge makes her dangerous.”

“She’s also useful,” Mr. Jameson countered. “Her hatred for the Millers makes her predictable. Let her keep targeting Orion and Ava. It’ll keep them distracted while we dismantle their empire from within. Once we’ve achieved our goal, she’ll be irrelevant.”

Mrs. Jameson’s smile returned, colder than ever. “Good. Then let’s set the wheels in motion.”

---

Across the city, in the gleaming high-rise that housed Miller Enterprise, Ava Miller was burning the midnight oil. Her corner office was quiet, the soft hum of her desk lamp the only sound breaking the silence. Stacks of reports and spreadsheets cluttered her desk, the weight of her responsibilities pressing down on her.

But her thoughts kept circling back to Chloe and the intruder that almost kidnapped her.

Chloe’s public meltdown after her split from Orion had been headline news for weeks. Ava had thought Chloe’s obsession would burn itself out, but the woman was tenacious, refusing to fade into irrelevance.

What is she planning? Ava wondered, her fingers absently drumming against her keyboard.

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Orion stepped inside, his suit immaculate despite the late hour.

“You’re still here,” he said, a note of concern in his voice.

“I’m just—unsettled,” Ava admitted, setting down the report she’d been reviewing. “I feel like something’s coming, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

Orion frowned, his protective instincts kicking in. “Chloe?”

“She’s part of it,” Ava replied. “But it feels bigger than that. Like there’s a storm brewing, and we’re not ready for it.”

Orion crossed the room, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. We've survived worse.”

But as he spoke, neither of them realized how close the storm truly was.

---

The following morning, headlines exploded across the city’s business networks: "Miller Enterprise Under Scrutiny: Allegations of Financial Mismanagement Surface."

The news sent shockwaves through the corporate world. Investors scrambled, the company’s stock took a sharp dive, and whispers of fraud spread like wildfire. Miller Enterprise’s board convened an emergency meeting, tension brewing behind closed doors.

At the Jamesons’ estate, the couple watched the chaos unfold with smug satisfaction.

“This is the first crack,” Mrs. Jameson said, sipping her coffee with a satisfied smile. “By the time we’re done, their empire will be nothing more than rubble.”

“And Ava Miller?” Mr. Jameson asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mrs. Jameson chuckled. “She’ll wish she’d stayed in the shadows where she belongs.”