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Once known as the naive and kind-hearted Ava Montague, she was betrayed, framed, and left to die by the very people she trusted most—her fiancé, best friend, and stepmother. But death did not claim her. Instead, a mysterious organization saved her and gave her a new identity: "The Vixen."
With a new face, a new name, and a burning desire for revenge, she returns as Celeste Vauxhall, a woman who plays by no rules but her own. She is no longer the weak, innocent girl she once was—she is now a master manipulator, using charm, intelligence, and deception to dismantle those who wronged her.
But revenge is a double-edged sword. As she gets closer to her targets, she finds herself entangled in a dangerous game of power, love, and deception. And when a mysterious billionaire with secrets of his own enters her life, the lines between vengeance and passion blur. Will she succeed in her mission, or will she lose herself in the very darkness she sought to control?

The Vixen

I stared at Liam, waiting for the catch. Because there was always a catch.

"You want to hire me?" I repeated, just to make sure I hadn't misheard.

Liam swirled his whiskey lazily, watching me with those sharp, knowing eyes. "That's what I said."

I let out a humorless laugh. "And what exactly would I be doing? Running errands? Stealing more files? Or maybe something a little more… permanent?"

His lips twitched. "You think I'm asking you to kill someone?"

"I don't know, Liam. You're the one making vague offers over expensive wine." I gestured to my untouched glass.

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "I don't need another hitman. I need someone with your particular skills—someone who can get into places others can't. Someone who can handle themselves under pressure."

"And what exactly would I be retrieving?"

"That depends." He tilted his head. "Do you really want to know, or would you rather just get paid?"

My stomach twisted. This was a test.

If I said I didn't care, he'd know I was just in it for the money. If I asked too many questions, I'd look like a liability.

So I did what I did best. I lied.

"I care about getting paid," I said smoothly.

His lips curved, but his eyes stayed unreadable.

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small black envelope, sliding it across the table. I hesitated before picking it up, feeling the slight weight of something inside.

"That's your first assignment," he said. "Open it when you leave."

"You're really just going to hand it over without a signature? A contract?"

"This is the contract, Celeste." His gaze darkened. "You take that envelope, you're in. No turning back."

There it was. The trap.

Because if I walked away now, Liam would see me as a threat.

But if I took it… I wasn't just playing the game anymore. I was officially part of it.

I let my fingers brush over the envelope.

"Then we go back to square one," he said easily, sipping his drink. "Where I assume you're working for someone else and act accordingly."

I forced a smirk. "You mean you'd kill me."

I didn't ask what worse meant. I had a pretty good idea.

I exhaled slowly, then picked up the envelope and slipped it into my clutch.

"Smart choice," Liam murmured.

I lifted my glass and took a slow sip of the wine he'd ordered for me.

Chapter 31: Terms and Conditions