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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 knew better than to trust Nicholas Vale.

The way he sat, completely at ease in his private kingdom, the way his words were deliberate and slow—he was a man who never offered anything without expecting something much bigger in return.

"You want to make a deal with me?" I repeated, keeping my tone bored, as if this wasn't setting off every internal alarm I had. "You don't even know if I have anything to offer."

"Oh, but I think you do," Vale said smoothly.

He lifted his glass, taking a slow sip before continuing. "See, Liam Kingston is predictable. I've known him for years, and I know exactly how he operates. But you? You're a wild card. And I like wild cards."

I crossed my arms. "Flattering. But vague."

"Fine, then let's be clear." Vale leaned forward, lowering his voice just enough to make the air feel charged. "Work for me instead."

"You heard me." His smirk was all sharp edges. "Liam wants my ledger, but I have no interest in giving it to him. You, on the other hand… I could use someone like you. Smart. Quick. Dangerous when necessary."

I scoffed. "So what, I betray Liam and become one of your little chess pieces instead?"

"Not a chess piece, Celeste. A partner."

The word slid between us like a knife, too sharp, too tempting.

I should've laughed in his face. Should've told him exactly where he could shove his offer. But instead… a small, dangerous part of me hesitated.

Because Liam hadn't trusted me with the truth.Because working for him wasn't my choice.Because maybe—just maybe—Nicholas Vale could offer something I actually wanted.

Vale saw the hesitation, and his smirk deepened.

"Think about it," he murmured, standing up. "When you're ready to make a real choice, you know where to find me."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving me alone in a room full of predators.

With a deal I might actually consider.

Chapter 36: A Dangerous Proposition