What Such Suspicion

Blair held Leo's gaze across the ballroom, her heart hammering in her chest. His eyes weren't just unreadable—they were piercing, as if he could see right through her. For a moment, she wondered if she'd been too careless. Did he know she'd been in the study?

She forced herself to smile, slipping seamlessly into her polished facade. If Leo suspected anything, he wouldn't get confirmation from her.

As she approached him, weaving through the crowd, she noticed how still he stood amid the swirling chaos of the gala. There was something predatory about him, something that put her on edge.

"You're a hard man to pin down," she said, her tone light.

Leo raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you."

Blair tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Leo leaned in, his voice low. "A woman like you doesn't just wander into my father's orbit without a reason. You're up to something, Blair. I just haven't figured out what."

Blair felt a flicker of unease, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she laughed softly, brushing past him. "Maybe I just like a good party."

As she moved away, she felt his eyes on her, sharp and unyielding. She'd have to be more careful. Leo was too perceptive for his own good.

Back at the safehouse, Blair paced the room while Jax examined the photos she'd taken of the documents.

"This is damning," Jax said, scrolling through the images. "If we can verify these transactions and link them to Moretti, we've got enough to bring him down."

Blair shook her head. "It's not enough. The Syndicate's bigger than Vincent. If we take him down without dismantling the rest, someone else will just step in to take his place."

Jax frowned. "So what's the plan?"

Blair stopped pacing, her mind racing. "We need to isolate Vincent. Cut off his resources, expose his connections, and turn his allies against him. If we can make the Syndicate doubt his leadership, they'll do half the work for us."

Jax nodded slowly. "And Leo?"

Blair hesitated. "Leo's… complicated. I need to keep him close, but I can't let him get too close."

Jax smirked. "You're playing a dangerous game, Blair."

"I know," she said quietly.

A few days later, Blair received another call from Leo. This time, he invited her to dinner at a high-end restaurant in the city.

"I figured we should get to know each other better," he said casually, though his tone suggested ulterior motives.

Blair accepted, knowing she couldn't afford to turn him down. If Leo was suspicious of her, she needed to manage his perception.

The restaurant was as opulent as she'd expected, with dim lighting and soft music that created an air of intimacy.

Leo was already there when she arrived, dressed in a tailored suit that made him look every bit the heir to a criminal empire.

"You're punctual," he said, standing as she approached.

"I like to keep people guessing," she replied, her smile disarming.

They ordered drinks and made polite conversation, but Blair could feel the tension beneath the surface. Leo wasn't here to talk about work or exchange pleasantries—he was here to uncover her secrets.

"Tell me something, Blair," Leo said after a while, his tone deceptively casual. "Why did you leave Whales Tech so suddenly? A CEO like you doesn't just step away from a company like that without a good reason."

Blair sipped her wine, her expression calm. "I wanted a change. Running a company like Whales Tech is demanding, and I needed time to focus on myself."

Leo nodded, but his eyes betrayed his skepticism. "Interesting. And yet, here you are, mingling with people like my father. Doesn't seem like the kind of 'self-focus' most people would choose."

Blair leaned forward, her smile sharp. "Maybe I'm not like most people."

Leo chuckled, though the sound lacked warmth. "No, you're definitely not."

Their conversation was interrupted when one of Vincent's men approached the table, leaning down to whisper something in Leo's ear.

Leo's expression darkened, and he excused himself, leaving Blair alone at the table.

She watched him disappear into a private room at the back of the restaurant, her curiosity piqued.

After a moment's hesitation, she rose from her seat and followed, keeping to the shadows.

Through the crack in the door, she saw Leo speaking with a group of men, their voices low but urgent.

"We have a problem," one of the men said. "The shipment's been compromised. Someone leaked the details to the feds."

Leo cursed under his breath. "Does my father know?"

"Not yet," the man replied. "But he will soon."

Blair's heart raced. This was her doing—the leaked shipment was part of her plan to disrupt the Syndicate's operations. But now it was clear her actions were causing more ripples than she'd anticipated.

As she turned to leave, her foot caught on the edge of a rug, and the sound drew Leo's attention.

"Who's there?" he demanded, stepping out of the room.

Blair froze, her mind racing for an excuse.

When Leo spotted her, his expression shifted from surprise to suspicion.

"Blair," he said slowly, his voice low. "What are you doing back here?"

Blair forced a smile, her heart pounding. "I got lost looking for the restroom."

Leo didn't respond right away, his gaze searching hers. For a moment, she thought he might call her bluff.

Then, he smirked. "Careful where you wander, Blair. You might stumble into something you can't handle."

As he walked past her, Blair exhaled slowly, the weight of his words lingering.

She wasn't sure if he believed her—or if he was letting her off the hook to see what she'd do next.