Chapter 13: The First Strike

The soft glow of the city lights cast shifting shadows across Jared's office as he stood by the window, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Nina's revelation had shaken him, but not enough to derail his focus. He knew Victor too well—knew his cunning, his ruthlessness. This wasn't just business for Victor; it was personal.

Jared turned to the room, where Nina waited, her laptop open and the projector casting a cascade of financial reports onto the wall. "What's the status on our bid submission?" he asked, his tone clipped.

"Ready to submit," Nina replied. "But if Victor's trying to sabotage it, we need to account for every possible angle of attack. Legal, technical, political—everything."

Jared nodded. "Pull in Malcolm. I want him to oversee the lobbying efforts personally. Make sure the right people are reminded just how much they stand to gain from us winning this contract."

"And Victor?" Nina asked.

Jared's expression darkened. "We can't stop him from playing dirty, but we can make it costly. Leak the Ashford International connection to the press. Frame it as insider corruption within Bellmont Holdings. Let the headlines paint him as a liability."

Nina hesitated, her fingers hovering over her keyboard. "If this backfires…"

"It won't," Jared interrupted. "Victor's been too brazen for too long. The skeletons in his closet will keep him busy enough to buy us time."

Nina nodded, her expression resolute. "Understood. I'll coordinate with PR and get the ball rolling."

Jared turned back to the window, his mind already moving to the next phase. He wouldn't wait for Victor to strike first—this was a war he intended to control.

Meanwhile, Across Town

Victor sat in his study, the dim light casting sharp angles across his face. Angela stood nearby, scrolling through updates on her tablet.

"Elliot's already making moves," she said. "We've got operatives in the Department of Defense leaking information that Lumina's bid is underfunded and logistically unsound. If the whispers catch the right ears, Jared won't even make it to the final round."

Victor smirked. "Good. The longer he's scrambling to defend himself, the less time he has to counter us."

Angela hesitated. "But there's something else. The media's picked up a story about Bellmont Holdings. Ashford International, specifically."

Victor's smirk faltered. "What kind of story?"

"Allegations of fraud, offshore accounts, ties to insider trading. It's not a direct attack on you, but it's enough to raise questions."

Victor leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. He knew exactly where the story had come from. Jared had thrown the first punch, but Victor wasn't one to flinch.

"Get my legal team on it," Victor said. "We'll frame it as an unfounded smear campaign by a competitor—turn it back on him."

"And if the story gains traction?" Angela asked.

Victor's eyes gleamed coldly. "Then we remind Jared that wars aren't won with headlines. They're won in the trenches."

Hours Later, Lumina Technologies

Jared paced in his office, his phone pressed to his ear. "What do you mean the bid submission portal is down?" he snapped.

On the other end, Malcolm's voice was strained. "IT says it's a server issue, but I don't buy it. It's too convenient, Jared. Victor's got people everywhere."

Jared slammed his fist onto the desk, but his voice remained calm. "How long to fix it?"

"Hours, maybe longer," Malcolm said. "And the deadline's in 48 hours. If we don't get this resolved—"

"We will," Jared cut in. "Call in every favor. I don't care what it takes—get that portal back online."

As the call ended, Jared sat heavily in his chair, his mind racing. Victor's reach was deeper than he had anticipated, but Jared wasn't out of moves yet.

"Nina," he called.

She appeared in the doorway almost instantly. "Yes?"

"Start preparing a backup submission. Use encrypted channels and a physical courier if necessary. Victor won't leave us room to breathe, so we're going to outmaneuver him."

Nina nodded, her face set with determination. "Understood."

The Next Morning

Victor walked into his office, greeted by the sight of Angela waiting with her tablet.

"It's working," she said. "The leaks about Lumina's bid are gaining traction. Investors are pulling back, and the media's already speculating about their chances."

Victor allowed himself a rare smile. "Good. Jared's smart, but even he can't fight on every front at once."

But before Victor could savor his victory, Angela's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her expression tightening.

"What is it?" Victor asked.

"Jared's countering," Angela said. "He's going after Bellmont Holdings directly. He's leaking financial records to regulators. If this sticks, it could trigger an investigation."

Victor's smile vanished. "How much damage?"

"Potentially catastrophic," Angela admitted. "We can contain it, but not without drawing attention."

Victor's jaw clenched. He had underestimated just how far Jared would go. "Call Elliot. Tell him to accelerate the plan. I want Jared's bid buried by tonight."

By Evening

Jared sat in his office, reviewing the final submission for the government contract. The day had been chaotic, but his team had managed to recover.

As he hit send, his phone buzzed with a notification: "Submission Successful."

But before relief could settle, Nina burst into the room, a look of panic on her face.

"Jared, we've got a problem," she said, handing him a tablet.

The screen displayed breaking news: "SEC Investigates Donovan Enterprises Amid Allegations of Bid Manipulation."

Jared's eyes darkened as he read the report. This wasn't Victor's style—it was too bold, too direct. But it was effective.

He set the tablet down and stood, his mind already racing. "If Victor wants a war, he'll get one. But this time, we're taking the fight to him."

The battle lines were drawn. And as the shadows deepened, both men prepared for the storm that was about to break.