Shadows in the Boardroom

The morning was unusually quiet at Chase Enterprises, but Evelyn knew better than to trust calmness. The previous night had been a whirlwind of analyzing the documents retrieved from the safe house. Despite Adrian's sharp insights, the pieces still didn't fit. Too many names, too many questions.

Evelyn sat at the head of the boardroom table, surrounded by executives who eyed her with skepticism. She had managed to win over most of them in the past weeks, but the cracks in their loyalty showed every time a tough decision came up.

Adrian, seated at her right, looked uncharacteristically serious. His usual teasing smirk was replaced by a stoic mask, his sharp eyes scanning the room. It was a corporate meeting, but he didn't relax—not for a second. Evelyn had to admit that his presence, though sometimes unnerving, brought her a strange sense of security.

The meeting was winding down when the unexpected interruption came.

The heavy double doors swung open with a loud thud, and an unfamiliar man strode in. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with the confidence of someone who owned the room—though Evelyn was certain she had never seen him before.

"Excuse me," Evelyn said sharply, rising to her feet. "Who are you, and why are you barging into my board meeting?"

The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Ms. Chase, forgive the intrusion. My name is Victor Hart. I'm the new Chief Operating Officer of Hart International, one of your father's oldest business partners."

Evelyn froze. Hart International. The name had been on one of the documents she'd reviewed the night before. But it wasn't listed as an ally—it was marked as a potential threat.

"I wasn't informed of any new partnerships," Evelyn said, her tone icy.

Victor's smile widened, revealing perfectly white teeth. "We aren't exactly new partners, Ms. Chase. Your father and mine were close, but... circumstances kept us apart. I'm here to rectify that."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "How considerate," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Victor's gaze flicked to Adrian, his smile faltering for just a moment. "And you are?"

"Her secretary," Adrian replied smoothly, though there was a dangerous edge to his voice.

Victor studied him for a beat too long before turning back to Evelyn. "I wanted to deliver this personally," he said, handing her a slim envelope.

Evelyn took it reluctantly, opening it under the table. Inside was a single sheet of paper—an invitation to an exclusive business gala scheduled for the following week. But her eyes caught the fine print at the bottom, the barely visible watermark.

A black sun.

Her stomach dropped. She'd seen that symbol before, in the background of one of her father's photos—a symbol tied to one of the most elusive crime syndicates in the country.

Evelyn masked her reaction, carefully folding the paper and placing it on the table. "Thank you, Mr. Hart. I'll review this and get back to you."

Victor inclined his head. "Of course. I'll take my leave now, but I hope we can build a strong relationship moving forward."

As he left, the tension in the room was palpable. Adrian didn't wait for the door to close before turning to Evelyn.

"You recognize that name, don't you?" he asked quietly.

Evelyn nodded, dismissing the rest of the executives with a wave of her hand. Once they were gone, she faced Adrian. "Hart International was flagged in the documents as a potential threat. And that watermark..."

Adrian frowned. "The Black Sun Syndicate. They've been involved in arms deals, money laundering, and assassinations. If Victor Hart is tied to them, this just got a lot more dangerous."

"Why would they approach us now?" Evelyn asked, pacing the room.

"To keep you close," Adrian said, his voice low. "They know you're looking into your father's death. They probably think they can control you—or scare you off."

Evelyn stopped pacing, her hands clenched into fists. "They've underestimated me."

Adrian's eyes softened slightly, though his voice remained firm. "Maybe. But don't underestimate them either. These people don't play by the rules, Evelyn. They're not like the corporate sharks you're used to dealing with."

She turned to him, her chin lifted defiantly. "Neither are you. And yet, here we are."

For a moment, the room was silent. Adrian's gaze locked on hers, the air between them thick with tension. She hated how easily he could unsettle her, how his presence seemed to strip away her carefully constructed walls.

"Be careful with Hart," Adrian said finally, his voice quieter now. "If he's connected to the Black Sun, he's dangerous. But there's something else..."

"What?" Evelyn asked, narrowing her eyes.

Adrian hesitated, his usual confidence faltering. "He knew me."

Evelyn frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He looked at me like he recognized me," Adrian admitted, his voice tight. "If he's tied to the people who killed my parents, this just got personal."

Evelyn's breath caught. Adrian had always kept his past at arm's length, never revealing too much. But now, she saw the raw anger simmering beneath his calm exterior.

"We're in this together," she said firmly.

Adrian nodded, his jaw set. "Then we need to figure out what Victor Hart really wants—and fast. Because if he's the enemy, he's already making his move."

As they left the boardroom, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that the stakes had just been raised. Victor Hart wasn't just a complication—he was a storm waiting to strike.