Chapter 5: Rules of the Game

Early in the morning, just before dawn, Alex drove back into Manhattan. Fatigue was getting to him, but he had no time to rest. He stopped the car on a side street near his aunt's apartment, making sure no one paid attention to him. When he got out of the car, he felt the cold air hit his face, waking him from his lethargy. He headed for the apartment, his every thought revolving around the plan he now had to create - a plan that included surveillance of Heart Investments.

His aunt, Victoria, was the only family he had in New York, and although she was more strict than warm, he knew that if she disappeared without a trace, she would start looking for him. She was an old hand in the New York financial world, and had contacts that most people would envy. Her analytical skills and intuition had always been impressive, but Alex knew that now he had to remain anonymous to avoid dragging her into his problems.

He opened the door to the apartment, quiet but still full of the distant buzz of life outside. He closed it behind him and leaned against the wall, feeling the tension drain from his body. It had been his refuge, but now it had become a place he could only leave when he was sure no one was following him. After a short while, he walked to the window and looked out at the waking city. New York had something about it - a pulse of life that was a constant reminder that no one was safe here as if they wanted to be. But it was also an ideal place to act without arousing suspicion.

Heart Investments was no longer just an Isabella affair, it was a system that controlled the lives of New York's rich and influential families. A system he now had his sights set on. The first step was to get to know the players - the people who could help him, or whom he could use for his purposes. He pulled out his phone and looked through his contacts. Most of those he knew were part of the same elite group that had now likely become his enemy. But one person popped into his head - William "Will" Blackwood. Will was intelligent, enterprising, and while he always seemed to be out of all the drama, Alex knew he had his connections. The Blackwoods were a family with a lot of influence, but Will always tried to stay out of the dirty games the rest of the rich kids played.

He decided to try to meet with him. If anyone could know more about Heart Investments without fear of selling it outright, it was Will. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Alex set off for Midtown, where Will had his office - a small, discreet place that he used to conduct his own business, away from his family. When he got there, he could feel the tension building up in his chest. If Will was involved with Heart Investments, this could be the last move he made without consequences.

He walked inside, and the small reception area was illuminated by a glow from outside the window. The secretary, who knew Alex from previous visits, smiled briefly at him and led him upstairs without a word. The door to the office was open, and Will himself was sitting behind his desk, reviewing documents. He looked surprised to see Alex, but quickly regained his composure.

- Alex, what brings you here at this hour? - He asked, putting down the papers and getting up to greet him.

- I need information, Will," he began without further introduction. - About Heart Investments. And I know you know something.

Will hesitated for a moment, and his smile faded. He nodded and walked closer.

- I knew that eventually someone ot ask this," he said, sitting down on the edge of his desk, "But before I tell you anything, you need to understand one thing: Heart Investments is not just a group of rich kids playing with adults. It's something much bigger. And once you get into this game, there's no turning back.

- I already know that," Alex replied, glancing at Will with determination, "And I'm willing to take the risk.

Will looked at him, assessing how far Alex was capable of going. Finally, he nodded and walked away toward the window, looking out at the city that stretched below.

- Well," he said quietly. - I will tell you everything I know. But first you must know that if you go down this road, there is no going back.

He looked at Will, waiting for answers. For a moment, the silence in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Will continued to stare at the view of New York, as if there he was looking for answers to the questions he had in his mind. Finally he turned around and walked over to the desk, sitting down behind it, as if he wanted to distance himself from Alex.

- Heart Investments is not just a game, as you already know," began Will, his voice low and full of seriousness, "It's a system that operates on two levels. For people like us, it's just appearances: meetings, romance, sex, stimulants, trading information or controlling others. But the real power of Heart Investments lies deeper. It's a powerful tool of control.

Alex listened carefully, each bit of information he was getting starting to form a bigger picture.

- Control? - He asked quietly, although the answer already seemed obvious - Control of what? People? Families? Of business?

Will looked at him for a moment, as if assessing how far he could go with an explanation.

- Everything," he replied. - Families, politics, finance. It's a chain of dependency. Every one of us - every rich family in Manhattan - is caught up in it. Not by choice, but by inheritance. Our families are too powerful to allow us to act on our own. The system makes sure that each of us sticks to our role. And if someone breaks the rules.... well, you've seen what happens.

Alex felt a cold shiver run down his spine. It was all starting to make sense - mysterious disappearances, unexpected bankruptcies, and even deaths in families that seemed beyond suspicion. Heart Investments was the mechanism that controlled every aspect of their lives.

- Why is no one talking about it? Where is the media? The law enforcement agencies? - Alex asked, clenching his fists. - Why is everyone pretending that this is just a game of spoiled kids?

Will sighed, leaning back comfortably in his chair.

- Because it's not something that is talked about out loud. The media is in the hands of the families. If you obey, the system protects you. If you start asking questions, or worse, trying to change things.... - he paused for a moment, as if weighing his words. - You are eliminated. You either die or lose everything you have.

Alex remembered Isabella. About how she discovered too much and was now forced to flee. She was the first to decide to break the cycle. And he was now here, in New York, at the heart of this spider web. Will was right - this was a game from which there was no turning back.

- What about you? - asked Alex suddenly, looking at Will. - Why are you telling me this? After all, you are part of this system. Why don't you stick to your principles?

Will smiled bitterly, and there was a spark of resignation in his eyes.

- Because I know how it will end," he replied, not taking his eyes off Alex. - Some of us have already seen it. They know how the machine works. And although I try to stay on the sidelines, I know that eventually the system will drag me down anyway. There's no escaping it. But I can at least try to help you before I fall in myself.

Alex nodded his head. He knew Will was speaking sincerely. Heart Investments was like an irreversible fate that awaited each of them.

- So what now? - he asked. - How can I find my way around this? I'm not on their radar yet, so I can search.

Will mused for a moment, then reached for his phone and quickly browsed through his contacts.

- I know one person who can help you," he finally said, handing Alex the address written on a piece of paper. - He is Victor Lee. He is one of us, but he works at the edge of the system. His family has always been connected to technology, and he has access to information that others can only dream of. If anyone knows how to break the rules, it's him.

- Victor? - Alex furrowed his eyebrows. - I associate him from school, but he always kept to himself.

- Because that's what he is," said Will, glancing at Alex. - But Victor sees more than most of us. If you have any chance, it's because of him.

Alex took the piece of paper and slipped it into his pocket.

- Thanks, Will. We'll see what we can do," he said, rising from his chair.

- Be careful, Alex," Will warned, and his voice was full of seriousness. - There are no second chances in this game. One false step and there will be no turning back.

Alex nodded and left the office. As he walked down the stairs, he could feel the tension building up in his stomach. Another conversation awaited him, another puzzle to solve. Heart Investments was more complicated than he imagined, but he knew that if he had any chance of survival, he had to play it smart.

In the evening, when he returned to upper Manhattan, he looked at the piece of paper with Victor's address on it. He wondered what he should do now. Go back to his aunt's and pretend everything is fine? Or follow the lead that Will had given him? He knew that every step counted now. Every decision could bring him closer to getting out of this hell.... Or drag him even deeper into it.

After a short thought, he took his jacket and went out into the streets. A long night awaited him.

New York has always been a noisy, pulsating city, but this night it seemed different. The silence, broken only by the sound of raindrops bouncing on the sidewalk, weighed down on the city like heavy breathing. The lights of neon signs and the headlights of cars reflected off the wet pavement, casting ominous shadows on the deserted streets. Alex walked with a quick step, trying to control his inner tension. The meeting with Will had left him with a lot of questions and few answers. He knew that Will and Isabella were right - Heart Investments was more than just a club for young people from rich families. It was an organization that had taken control of their entire world. Trading secrets, politics, business and even things he was afraid to think about now - it all became clear when he heard what was behind the facade of this "game."

In his mind he had only one thing - he had to find Victor Lee. If anyone could help him understand how the system works and how to escape it, it was him. Victor had always stayed away from drama and intrigue, at least at first glance. He was the silent observer type, and his family, with ties to technology and business, had access to information that could change the rules of the game. He reached for a piece of paper and looked at the address.

Victor Lee lived in Chelsea - a part of the city that was a haven for rich, creative people, away from the business machinations of Midtown. It was a neighborhood where modern apartments adjoined elegant art galleries, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee and expensive perfume permeated the air. But beneath that mask was another reality, one that Victor knew all too well. When he reached Victor's apartment, the rain had picked up again, washing away all the sounds of the city. The building where Victor lived had a modern, minimalist style, completely incongruous with the dark character that hid behind its walls. Alex felt the tension rising in him with every step. He stepped inside, his shoes quietly hitting the marble floor of the corridor. He walked thoughtfully into the elevator, not realizing that he was being monitored by dozens of cameras in the building. The apartment door was ajar, as if the landlord was expecting his arrival. He knocked lightly and then stepped inside. The interior was dark, lit only by the warm glow of a few lamps set in the corners of the room. Victor stood in the center, with a laptop on his lap, his face illuminated by the cold light of the screen. He didn't look surprised when Alex entered the room. He lifted his gaze, closing the laptop with a quiet click.

- I knew you would come here eventually," he said calmly. - Will called. He said you were looking for some answers.

Alex nodded, but his heart sped up. He knew Victor from school, but he had never known how deeply this boy had penetrated the world everyone was trying to understand.

- I need your help," said Alex, sitting down on the couch opposite. - Heart Investments.

Victor smiled crookedly, as if Alex's words were obvious to him.

- I knew someone would eventually start poking at it and see what was really behind it," he replied, staring at Alex with cool certainty. - This is not a game for children. It's a network that controls people, their money and their lives, and sometimes even... human lives. It's more business than anything else. But you have no idea how deep it goes.

Alex felt a chill fill the room. Victor spoke calmly, but his words were like a blade stabbed into a reality that Alex was only beginning to understand.

- So what is it really? - asked Alex, trying to get his emotions under control. - What are they doing?

Victor got up and walked to the window, looking out at the night city. The darkness outside seemed to be an extension of what was hidden inside.

- They trade everything they can," he replied slowly, his voice was almost a whisper. - Life, people, weapons, etc. They have their branches in every field. Gambling, drugs, prostitution, human trafficking. Every move, even in the dark web is controlled, every action planned. And once you get into it, there is no going back. Every family has its place in this system. You think you're free, but they control you, even if you don't know it. You can't even imagine how powerful this money is.

Alex felt his body stiffen. What Victor was saying was far more frightening than he could have imagined. He realized that Heart Investments was not just a game of power and prestige. It was a structure built on lies, betrayals and blood.

- Why do you, the quiet kid who always kept to yourself, want to help me? - he finally asked, looking at Victor with distrust.

Victor turned away from the window, his eyes glittering in the twilight.

- Because I also saw the swamp. I don't sleep. I don't eat. I'm tired, I think only death will be a solace," he replied. - And I know I can't escape. But if I'm going to lose, I at least want to know that I did something to stop them.

There was silence for a moment, in which Alex tried to digest what he had heard.

- How can I fight something like this? - He asked, feeling cold sweat running down his back. - What should I do?

Victor walked over to the desk, took out a bundle of documents and threw them in front of Alex.

- Start playing, and this is the beginning," he said. - Evidence of their connections, transactions that should never see the light of day. If you want to survive, you have to understand how the system works. And then... you can try to destroy it from the inside.

Alex knew there was no turning back now. Heart Investments was a dark web that controlled their lives. And he... had to find a way to disentangle everyone he cared about from it.

He looked at the bundle of documents lying before him. Each sheet seemed to be heavier than the last, laden with secrets that could sink entire families, destroy reputations and shed light on dark corners of New York that no one talked about. This organized network, intricately planned, controlled the fates of rich and influential people whose names appeared on the front pages of newspapers every day.

- This can help you understand how far it goes. But you have to be careful. They have eyes everywhere. Every step you take will be closely followed," Victor said, breaking the silence that hung between them.

Alex picked up the first page and ran his eyes over the complicated provisions, which at first glance looked like ordinary business contracts. But he knew it was just a cover. Underneath was something much worse - traces of human trafficking, the exchange of huge sums of money for "services" that were not talked about in company. These weren't just dirty secrets of rich kids. This was the mechanism that drove what went on behind the closed doors of big corporations and in the dark corners of clubs that never sleep.

- With this I can destroy Heart Investments? - Alex asked, raising his eyes to Victor. His voice was quiet, but full of determination.

Victor nodded, but something else was visible in his eyes. Anxiety? Doubt? Maybe he knew that even such evidence would not be enough to put an end to something so deeply rooted.

- This is more of a first step," replied Victor. - But you have to understand that they have their connections with people you don't even suspect. It's not just our families. It's people in the government, in the police, in the courts. Destroying this system requires precision. Every move must be well thought out.

Alex swallowed his saliva, feeling the weight of what was in front of him build up. He knew he was playing at something bigger than he could ever imagine. And now, with those documents in hand, he knew there was no turning back.

- Why don't you do it? - He asked suddenly, looking at Victor. - You have the evidence. You have the knowledge. Why don't you try to destroy them?

Victor smiled bitterly, looking away.

- Because I already ... - answered quietly. - My family, my life ... I am connected to them more than I would like. But you ... you still have a chance. No one expects the guy from LA to suspect anything. They will take you for a spoiled brat who wants to have fun. You have an advantage.

Alex felt his heart speed up. He had the upper hand. But that meant every step had to be carefully planned, and any mistake could be his last.

- What should I do? - He asked, feeling that what was in front of him was beginning to overwhelm him.

- You have to play their game, Alex," continued Victor, leaning closer. - Find people who can support you and get the upper hand before they notice you.

Victor came closer, sitting down across from Alex.

- You have to start by knowing who is who in this game," he said. - Heart Investments is not a homogeneous organization. There are factions, people who have different goals. Some just want profit, others want power. And still others want to secure their family's future at all costs. If you understand who is pulling the strings, you will know how to play them.

Alex nodded his head. He understood that he had to start acting quickly and carefully. But first he had to identify the people who could help him - or become his enemies.

- One more thing before I get deeper into this. Why doesn't anyone rebel? - he asked, trying to understand why everyone just gave in to this brutal reality. - Why does everyone accept that they are being controlled?

Victor smiled bitterly. His gaze became blank, as if he was returning his thoughts to a past he would rather not remember.

- Because rebellion is too costly," he replied, clasping his hands on the edge of the desk. - I know people who have tried. I've seen what they've done with them. It starts innocently enough - unexpected bankruptcies, "accidental" accidents. And then, if that's not enough, they get more violent. They take away everything you love. Your wife, your children... - he paused for a moment, and his voice trembled. - Heart Investments beats too deeply to be stopped without sacrifice.

Silence fell between them, heavy and disturbing. Alex knew that what Victor had told him was a warning that could not be ignored. There was no room for heroism in this game, and every battle required tactics, precision and cool calculation. He felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had the advantage that Victor spoke of, but he also knew that this advantage was fragile. There was no room for error in this world.

- Who is the most dangerous? - He asked quietly. - I need to know who I'm dealing with.

Victor looked at him for a long moment, and then slowly got up from his chair. He walked over to the desk and pulled out another folder. He opened it, and Alex saw photos of people who looked like ordinary, rich Manhattan elites. But now, with the context Victor provided, he saw something more in them. They were players - controlling the moves on the chessboard.

- Those who actually stand at the top of Heart Investments are people you'll never see on the front pages of the newspapers," Victor explained, running his finger over one of the photos, "This one here is Jonathan Montgomery, Sophia's father. He's on the board of directors of many of the largest funds on Wall Street. Officially, he's a philanthropist, a man with an impeccable reputation. In reality, he controls one of the most important branches of Heart Investments - human and stimulant trafficking.

Alex felt his stomach tighten in a painful spasm. He knew Sophia was part of their world, but he had no idea how deep her family's roots ran.

- What about the rest? - He asked, pointing to the remaining photos. Each face seemed even more broken than the previous one.

Victor moved his finger to the next photograph.

- Catherine Blackwood," he said, and Alex felt his heart speed up, "Will's mother. A real bitch. She controls gambling and money laundering. Her network extends from Vegas casinos to Caribbean tax havens. No one has better connections in banking than she does. If anyone can make you disappear overnight, it's her.

Alex clenched his jaws. Will hadn't mentioned his mother, but now he could see that even he had to move carefully, balancing between loyalty to his family and trying to understand his own role in the network.

- Each of them controls a different piece of this machine," Victor continued. - Drugs, human trafficking, weapons, money laundering.... this is their world. Our families have always been part of it, even if we didn't want to see it.

He felt the pressure in his head build up. Everything was beginning to make sense. But what Victor was telling him was more brutal than anything he had ever expected.

- What about you, Victor? - He asked, feeling that the question had to be asked.

Victor looked at him with a blank expression on his face. Then he stood up and moved toward the glass bar.

- Would you like a drink? - He asked while pouring himself an expensive whiskey.

- No thanks. I need to have a sober mind," Alex replied.

- My family controls technology. They monitor everything from cameras in the city, to banking transactions, to online activity. Nothing happens without their knowledge. But this is also my advantage. I can see what my enemies are planning before they do it.

So how do I embrace this? - asked Alex, feeling the whole situation overwhelm him more and more.

Victor sighed and looked at him with seriousness.

- You will not embrace. But you can survive," he replied, his voice cold as steel, "You have to play. Gather information, find out who is your enemy and who can support you. But never forget that everyone in this game has secrets. Even those you trust.

Alex took a deep breath, feeling that he was going deeper and deeper into the darkness. Victor looked at him, and his eyes became even colder and sharper, as if a complicated puzzle was forming in his head. He seemed to see how to survive in this world - so brutal, so ruthless.

- Before you act, you must understand one thing, Alex," he said, staring at him with seriousness, "This is not a game for fools. If you're getting into this, you have to learn one key thing: trust doesn't exist. Everyone has their own goals, and you need to understand what drives each of them. Keep your distance. Observe. Manipulate, destroy and kill if you must, but never show that you are desperate. In this game, those who are weak are devoured and spit out like the worst of the sewage.

Alex felt Victor's words sink deep into his mind. He knew that every step from now on had to be thought through, and any mistake could cost him his life. He drew in a deep breath, preparing himself for what he would hear next.

- Let's start with the basics," Victor continued, sitting back down behind his desk. His fingers drummed quietly against the wooden surface, as if he was counting the seconds they had left before the game began in earnest - At school, you are already on the radar of several people. You may not feel it yet, but they are watching you. You've gotten their attention, and that's a plus. The first thing you need to do is scout the area.

Alex nodded, listening intently.

- You know who is in the game. You know who the main players are - Montgomery, Blackwood, Rodriguez. They are the elite - their families control various aspects of their lives, but at school each of their children has a role - Victor leaned back in his chair, looking at the ceiling, as if he was putting together a puzzle in his head - Each of these kids has their own ambitions, their own secrets. Your job is to find out what they want and what they fear.

- What about my position? - Alex asked, unsure how to play his role.

Victor smiled mockingly, but without malice.

- You are new, an outsider who is just entering the scene. That's your biggest advantage. They think they don't know you. So let's keep it that way. You have to be someone they can't pigeonhole. Be friendly, but don't get too deep into relationships. Be firm and resolute, but always leave doubts. Secrecy is your weapon. They can't know what you really think.

Alex nodded, beginning to understand how subtle his role must be.

- At school, you have to play on two fronts," Victor continued. - First, you have to get close to those who have power. Each of them holds a part of the system in their hands, but they are not just children. They know more than you think. Their every word, every gesture has a hidden meaning. Watch them, learn.

Alex felt he was beginning to understand. He had to be invisible while playing every possible stage. He had to balance on the edge - between those who had power and those who could be his allies.

- And the other front? - He asked.

Victor nodded, as if waiting for this question.

- The second front is those who are on the margins. Ordinary students, those who are not directly connected to them, but may have the information you need. You need to find out who knows the most, what they are gossiping about, who has the most access to secrets. Sometimes it's these small, insignificant people who hold the key to what's going on at higher levels.

- Are you thinking of anyone in particular? - Alex looked at Victor questioningly.

- Nick Harper," replied Victor without hesitation, "Always in the shadows, but has ears everywhere. He is loyal to his family, but he is not connected to Heart Investments as deeply as the rest. Rumors swirl around him like bees at honey. He is the one who knows who is sleeping with whom, who is scheming with whom and where the hidden treasures of secrets lie.

Alex remembered the name. Nick Harper - he was the one he had to start with. Every piece of information was valuable, and Alex needed to have access to what was going on below the surface.

- What about relations? - He asked after a while. - Should I try to approach them through friendship? Romance?

Victor shook his head, as if rejecting the idea outright.

- Don't. Don't get into it. If you tie yourself to anyone emotionally, you will lose your edge. Feelings are the weapons they use to control others. They feed on emotions - betrayals, passions, hatred. If you act with your heart, they will quickly destroy you. You must think coldly, calculate, but never get involved deeper than necessary. You want to move. Way to go. But nothing more than that.

- So I'm supposed to be a manipulator? - asked Alex, feeling that it all seems too complicated.

- Not a manipulator," Victor corrected him, "a strategist. There is a difference. You manipulate only when it is absolutely necessary. But in this world it's all about survival. They will test you, they will try to break you. You'll have to prove that you're smart enough and brutal enough to play with them as equals, but never get sucked in to the end.

Alex felt the tension rising within him. The game he was about to enter was much more dangerous than he had imagined . In this network, every move was being watched, and any mistake could cost him everything.

- What about Isabella? - asked quietly, looking at Victor hoping for some clues - She told me more than she should have. If someone finds out about this...

Victor interrupted him with a motion of his hand.

- Isabella has already been burned at the stake. If they know you know, they can keep an eye on you. But that's your advantage. Take advantage of it. You have to play on two fronts - keep the secret while giving them something they'll want to see. Keep up the appearance that you're just there to conform, to entertain. Play their game, but never let yourself be played.

There was a momentary silence in the room, broken only by the quiet sound of rain drumming against the windows. On the desk, right in front of him, lay a flash drive - a small, inconspicuous device that could have destroyed the lives of many people.

- This is data," he said, picking up the flash drive and turning it in his fingers, "Everything you need to know about them. But remember, Alex... - he suspended his voice, staring at the flash drive, as if weighing whether he was sure he wanted to hand it over - This data can help you, but it can also destroy you. Literally fuck up your reality.

He felt the tension in the room thicken. He knew that what he was about to receive from Victor was no ordinary information. It was a weapon - a weapon against the most powerful people in New York. People who had enough resources and influence to destroy anyone who stood in their way.

Victor got up from his seat and walked to the window, still holding the flash drive in his hand. His silhouette against the rainy night seemed almost distant, as if he was no longer fully present.

- Do you know why I give you this? - He asked quietly, without looking away from the dark streets of Manhattan - Because I can't live with it anymore. I've been part of this shit for too long. My family... All of this holds me in clutches that tear me apart from the inside. The deeper you get into it, the more you realize that there is no escape anymore.

He finally turned around, and his eyes met Alex's gaze. They were tired, filled with resignation.

- If you get in too deep, you're done for, old man - Victor's words were a warning, but also a bitter statement of fact - First you start acting for yourself, loved ones. Then for survival. And then... you are just one of their pawns blindly following orders. And there is no going back.

He stared at Victor, trying to digest the weight of his words. He knew he was entering something he couldn't even fully imagine. Every step he takes now will be crucial. One false move and he could end up worse than Isabella. Victor stepped closer and finally handed him the flash drive.

- This is your key," he said, and his voice became stricter, "But you must turn this lock carefully.

Alex took the flash drive and for a moment simply held it in his hand, feeling its light weight. But the mental weight of what he was holding was much greater. It was a weapon that could help him understand how to play the game, but it could just as well be the beginning of his end.

- You said there was no way out. Why do you want to help me? - He asked quietly, looking at Victor.

Victor smiled crookedly, looking away, as if he did not want Alex to see too much emotion in his eyes.Because I see something in you that I once had," he replied slowly, "I thought I could change it. That I could play on my own terms. But now I know that I was just another cog in the machine. Maybe you still have a chance. Maybe you can survive and escape.... Or change the rules.

There was a long silence, broken only by the sound of rain outside the window. Alex knew that Victor spoke sincerely. His words were a warning - but also a last attempt to change something that seemed unchangeable. He walked to the door, opened it and looked at Alex one last time.

- That's all I can do for you now," he said, "Good luck.

Alex nodded, put the flash drive in his pocket and left the apartment. As the door closed behind him, he felt the weight that had previously rested on his shoulders become almost unbearable. He knew that every step he took now would have consequences. He was left alone, too deeply drawn into something that could destroy him. The rain was still falling when he stepped out into the streets. His thoughts were chaotic, and he had an anxiety in his heart that grew with each passing moment. He had the information, but he knew this was only the beginning. Now he had to play the game. Play carefully, precisely and make no mistake. Now this was his reality, which he decided to shape himself.