SHADOW OF THE PAST

Chapter 15: Shadows of the Past

The city lights flickered across the car's tinted windows as they drove through the bustling streets. Inside, the tension was thick, unspoken words hanging between them.

Zane exhaled, running a hand through his tousled hair. "That was… something," he muttered, breaking the silence.

Vincent didn't respond right away. His gaze remained fixed outside, his sharp features unreadable. The steady rhythm of his fingers tapping against his thigh was the only sign that his mind was at work, analyzing, calculating.

Zane turned to him, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Alright, Graves. What's your deal with Arthur Lancaster?"

Vincent finally glanced at him, his expression as cold as ever. "He's a problem."

Zane scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding. But why? You looked ready to skin him alive back there."

Vincent's jaw tightened slightly, his fingers stilling. For a moment, Zane thought he wouldn't answer, but then, in a voice measured and calm, Vincent spoke.

"Years ago, when I was first starting out, I made a deal—one that could've changed everything for me. It was supposed to be my first major breakthrough." He leaned back against the seat, his gaze distant. "Arthur Lancaster made sure that deal never went through."

Zane's playful smirk faded. "How?"

Vincent's fingers curled into a fist on his lap. "He spread false rumors about my company—claimed I was laundering money, bribing officials. Investors pulled out overnight. My reputation was on the verge of being destroyed before I even had a chance to establish it."

Zane frowned. He knew Vincent was a ruthless businessman, but this? This was personal.

"So, how'd you survive it?"

Vincent's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "I outplayed him."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "You outplayed Arthur Lancaster? The guy who can manipulate anyone into thinking he's their best friend?"

Vincent turned to him fully now, eyes gleaming with something dark. "Yes."

Zane leaned back, letting that sink in. "Damn," he muttered, impressed despite himself. "So, what happened after that?"

Vincent's expression hardened. "He lost everything. His influence, his business. He disappeared from the corporate world completely."

Zane let out a low whistle. "And now he's back."

Vincent nodded. "Exactly. And he wouldn't have come back unless he had a reason."

Silence settled between them for a few moments before Zane spoke again, his tone more serious this time. "So, what do we do? Turn him down?"

Vincent's smirk returned—cold, calculated, and dangerous. "No. We let him think he's winning."

Zane blinked. "Wait—what?"

Vincent's voice remained eerily calm. "We make him believe we're playing into his hands. That we're exactly where he wants us."

Zane narrowed his eyes, studying him. "And then?"

Vincent's smirk widened slightly. "And then we destroy him before he even sees it coming."

Zane exhaled, shaking his head with an amused grin. "You know, Graves, sometimes I forget how utterly terrifying you can be."

Vincent didn't react, but there was a flicker of amusement in his gaze.

"Get used to it."

They lapsed into silence again, but this time, it wasn't uncomfortable.

Zane tapped his fingers against his knee. "So, just to be clear… this whole thing with Arthur? It's all business, right?"

Vincent raised an eyebrow. "What else would it be?"

Zane shrugged, a lazy grin playing on his lips. "I don't know. Just seems like there's a little extra venom in your voice when you talk about him. Did he screw you over professionally or was there something personal there?"

Vincent shot him a look. "What are you implying?"

Zane smirked. "Nothing, nothing. Just… I know how grudges work. And this one feels deep."

Vincent didn't answer, which only made Zane's grin widen.

But then Vincent spoke, his voice quieter this time. "Arthur is the type of man who takes whatever he wants. Who destroys anything that stands in his way. If he's back, it's not just about me—it's about control. And I don't intend to let him win."

Zane's smirk faded slightly. There was something dangerous in Vincent's tone. A warning.

"Alright," Zane said, stretching his arms above his head, breaking the tension. "So, what's our next move?"

Vincent adjusted his cufflinks, his usual composed demeanor returning. "We watch. We wait. And we strike when the time is right."

Zane leaned back, resting his head against the seat, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Sounds fun."

Vincent glanced at him. "You do realize this isn't a game, right?"

Zane chuckled. "For you, maybe. But for me? It's just another way to prove you underestimate me."

Vincent didn't reply, but something about the way he looked at Zane lingered.

Zane met his gaze, feeling a strange tension settle between them—one he couldn't quite define.

And for the first time in a long time, Zane found himself genuinely looking forward to what came next.

End of chapter 14.

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