The morning sun barely touched the glass walls of Vance Enterprises when Julie burst into Aria's office, her face pale with urgency. The door swung shut behind her, and the only sound in the spacious office was the rhythmic hum of the city below.
"Aria," Julie said, her voice low but insistent. "You need to see this."
Aria barely had time to respond before Julie placed her tablet on the desk. The screen flickered to life, displaying the latest headline in bold, unforgiving letters:
"Offshore Accounts Exposed: Logan Hale's Global Web of Corruption Unraveled."
A sharp breath escaped Aria's lips. She scanned the words, her eyes narrowing with each damning sentence. The leaked documents were meticulous—bank statements, wire transfers, shell companies scattered across tax havens. Each piece of evidence painted a clearer picture of Logan's fraudulent empire. There was no denying the magnitude of the allegations now.
"How bad is it?" Aria's voice was steady, but Julie could see the tension beneath the surface.
"Worse than before," Julie replied, swiping to the next report. "These documents are airtight. Whoever leaked them has a level of access that's terrifying. Every major outlet is running the story. And the federal investigation? They're moving fast."
Aria's jaw clenched. "Federal?"
Julie nodded grimly. "Subpoenas are already in motion. They're pulling records, questioning executives. Logan's legal team is scrambling, but this is too big to contain."
Aria stared at the incriminating data, her mind racing. Someone had gone to great lengths to expose Logan. But who? And why now?
"The timing is no coincidence," Aria murmured, more to herself than to Julie. "Logan was already on the edge. This pushes him over."
"There's more," Julie added, her hesitation evident. "Some reports suggest Logan's offshore accounts were used to finance illegal operations—money laundering, shell transactions. And there are whispers of international involvement."
Aria's stomach twisted. This wasn't just corporate fraud. It was criminal, with consequences that would shake the entire financial world.
"How's Logan responding?" Aria finally asked.
Julie exhaled sharply. "Radio silence. No statements, no damage control. He's probably scrambling behind the scenes. But there's something else…"
She tapped the screen, pulling up a second article. This one showed a still image from a security camera. Logan, storming out of Hale Enterprises with clenched fists and an expression twisted with rage.
"Logan Hale in Crisis Mode: Sources Confirm Internal Collapse."
Aria's lips curled into a grim line. She could almost hear Logan's fury echo through the city.
"He'll lash out," Aria said. "But whoever's pulling these strings…they're playing a dangerous game."
Julie's gaze lingered on her. "Do you think it's the same person who sent the note?"
Aria's fingers brushed the edge of her desk, where the ominous message still lingered in her mind.
"The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. Trust no one."
"I don't know," Aria said finally. "But I'm done waiting to find out."
She straightened, her resolve hardening. "Contact Miles. I want him back on this. Find out who's feeding the press. And keep a close eye on Logan. He'll retaliate, and I want to be ten steps ahead."
Julie gave a firm nod. "I'll handle it."
As she left the office, Aria remained staring at the headlines. The war had only just begun. And she was prepared to fight it—no matter who stood in her way.
---
Across town, Logan stormed into his office at Hale Enterprises. His assistant trailed nervously behind him.
"Where the hell did they get this?" Logan roared, slamming the morning paper on his desk. "Offshore accounts? Confidential transactions? No one should have access to this!"
"We're still looking into it, sir," the assistant stammered. "But... the leaks are too precise. Someone with insider knowledge—"
"I don't pay you for assumptions! I want names!"
But even as the words left his mouth, Logan's mind raced. Only a handful of people had ever seen the records now plastered across every media outlet. The shadowy figure had promised destruction—but this? This was beyond even Logan's expectations.
He picked up his phone, dialing a number he hadn't dared use in weeks. The line crackled before an automated voice answered.
"Your request is under consideration. Await further instructions."
Logan's jaw clenched. "Enough games. We need to meet. Now."
The line went dead.
---
Back at Vance Enterprises, Aria paced her office. She knew Logan wouldn't stay quiet for long. His public denials were inevitable, but the weight of mounting evidence would soon suffocate him.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Ms. Vance? Miles is here," her assistant announced.
"Send him in."
Miles entered, his sharp eyes scanning the room before settling on Aria. His usual charm was absent, replaced by a grim determination.
"Quite the storm you've stirred," he remarked, sliding a chair opposite her.
"I didn't stir it. But I'll gladly watch it swallow Logan whole," Aria replied, placing her phone face down. "That's why I need you. Again."
Miles arched a brow. "Another investigation?"
"Not Logan this time," she clarified. "The leaks. They're too calculated. Someone's pulling the strings. I want to know who."
"Someone with access to very private information," Miles nodded, his curiosity piqued. "And you think Logan isn't behind it?"
"He's desperate, but this level of exposure benefits no one. Someone wants him dismantled."
Miles smirked. "And you want to know if you're their next target."
Aria met his gaze. "Exactly."
---
Meanwhile, Logan sat in his darkened office, the city skyline mocking him from behind tinted windows. Every attempt to trace the leaks led to dead ends. His control was slipping, and the elusive figure that once seemed like an ally now felt more like an executioner.
The door creaked open, and his assistant hesitated.
"Another statement has been released. The media… they're calling for the board to remove you."
Logan's fists tightened. "No one removes me. Get the legal team on standby. Every reporter publishing this nonsense will be dealt with."
But even as the words left his lips, doubt gnawed at him. The shadowy figure had promised power, not ruin. So why the betrayal?
Logan knew one thing for sure—he wouldn't wait for the figure's next move. He'd strike first.
---
That evening, Miles sent Aria his initial findings. While the figure remained anonymous, traces of communication emerged—carefully encrypted messages and rerouted calls. But one name stood out.
"Whittaker," Aria read aloud, her stomach tightening. Thomas Whittaker had been Logan's confidant for years. Had he finally switched sides? Or was he merely another pawn?
"I'll dig deeper," Miles assured. "But if Whittaker's involved, we need to tread carefully."
"We will," Aria said, determination burning in her eyes. "No more surprises. This time, we stay ahead."
The game was far from over. And Aria Vance intended to win.