A Chance to Strike
I never thought the offer would come so easily. The moment I stepped into the dimly lit lounge, filled with cigar smoke and the scent of expensive whiskey, I knew something was off. The man across from me had a smug smile like he knew more than he should.
"Celeste," he greeted me smoothly. "I have a deal for you."
I kept my face calm, though my heart pounded. I had spent months trying to escape my past, leaving behind people who saw me as nothing more than a pawn. Yet, here I was again, facing another one.
"I'm not interested," I said, picking up my drink.
He chuckled, swirling his whiskey. "Hear me out. Damian has a big project, one that could make his empire even stronger. What if you had the chance to stop it?" His dark eyes gleamed with amusement.
Damian.
Just hearing his name sent a wave of anger and something deeper—something I didn't want to feel. I had tried to move on from him, but somehow, he always pulled me back in.
"Why would I want to do that?" I asked, keeping my voice cold.
"Because he took everything from you. And now, you have the chance to take something from him."
I scoffed. "And what do you get out of it?"
He leaned forward. "Let's just say I have my reasons for wanting to see Damian fail." He slid a folder across the table. "Take a look."
I hesitated before picking it up. Inside were blueprints and contracts—proof of Damian's new business expansion. A deal worth millions. My fingers traced the paper edges as my mind raced.
"All you have to do," the man continued, "is make sure it never happens."
I met his gaze. "You want me to ruin him?"
"Sabotage is such an ugly word. I prefer… guiding him in a different direction."
A battle raged inside me. Damian and I had a messy past, full of betrayal and pain. He had built his empire with ruthless ambition, leaving destruction in his wake—including me.
But did I want revenge?
I closed the folder, taking a slow breath. "I need time to think."
The man smiled like he already knew my answer. "Of course. But don't take too long. Opportunities like this don't come often."
---
The next morning, I found myself in front of Damian's towering glass-and-steel building. I should have walked away. But instead, I stepped inside.
The receptionist's eyes widened when she saw me. "Miss Celeste… I wasn't expecting you."
"I need to see Damian."
"He's in a meeting, but—"
"I'll wait."
An hour later, the elevator doors opened, and there he was—Damian Nellie. The man who once held my heart and shattered it. His sharp blue eyes locked onto mine, unreadable.
"Celeste," he said, surprised. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Neither did I."
He studied me for a moment, then gestured toward his office. "Come in."
Inside, the room was sleek and cold, just like I remembered. As the door closed behind us, the tension grew thick.
"So," he leaned against his desk, arms crossed. "What brings you here?"
I hesitated. Do I tell him? Do I warn him?
"I heard about your new project," I said. "Big deal, isn't it?"
He raised an eyebrow. "It is. Why are you so interested?"
Because someone wants to destroy it. Because I now hold the power to ruin you.
But I couldn't say that.
"Just curious," I shrugged. "You never liked playing fair."
A flicker of something passed through his eyes—an old challenge, a memory of what we once were.
"Neither did you," he said.
My heart clenched. "You always assumed the worst of me."
"Maybe because you never gave me a reason not to."
His words hit like a punch, opening old wounds. I should have left. But instead, I took a step closer.
"What if I told you someone was coming for you? That your project isn't as secure as you think?"
His expression hardened. "Is that a threat?"
I laughed bitterly. "If it were, you'd already know."
He searched my face. "Who?"
I hesitated. If I told him, I'd betray the people who had trusted me. But if I stayed silent, I'd leave him vulnerable.
"You should be careful," I said. "Not everyone wants you to succeed."
"And you?" His voice was quieter now, sharp but searching. "What do you want, Celeste?"
The question sent a shiver down my spine. Because for the first time, I didn't know the answer.
I turned toward the door. "Watch your back, Damian."
As I stepped into the hallway, my heart pounded. I had come here unsure of where I stood.
But now?
Now, I held the power to decide what happened next.
And that terrified me.