The Blackwood Tower boardroom buzzed with anticipation. Nancy, dressed in a deep navy suit, entered the room with a purposeful stride. Behind her trailed two new faces—representatives from an international think tank known for silent influence and shadow diplomacy.
Adrian glanced at them, then at Nancy. "You didn't tell me you were bringing in backup."
Nancy didn't break stride. "They're not backup. They're an investment."
The meeting began.
Charts. Data. Projections. But then the screen shifted—to a grainy image of Camille, captured by a drone, entering a secure compound in Eastern Europe.
"She's building her own private data fortress," one of the reps explained. "Recruiting digital mercenaries. Hackers. Ghost financiers. Possibly ex-military."
Nancy leaned forward. "She's not just retaliating. She's evolving."
---
Later That Night – The Penthouse
Nancy stood in front of the window again, her comfort spot. The skyline blinked beneath her. Adrian walked in, loosened his tie, and handed her a drink.
"Your mind's racing," he said.
"She's not running anymore," Nancy said. "She's positioning. Whatever she's building—it's not just revenge. It's a challenge."
Adrian frowned. "Then what do you want to do?"
She turned to him, fire in her eyes. "We're not going to play defense anymore. We strike first."
He chuckled. "There's my war queen."
"But this time," she added, "we'll need a little... deception."
---
Cut To – A Secret Training Facility
Camille sat in a conference room, flanked by monitors, soldiers, and silence. A woman stepped into the room—a hacker known only as Nyx.
"Blackwood is moving again," Nyx said. "Nancy has international alliances. She's building her own net."
Camille's eyes narrowed. "Then we corrupt it."
Nyx smirked. "Already started."
She pulled up a video feed.
Nancy. Speaking with someone. A blurred figure across the table.
"She's not just defending Blackwood anymore," Nyx added. "She's expanding."
Camille's lips curled. "Then we cut off the head before the snake learns to strike."
---
The Next Day – Nancy's Hidden Office
In an off-the-grid location only known to three people, Nancy met with the think tank's top strategist.
"I want a shadow initiative," she said. "One not tied to Blackwood's name. If Camille wants to play in the dark, we give her shadows of our own."
The strategist nodded. "Codename?"
Nancy didn't hesitate. "Queen's Shadow."
---
Final Scene – The Storm Brews
Rain fell again as Nancy walked the city street alone, hood up, blending in. She passed a street violinist, paused, dropped a coin. The melody shifted—soft, haunting, but sharp beneath the beauty.
Just like her.
As she walked away, a voice rang in her earpiece.
"Target 1 confirmed. Camille's funding came through a proxy registered in Macau. You were right."
Nancy's lips curled into a smile.
"Of course I was."