In a room that was too quiet, filled with eyes, observers,a girl could be seen on the screen. Those eyes watched her with curiosity… and doubt.
"Are you sure she's ready?"
"Yes, I am. I have my best people training her."
"She is our best shot at this point."
"I hope she is… because I would regret wasting something that beautiful."
"Trust me on this. If I say she's ready, then she is."
"Alright. We'll take your word for it."
"We wouldn't like to be disappointed."
And just like that, they all stood up and left.
---
I sat in my chair. It's time. Time to show her what this industry is really about. I pressed the mic connected from my office to her room.
"Eve, come see me."
Two minutes later, she was standing in front of me. I stood up.
"Follow me."
She did. Quiet. Obedient. I led her down to the underground basement. The air changed the moment we got there, colder… heavier. I unlocked the door and stepped back.
"Open it."
She hesitated. Just for a second. Then she reached for the iron door and pulled it open. The moment it creaked wide, she froze. I could see it on her face. Shock. Her eyes slowly turned to me.
"This…" I said calmly, "…is the industry."
---
Beep. My phone screen lit up. I picked it up. An invitation. A party only high-profile guests could attend. There it is. The opportunity. I looked at her.
"Close the door and follow me."
We walked back to my office. I sat down and placed the phone on the table.
"An invitation was sent to me. Mr. Winchester is hosting a party."
She stayed quiet, listening.
"This is your chance to see what you're getting yourself into. It's a high-profile event, so you won't be able to get in as a guest. We'll sneak you in as a waiter."
She didn't react. Good.
"You'll observe. The kind of women he's attracted to. How they dress. How they move. How they carry themselves. This will help you with your approach in the future. Is that clear?"
"Yes… Kelv—sir."
"Good. You can go."
---
AT THE CROSS MANSION
"Let me go, Claire," I said coldly as she held onto my waist.
"No, Ethan. You're married to me. There's nothing wrong in holding you like this. You're my husband."
Anger flared in my eyes. I grabbed her wrist and turned to face her.
"Only on paper, Claire. Don't ever for a second think we are anything more than husband and wife on papers. You got what you wanted, right, marriage? Now be in it."
I shoved her onto the bed and stormed out angrily.
I walked into my office, still seething, thinking about how she got me to marry her, basically because she was the Don's daughter. I lit a cigarette, puffing the smoke as I sank into my chair.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Come in."
"What, sir?"
"The Winchesters are hosting a party."
"And what has that got to do with me?"
"Well, sir, the party is just a camouflage. Some of the guests and their backgrounds seem suspicious. They are listed as family members, but they're dealers. This meeting is to meet with those dealers. Mr. Winchester wants to strike a deal with them. Boss, with my findings, this could put Mr. Winchester's net worth directly under, or even above you in two years."
"Hm. I see. Get me into that party."
"Okay, sir."
KELVIN'S MANSION
I walked into the back room, dimly lit, the screens from the surveillance feeds glowing faintly. Jane was already there, tapping away on a laptop. Aron was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"Mr. Winchester is taking the bait," I said.
Jane looked up. "All set for the party, boss?"
"Yes. Eve will handle the planting. Small transmitters. On their bodies, plates, wherever she can get access without being noticed. Not sexually, of course."
Aron smirked. "So we're going full spy mode."
"Exactly. Each investor comes in at different times. We don't bug the same person twice. The plan is to make sure we capture every discussion, every deal they try to make, every angle they try to play. By the end, we'll have Winchester's entire network mapped out without him knowing a thing."
Jane nodded, pulling up a map of the room layouts and the party schedule. "She'll need a guide for where each investor will sit, how long they'll stay, and what they're likely to discuss. Eve's sharp, but we can't leave her blind."
"She's ready," I said coldly. "Trained, observed. She knows the stakes. If she slips, it's on her, but I trust her. More importantly, the plan has to look seamless. No one can suspect she's even in the room for observation. She's a shadow."
Aron leaned forward. "So she plants the devices, gets out, and we monitor remotely. Clean, invisible. Makes sense."
I took a drag of my cigarette, exhaling slowly. "Every investor comes in at a different time. Separate conversations. Each one gives us insight. By the time the night ends, Winchester will think he's just hosting a regular business party, but we'll have the intel to control the entire room."
Jane typed rapidly. "Schedules synced. Transmitters tested. Eve knows the procedure. We're ready."
I nodded once. "Good. If she succeeds tonight, she proves she's more than just training. She's a weapon."