The air inside the upscale restaurant was thick with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and polished leather. Waiters glided between tables with practiced ease, carrying silver trays laden with delicate pastries and steaming cups of espresso. I inhaled deeply, pushing away the nerves that threatened to creep in.

Evelyn was already seated, a vision of poise in her tailored navy suit. She barely glanced up from her tablet as I approached, but the subtle curve of her lips told me she'd been expecting me to show up.

"Olivia," she greeted smoothly, setting her tablet aside. "Punctuality is a good trait."

I slid into the chair opposite her, my posture rigid. "I don't like wasting time."

"Neither do I." Evelyn signaled a waiter and gestured for two coffees before turning her sharp gaze back to me. "Let's get to it. You've been on the fence, but you wouldn't be here if you hadn't already made a decision."

I exhaled. "I want to move forward, but I need to know exactly what I'm stepping into."

Her smile was slow, knowing. "Smart. Too many people jump into things blind, expecting power to come easily." She folded her hands on the table. "Let me be clear, Olivia. This isn't about just another job opportunity. It's about stepping into a world where influence is everything. If you join me, you will be given tools to rise - connections, resources, access to circles you didn't even know existed."

I frowned slightly. "And in return?"

"In return, I expect loyalty," she said simply. "But not blind obedience. I want sharp minds around me, not puppets. If you prove yourself, you won't just be an employee, you'll be a player. A decision-maker."

I sipped the coffee that had been placed in front of me, weighing her words. It was tempting - dangerously so. But I'd been around power long enough to know that nothing came without a price.

"And what about Alexander?" I asked, watching her reaction carefully.

Evelyn chuckled, leaning back. "What about him?"

"You and I both know he doesn't let go of things easily," I said, my voice steady. "If I take this step, he won't ignore it."

She arched a perfectly shaped brow. "Are you asking for my protection?"

"No," I replied without hesitation. "I'm asking what happens when the battle lines are drawn."

Evelyn studied me for a long moment before nodding in approval. "Then you're finally thinking like someone who belongs at the top." She tapped her nails against her cup. "Alexander Blackwood is powerful, yes. But he's not invincible. He operates in a world of control, and the moment you stop playing by his rules, he loses some of that control."

I mulled over her words. Was I ready to make that gamble?

Yes.

I straightened in my chair. "I'm in."

A slow smile spread across Evelyn's lips. "Good. Then let's get to work."

Back at the office, the tension was immediate. If Alexander hadn't known about my meeting with Evelyn before, he definitely knew now. Eyes followed me as I walked to my desk, whispers trailing in my wake.

I had expected some fallout, but not this quickly.

The moment I logged into my computer, an email popped up with a single line: My office. Now.

A shiver ran down my spine, but I refused to let it show as I stood and made my way to Alexander's office. The door was slightly ajar, and I knocked once before stepping inside.

He stood by the window, his back to me, hands shoved into his pockets.

"Close the door."

I did. Silence stretched between us for several beats before he finally turned to face me, his expression unreadable.

"You met with Evelyn."

There was no point in lying. "Yes."

His jaw tightened slightly. "And?"

I held my ground. "And I accepted her offer."

The weight of my words settled between us, thick with tension. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, but instead, he let out a slow breath and walked around his desk, settling into his chair.

"I should have seen this coming," he murmured, more to himself than to me. "You were never meant to stay under someone's thumb."

His words caught me off guard. "You're not angry?"

"Oh, I'm angry," he said, his voice dangerously low. "But I'm not surprised."

I swallowed. "Alexander - "

He held up a hand. "Just answer me this - are you doing this to go against me, or because you truly believe it's the right move for you?"

I hesitated before answering. "Both."

He let out a humorless chuckle. "Honest. I can respect that." He leaned forward, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. "You realize this means war."

I nodded. "I do."

Something unreadable flickered in his eyes before he smirked. "Then let's see if you're ready for it."

The following weeks were nothing short of brutal. Evelyn wasted no time throwing me into the fire. Late nights, high-stakes meetings, navigating office politics sharper than knives - I had to prove myself every single day.

And Alexander? He didn't make things easy. He countered every move we made, pushing back with strategic precision. It was a dance, a battle waged in boardrooms and negotiations, and neither of us was willing to blink first.

But through it all, I felt something I hadn't in a long time.

Freedom.

For the first time, I wasn't just reacting. I was leading.

And win or lose, I had no intention of backing down.