Jake's eyes narrowed, tension knotting in his jaw as he flipped through the confidential file Leo had handed him earlier that morning. The hum of Café Verona's espresso machine buzzed in the background, but his focus was fixed on the papers in front of him.
"There's more," Leo said, voice low and deliberate, pulling Jake back to the moment. "Chloe's shell company isn't just siphoning small amounts here and there. It's listed as a vendor for Carter Corporation's IT department. That's how she's been moving large amounts—fake contracts, inflated invoices."
Jake's breath left him slowly, like a man bracing for impact.
"So... they're bleeding the company dry from the inside," Jake murmured, his voice turning steel-cold. The realization settled over him like lead.
Leo's lips twitched into a grim smile. "Exactly. And if Samantha plays her cards right, she can expose them all. But she'll need to move carefully. Very carefully."
Jake's mind raced—Samantha's face flashing through his memory. Her new identity. Her iron will. Her pain.
"She already had one life ruined by these people," Jake said, voice clipped. "This time... we make it count."
Leo leaned forward across the small round table, lowering his voice so only Jake could hear.
"Your girl's smart, Jake. But she's also carrying a lot of scars. Pain like that? It doesn't just sit quietly. Make sure she doesn't let it guide every move she makes. That kind of heat burns good people."
Jake locked eyes with him, voice steady, unwavering. "You don't know her like I do."
Leo chuckled under his breath, swirling his coffee slowly. "Maybe not. But I've seen revenge ruin more men and women than I can count. Sometimes... it doesn't fix anything. It just burns everything else down too."
Jake didn't answer right away. He glanced out the café's window, watching the steady flow of the city. People rushing by. Horns blaring. New York never stopped moving.
Finally, he spoke again, his voice quieter, but no less certain. "She's not out for revenge."
Leo raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly.
Jake looked back, eyes clear. "Not entirely."
"No?" Leo pressed, voice probing.
Jake leaned back, arms folding across his chest. His expression was calm—but beneath it, there was a fire.
"She's out to claim her life," Jake said. "And this time, they'll see her for who she really is. Samantha Bradley isn't Ally Miller anymore. And they're not ready for her."
Leo's smirk returned, sharper this time. "Then... I'll keep digging. I've got ears close to Chloe's office. If she sneezes wrong, we'll know."
Jake gave a short nod. "Keep me updated."
"Always," Leo replied.
They stood, shaking hands—two men bound by something bigger than business. When Leo disappeared into the pulse of the city, Jake stayed behind for a moment longer. His fingers wrapped around the cooling cup of coffee, now bitter and untouched.
His thoughts weren't in Café Verona anymore.
They were on a woman named Samantha Bradley. And everything she was about to set in motion.
***
---
Later That Evening
Bradley Estate – Private Study
The study was bathed in soft amber light from the crystal chandelier above, reflecting off sleek black marble floors and walls lined with books and modern art. A quiet hum from the AC filled the silence, mingling with the faint clink of ice settling in a glass of untouched whiskey nearby.
Samantha Bradley sat behind her grand black-glass desk, positioned in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that framed New York City's glittering skyline. Her fingers moved fluidly across her laptop keyboard—controlled, elegant, focused.
A tall glass of red wine rested beside her, untouched except for one faint lipstick stain. Her silk blouse shimmered subtly under the low light, sleeves rolled halfway up her arms.
There was a knock—quiet but deliberate.
Samantha's eyes didn't flicker.
"Come in," she said, her voice smooth, measured.
The door opened, revealing Jake.
He stepped inside with the quiet authority of someone who belonged in that space, carrying a leather-bound file under one arm. His suit jacket was gone, sleeves rolled up like hers, exposing the tattoo along his forearm.
He didn't sit. He simply walked to her desk, standing tall beside her with an easy composure, laying the file gently in front of her.
"I've got something new for you, Sam," Jake said.
Samantha paused, her eyes finally rising to meet his.
Jake's voice dropped slightly as he added, "It's from Leo. More on Chloe Carter."
Her gaze sharpened with interest. She straightened slightly, brushing a perfectly manicured nail along the rim of her wine glass before reaching for the folder.
"Actually..." Jake added with a faint grin, "There's something surprising in there."
Samantha's lips twitched, the ghost of a smile—not warm, but intrigued. "What's that?" she asked, voice cool as ice.
Jake simply gestured at the folder. "See for yourself."
Without another word, Samantha opened the file. Her eyes flicked quickly through the papers, scanning each page with razor precision.
Until she froze.
Her jaw set. Her voice dropped low. Firm.
"Chloe has a partner," she said.
Jake's expression didn't shift. "Yeah. She's not embezzling all by herself. Someone else is backing her. Smarter. Better connected. But so far... no name."
Samantha's brows drew together slightly, her pulse steady but thoughtful. She took a long sip from her wine, draining the glass in one motion, eyes still on the file.
Her voice softened, but there was steel beneath it. "The person must be smarter than Chloe," she murmured. "But who...?"
Jake's gaze followed her every move, his voice dropping to match hers. "Leo's still digging. He'll keep me updated."
Samantha flipped another page, then leaned back in her chair slowly, one hand resting against her temple in thought. Her legs crossed beneath the desk.
"If you're thinking Kate..." Jake added, stepping closer now, "...we can't rule her out."
Samantha's eyes flicked up sharply. "Kate Adams."
"Yeah," Jake said. "Their relationship would suggest it's possible. And her ties to Chloe make her a logical suspect."
A laugh, cold and quiet, escaped Samantha as she leaned forward again.
"I almost feel sorry for Nick," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice held no real sympathy. Only venom dressed as silk. "His company bleeding from the inside... and he has no idea."
Jake chuckled under his breath. "Poor Carter," he said dryly.
Samantha closed the file carefully, sliding it across the desk as if tucking away a deadly weapon.
"This..." she murmured, eyes lingering on the sleek leather folder, "...this is just the beginning."
Her voice dropped one octave lower, laced with dangerous calm.
"They tried to erase me, Jake. But I'm still here. Stronger. Smarter."
Jake watched her carefully—shoulders squared, hands resting casually in his pockets, though every muscle in his frame was coiled with quiet power.
"Samantha..." he said slowly, voice steady, "don't let it consume you."
Her lips curved slightly, like she'd heard a private joke.
"I'm not out for blood," she said. "Not really."
Jake raised an eyebrow.
"I'm out for control," she clarified softly. "They'll look me in the eye when I take everything from them... and they won't even know who I am until it's too late."
Jake exhaled quietly, a rare glint of pride flashing in his gaze. "That's the Samantha I know."
A beat passed between them.
Then Samantha's hand returned to her laptop. Her fingers began typing again, faster now, as if the storm brewing in her mind had finally found its rhythm.
Jake didn't move. He just stood there beside her, like a sentry.
Silence settled again over the room—rich, dangerous, alive.
And the city lights outside burned on.