The quiet of the executive floor wasn't ordinary quiet—it was the kind of hush that wrapped itself around steel and glass. It belonged to power. Chloe's heels tapped through it like clockwork, her silhouette sharp against the endless stretch of windows.
When she reached Nick Carter's office, she didn't hesitate. Her manicured fingers brushed the brass handle. She pushed the door open.
Nick was behind his desk, sleeves rolled to the elbows, shirt pristine white, silver watch gleaming at his wrist. He wasn't looking at papers. His eyes were locked on his phone.
Chloe stepped inside, her silk skirt brushing her knees, emerald green catching light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her blouse—ivory, sleeveless—moved like liquid against her skin.
The room smelled faintly of cedarwood and dark leather. Nick's style: classic, controlled.
His voice broke the silence before she could speak.
"Figured it'd take you about five minutes."
Chloe's brow lifted just slightly. "So, you already saw it."
Nick didn't bother answering. Instead, he turned his phone toward her, tilting it in her direction.
The same invitation she'd received minutes ago glowed on his screen. Digital, sleek, unsigned.
Chloe stepped closer, arms folding lightly across her chest.
"This isn't random," she said evenly. "Both of us receiving the same thing? From Elevate?"
Nick leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. "I don't like surprises."
"Neither do I," Chloe answered, her voice sharper than usual.
They stared at each other across the desk—sibling energy layered with unspoken history, business tension thicker than blood.
Nick set the phone down with a quiet thud.
"No name. No logo. Just a time, date, and location."
Chloe nodded slowly, keeping her tone measured. "Same as mine."
Nick's fingers drummed once against the desk before he stopped himself. That was the closest he came to showing nerves.
"Have you spoken to anyone from Elevate recently?" he asked.
Chloe shook her head. "Not a word. You?"
"No."
A pause stretched between them. Not cold, just... thoughtful.
Nick exhaled through his nose and stood up, walking toward the window. His posture stayed relaxed, but there was an edge beneath it. The way his shoulders set a little tighter.
"This smells like leverage," Nick said.
Chloe's heels clicked softly as she crossed the room. "Agreed."
Her eyes flicked to his phone again. "You think it's about Carter Group?"
Nick's jaw flexed slightly. "Maybe. Or something bigger."
Chloe studied his reflection in the window.
"Any idea who'd set this up?" she asked.
Nick didn't answer right away. His silence wasn't avoidance—it was calculation. Weighing possibilities before speaking.
"Could be a competitor," Nick said finally. "Or someone with too much free time."
Chloe's lips twitched—half amusement, half irritation.
"If this is someone trying to pull us into a room together... they're playing a dangerous game."
Nick turned back toward her now, his expression calm but focused.
"Whatever this is, I'm not going in blind," he said.
Chloe's gaze stayed steady. "Neither am I."
Another beat passed—quiet, steady as the city beyond the glass.
"You and me showing up to the same event," Nick said thoughtfully, "people will talk."
Chloe didn't blink. "Let them."
Nick's mouth quirked in something close to a real smile. "Still don't care what they say, do you?"
Chloe's answer was smooth. "Never have."
He stepped closer to his desk again, picking up the invitation once more, as if staring at it would reveal a hidden message.
"It's too clean," he muttered.
Chloe nodded once. "Whoever sent it knew exactly what they were doing."
Nick glanced up, eyes sharp. "What's your move?"
Chloe gave a small shrug, tilting her head slightly. Her gold earrings caught the light, subtle and sharp.
"I'll show up. Quietly. Watch everything. Say nothing."
Nick studied her for a moment, then nodded.
"Same."
Their dynamic wasn't warm—it wasn't that kind of family. But it wasn't openly hostile, either. It was a shared language built on years of knowing exactly when to speak and exactly when to step back.
Chloe turned toward the door now, her fingers grazing the edge of the polished brass handle.
She paused before pulling it open.
"Nick."
His eyes met hers again.
"If this gets messy... if this pulls us into something bigger than Carter Group..."
Nick's jaw tightened slightly. "We handle it. Like we always do."
Chloe held his gaze a moment longer, then gave a short, sharp nod.
"See you there."
Her heels echoed as she stepped out, the door clicking shut behind her with quiet finality.
***
---
Outside Nick's Office:
Chloe didn't return to her own floor right away.
Instead, she stopped by the executive lounge—floor 57. Quiet. Empty except for the muted hum of air-conditioning and the faint scent of citrus polish on the furniture.
She needed two minutes to breathe. Alone.
Pulling her phone from her Hermès bag, she scrolled through the invitation again.
No sender. No signature. No explanation.
Only this:
Elevate Strategic Group. Private Event. Two Days. 6 p.m.
Her pulse didn't quicken. Not quite.
But her mind moved faster than ever.
The Carters weren't easily surprised.
Yet here they were.
Whoever sent that invitation... knew exactly where to strike.