CHAPTER 24 — The First Move

Inside Mike's car, the atmosphere was eerily calm.

The luxury sedan glided through the streets of Monaco while the city lights reflected against the tinted windows. Mike sat comfortably in the back seat, one arm resting against the leather armrest, a faint smile lingering on his lips.

His assistant glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

"Do you really think Aiden is going to be the right bait, sir?"

Mike's smile widened.

"Obviously."

He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and stared out the window.

"I just need the proper timing. A fish doesn't bite the hook the moment you throw it into the water."

The assistant nodded.

"And Damien?"

Mike chuckled.

"Damien is predictable. That's his weakness."

"How so, sir?"

"Because the moment Aiden is involved, he stops thinking like a businessman and starts thinking emotionally."

A dangerous glint flashed across Mike's eyes.

"For now, however, it's time to throw a few scandals into the fire."

The assistant straightened.

"The investigation?"

"Exactly."

Mike folded his arms.

"While Damien wastes his energy cleaning up the empire, I'll make sure new problems appear faster than he can solve the old ones."

"And if he discovers you're behind it?"

Mike laughed.

"By the time he figures it out, it'll already be too late."

His gaze darkened.

"The throne belongs to whoever can hold it. Not whoever was born closest to it."

"Understood, sir."

"Good."

Mike's smile returned.

"Let's see how long the great Damien Smith can keep his kingdom standing."

---

Back at the café...

The lunch rush had finally settled.

The soft scent of coffee beans filled the air while customers chatted quietly around the room.

Aiden sat behind the counter, staring blankly at his phone.

His mind wasn't on the café.

It wasn't on school either.

It was on Mike.

The strange conversation from earlier kept replaying inside his head.

"Aiden."

No response.

"Aiden!"

Still nothing.

Justin sighed dramatically before reaching over and snatching the phone right out of Aiden's hands.

"Hey!"

"What is going on with you?" Justin demanded.

Aiden blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"You've looked like someone just informed you the world is ending."

Aiden rubbed the back of his neck.

"It's nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

Justin pulled up a chair and sat beside him.

"I've known you too long."

Aiden let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine."

Justin folded his arms.

"I'm listening."

Aiden lowered his voice.

"I don't know how to explain it."

"Try."

"It's Mike."

Justin's expression immediately hardened.

"What about him?"

"I have this weird feeling."

"What kind of feeling?"

Aiden hesitated.

"Like he's not who he pretends to be."

Justin nodded slowly.

"Go on."

"The way he spoke about my kidnapping..."

Aiden's fingers tightened around his coffee cup.

"It felt wrong."

"Wrong how?"

"He sounded disappointed."

Justin frowned.

"Disappointed?"

"Yeah."

Aiden stared at the table.

"It wasn't the reaction of someone hearing about a terrible experience."

His voice dropped lower.

"It sounded more like he expected me not to survive."

Justin sat up straight.

"What?"

"The way he spoke about it... I can't explain it."

Aiden swallowed.

"It felt like a boss hearing a failed report."

Silence settled between them.

Finally Justin spoke.

"I don't like him."

Aiden laughed weakly.

"That's your conclusion?"

"I'm serious."

Justin pointed toward the café entrance.

"The guy gives me the creeps."

"You don't even know him."

"I don't need to."

Justin leaned back.

"Some people smile too much."

Aiden burst out laughing.

"What kind of logic is that?"

"The correct kind."

Aiden shook his head.

"You are ridiculous."

"And alive."

Justin's expression became serious again.

"Whatever your instincts are telling you, listen to them."

Aiden nodded slowly.

"Maybe you're right."

"Of course I'm right."

"You always say that."

"Because I usually am."

Aiden rolled his eyes.

Justin suddenly smirked.

"By the way..."

"What?"

"Have you heard from Damien lately?"

The smile immediately vanished from Aiden's face.

"No."

"Charlie?"

"No."

"Sean?"

"No."

Justin narrowed his eyes.

"Interesting."

"What?"

"The fact that you answered all three questions so quickly."

Aiden frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've clearly been thinking about them."

"I have not."

"Sure."

"I haven't."

Justin grinned.

"You sound like someone going through withdrawal."

Aiden nearly threw a spoon at him.

"Shut up."

"I'm just saying."

"I don't even like Damien."

"Then why are your ears red?"

"My ears are not red."

"They absolutely are."

Aiden groaned.

"You are impossible."

Before Justin could respond, the television hanging on the wall caught their attention.

A news anchor appeared on the screen.

"It is quite shocking to see that the Smith Empire continues to face pressure following the internal investigations currently underway."

Images of corporate headquarters flashed across the screen.

"Several shareholders have resigned while others have been arrested by the Criminal and Fraud Investigation Authority, commonly known as the CFIA."

Customers immediately began whispering.

"The Smith Empire?"

"That's huge."

"What happened?"

Aiden quickly grabbed the remote.

The volume dropped.

Then he changed the channel.

Justin stared at him.

"Why did you do that?"

Aiden shrugged.

"It's not our business."

"But..."

"No."

Justin frowned.

"You were listening."

"So?"

"You care."

Aiden immediately stood up.

"I have work to do."

Justin watched him walk away.

"Definitely cares."

---

The Smith Empire Headquarters

The atmosphere inside the executive floor was tense.

Employees moved quietly.

No one wanted to attract attention.

Especially not Damien's attention.

The elevator doors opened.

Mike stepped out.

Several employees immediately looked away.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Fear.Good.

Fear meant people were paying attention.

As he approached Damien's office, Sean intercepted him.

"Mr. Mike."

"Sean."

"Mr. Damien is currently occupied."

Mike continued walking.

"Mr. Mike..."

The office door suddenly opened.

Damien stood inside.

His expression was unreadable.

"Let him in."

Sean reluctantly stepped aside.

Mike entered the office.

The door closed behind him.

Neither man spoke for several seconds.

The silence felt like two predators sizing each other up.

Finally Mike smiled.

"You look tired, cousin."

Damien sat behind his desk.

"You didn't come here to discuss my health."

"No."

Mike sat without permission.

"I came to warn you."

Damien raised an eyebrow.

"Warn me?"

"You've been making enemies."

"And?"

"And eventually one of them will bite back."

Damien let out a cold laugh.

"I see you've finally found the courage to speak openly."

Mike's smile disappeared.

"Don't get arrogant."

"You mistake confidence for arrogance."

The room became noticeably colder.

Damien leaned forward.

"You barged into my office to threaten me?"

"I'm advising you."

"No."

Damien's eyes sharpened.

"You're testing me."

Neither man looked away.

Finally Damien stood.

"I acknowledge that you're my cousin."

His voice was calm.

Dangerously calm.

"But owning a few shares does not give you the right to believe this empire belongs to you."

Mike scoffed.

"We'll see about that."

"No."

Damien stepped closer.

"You'll see nothing."

His gaze became ice.

"And don't think I haven't noticed your connection to Jessica."

Mike's expression flickered.

Only briefly.

But Damien saw it.

Interesting.

"I chose to ignore your childish games."

Damien's voice lowered.

"But if you try anything else..."

The warning hung in the air.

"I will personally make sure you never hold power in any company again."

Mike laughed.

"Big words."

Damien opened the office door.

"Get out."

For a moment, Mike didn't move.

Then he stood.

"This isn't over."

Damien's eyes never left his.

"It has barely begun."

Mike walked out.

Sean entered moments later.

"Sir, the car is ready."

Damien loosened his tie.

"Good."

---

While driving through the city, Sean checked his phone.

His expression changed instantly.

Damien noticed.

"What is it?"

Sean looked up.

"The security operative we assigned to quietly watch over Aiden has reported something."

Damien's attention sharpened immediately.

"What happened?"

Sean hesitated.

"He says Mike visited Aiden yesterday morning."

Silence.

A terrible silence.

Damien slowly turned his head.

The air inside the vehicle seemed to freeze.

"He what?"

Sean swallowed.

"The meeting lasted approximately forty-five minutes."

Damien's jaw tightened.

"What did they discuss?"

"We don't know, sir."

For the first time that day, genuine anger flashed across Damien's face.

Not the anger of a businessman.

Not the anger of a CEO.

The anger of a man who suddenly realized someone had gotten dangerously close to something he intended to protect.

"Turn the car around."

Sean blinked.

"Sir?"

"Now."

The driver immediately obeyed.

Damien stared out the window.

His eyes were cold enough to terrify anyone who knew him.

Because Mike had just crossed a line.

And Damien was no longer interested in being patient.