6

Scarlett stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the mansion, her eyes fixed on the sprawling city beyond. Chicago was just as she had left it, it was loud, ruthless, filled with people who thought power was something they could hold in their hands.

She exhaled, rolling her shoulders back as she turned toward the room behind her. The first move had been executed perfectly. The custody hearing was delayed, Daniel was struggling under the weight of a scandal, and now, the second act was soon to begin as soon as Daniel made his move.

She had seen the look of shock on his face in the courtroom, she wanted to crush him as fast as possible.

“We should move to the next phase.” She told Adrain, who was lounging effortlessly in the leather armchair across from her.

He didn’t look up from the whiskey glass in his hand. “Scarlett.” His voice was smooth, calm. “Rushing will only make this messy.”

She narrowed her eyes. “He is already gasping for air. Let’s give him a few more pushes, before we really strike.”

Adrian leaned forward, placing the glass down on the table between them. He studied her carefully, the weight of his gaze making her feel like he was peeling away layers she didn’t want him to see.

“We have a plan. You executing step two before he even finds his footing from step one is reckless.”

Scarlett exhaled sharply. She knew he was right. Every detail had been meticulously planned, every move was calculated. Impatience wasn’t an option.

Scarlett exhaled, sinking into the chair opposite Adrian, stretching her legs out just slightly. She rested her arm against the armrest, fingers drumming idly against the smooth leather.

"Fine," she said, conceding. "We will wait."

Adrian’s lips curled into a slow smirk. He reached for his glass again, taking a sip of whiskey before murmuring, "Smart girl."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Don’t patronize me."

He chuckled, setting the glass back down. "Wouldn’t dare."

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only came with familiarity. Scarlett let her gaze wander, tracing the details of the study, dark wood, warm lighting, shelves lined with books Adrian probably never read.

Her eyes flickered back to him, watching the way he leaned back in his chair, utterly at ease. He looked like a man who had everything under control, and for the most part, he did.

"How’s Ava?" she asked, her voice was softer now.

Adrian’s smirk shifted into something else. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, fingers lacing together as he spoke. "She’s been keeping me busy with baby talk. Full conversations, apparently."

Scarlett huffed a small laugh. "She gets that from you. You talk enough for both of us."

Adrian placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "That hurts."

Scarlett only raised a brow.

He shook his head, the fondness in his eyes betraying his amusement. "She’s doing well. She took to the new nanny without a fuss, which is a miracle. I was prepared for a full-blown mutiny."

Scarlett smirked. "She likes people who don’t try too hard."

Adrian let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "She’s got taste, I’ll give her that."

"Good," she murmured, reaching for the glass of water beside her. "Because when this is over, I want her to have everything Daniel never gave her."

Adrian studied her for a moment before nodding. "And she will."

There was no hesitation and no doubt in his tone, he spoke like someone that could move mountains with his words. Scarlett let that be enough for now.

The waiting didn’t last long. Daniel, like they predicted, did exactly what they expected him to do. A press conference was called the next day.

It was a grand spectacle, held at The Carter Empire HQ. The conference hall was packed, reporters squeezed into every available inch of space, their cameras trained on the stage where Daniel’s team had arranged everything down to the last detail.

Scarlett and Adrian watched from the mansion, the massive screen flickering with the live feed. The lights in the conference room cast a glow on the woman standing at the podium, Miss Delacroix, the model at the center of the scandal. Her carefully curated look of distress was picture-perfect.

Adrian took a sip of whiskey, lounging effortlessly on the couch. “Showtime.”

Scarlett leaned forward, with her elbows resting on her knees. The plan was simple. The model had been briefed to deny everything outrightly no connection, no interactions with Daniel Carter. It was easy because she had never met Daniel in her life, simple and straightforward, but not quite.

Scarlett’s fingers tapped against her knee.

Miss Delacroix lips parted, but no words came out of it. The silence stretched too long, the press were starting to lose their patience, training their cameras on the model that seemed to have lost the ability to talk.

Glenn stepped forward quickly. He, a seasoned strategist, had built a career out of cleaning up messes for men like Daniel. His mind worked faster than most and before the situation could spiral out of control, he was already in motion.

Two men in black suits approached the model, speaking to her in low, urgent tones. She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod before they gently ushered her offstage.

Scarlett smirked as this happened.

Glenn adjusted his tie, exuding a calm authority as he faced the press. He let the murmurs swell before silencing them with a single, deliberate breath into the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began smoothly, his voice measured. “Miss Delacroix is overwhelmed. The accusations and threats against her career have taken an emotional toll. The pressure of false allegations is unbearable, as you can see.”

The shift was immediate.

The press, moments ago poised to rip the model apart, faltered. The camera lenses didn’t seem as predatory anymore.

Scarlett exhaled sharply. “They’re flipping it.”

Adrian smirked, shaking his head. “Desperate times.”

There was a murmur rose from the journalists.

“Are you saying Miss Delacroix and Mr. Carter were never in contact?” one reporter challenged.

Glenn didn’t miss a beat. “That is exactly what I am saying. These are fabricated rumors designed to smear the reputation of an innocent woman and an innocent man.”

Another reporter cut in. “Then how do you explain the photos? The ones showing them in the same hotel suite?”

Glenn sighed, a perfect imitation of frustration.

“And here lies the danger of manipulated media. A simple dinner party, misrepresented by misleading angles. I assure you, Mr. Carter has never been involved in any inappropriate situation with Miss Delacroix.”

Scarlett scoffed. “He’s good.”

Adrian chuckled. “He might prove to be an asset later.”

The room buzzed again.

“Then why was she so hesitant to deny it?”

Glenn’s mouth twitched, as if suppressing an irritated smile. “Miss Delacroix is human. Unlike the faceless voices that spread these lies, she has emotions. The idea of being wrongfully accused, of being dragged into a controversy she had no part in, is devastating to any young woman in her position.”

Scarlett watched as the press who moments ago had been ready to crucify Daniel paused in consideration. Glenn had done really well, he had just ticked a box in their todo list.

By turning them both into victims, he dug Daniel’s grave further.

She clicked her tongue. “Perfect.”

“Well, I did tell you we had to wait for them to make their move,” Adrian murmured. Then, without taking his eyes off the screen, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and pressed a single button.

Scarlett straightened. “And now, we dirty it up.”

On the screen, Daniel, waiting at the edge of the stage, stepped forward as Glenn gestured for him to speak. He adjusted his tie, schooling his expression into the perfect mask of composed frustration. He cleared his throat, ready to speak when the room changed.

Daniel hesitated, he could feel that something was wrong. The reporters weren’t looking at him anymore. Their eyes had drifted past him, locked onto something behind him.

Scarlett laughed slightly.

Daniel frowned, confusion flickering across his face. Then, slowly, he turned. His breath caught in his throat. Behind him, on the massive screen set up for the press conference, a new media had appeared.

This time it was a video.

Scarlett leaned back, watching the live feed as Daniel’s face drained of color. The footage was crystal clear, there was no way he could deny this.

Daniel was in a dimly lit hotel room. His tie loosened and his expression was smug, and beside him was Miss Delacroix.

This was not the nervous, uncertain woman they had just seen on stage. No, this version of her was laughing, draped over his lap, holding a champagne flute as she whispered something into his ear.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I can make problems disappear.” He said in that unmistakable voice of his, and the room exploded almost immediately.

Scarlett’s fingers curled around the wine glass in her hand as reporters shouted over each other, cameras flashing wildly.

“Mr. Carter! Is this you in the video?”

“Did you pay to cover this up?”

“Miss Delacroix, why did you deny it earlier? Were you threatened?”

Scarlett watched as Daniel turned back toward the crowd that was throwing questions at him. He was blinking rapidly, his lips parting as if searching for the right words.

Scarlett’s smirk deepened, this was going to be fun.