جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 50

*Friday | 2:17am | Phone Call*Elena was asleep for the first time in days when her phone screamed. Maya’s voice was shaking. Maya said, “Elena. Carter Manufacturing Plant 7 in Newark is on fire.” Elena sat up. Elena said, “Is anyone hurt?” Maya said, “They’re still counting Ma.""Cause?"Maya said, “Arson. They found evidence. They think it was Blackwood. The fire started in the chemical storage wing. It’s bad.” Elena said, “I’m on my way.” She hung up and was in clothes in 4 minutes.---*Friday | 3:40am | Newark Plant 7*The fire was still burning. Mr. Okoro, the plant manager, met Elena at the police line. Mr. Okoro said, “Ms. Carter. They found this in the debris.” He held up an evidence bag. Inside was a lighter. Engraved: _S.B._ Sophia Blackwood. CEO of Blackwood Corp. Carter’s biggest competitor. And the woman who had been trying to take Carter’s government contracts for 2 years. Mr. Okoro said, “The fire marshal says the chemicals were moved out of the vault

*Monday | 7:00am | Voss Tower, 68th Floor*The city was still gray when Adrian walked into the office. Reyes was already there, standing with a tablet and the kind of posture that never relaxed, even in a room that cost 40 million dollars. Reyes said, “Carter filed the suit at 1:03am. Blackwood stock is down 14%. The board is screaming for a settlement.” Adrian poured coffee into a black mug and didn’t offer Reyes any. Reyes said, “She deleted the photo you sent.” Adrian said, “Good.” Reyes said, “Sir, respectfully, why are we helping her find the culprit when we’re the ones who paid Marcus Hale to start the fire?” Adrian turned from the window. His face didn’t change. Adrian said, “Weak CEO loses.” Reyes waited. Adrian said, “Strong CEO. Weak companies. I buy both.” Reyes nodded once. That was all the explanation he was going to get. Adrian didn’t create chaos to watch it. He created chaos to control what came after it. If Elena got fired for falling for the frame, Ca

*Wednesday | 8:15am | Blackwood Corp, 43rd Floor*Sophia had been sitting at her desk since 6am with a sealed envelope from Meridian Fertility Clinic that she had not yet opened, because once she opened it there would be no going back to the version of her life where she was only a CEO and not a woman with a problem she could not solve with money or lawyers. The nurse had called her yesterday and used that careful voice that doctors use when they are about to tell you something that will rearrange everything, and the nurse had said the words “HCG levels consistent with pregnancy” and “approximately 10 to 12 weeks gestation.” Sophia had done the math in her head immediately. Ten to twelve weeks put conception in late December to early January. Her last night with Ryan had been in August, eight months ago. They had slept together a few times after that, but not since November, which meant the timeline was messy and unclear and dangerous. Which was why she had to tell Ryan before a

*Tuesday | 8:00am | Carter Holdings, 38th Floor*Ryan had been avoiding his email for two days, because every time he opened it there was either a legal update about the Blackwood lawsuit or another board memo asking why his name was still on the Carter org chart, and he was tired of answering questions he did not have good answers for. He finally opened it at 8am because Maya had put “URGENT - BOARD PACKET” in the subject line, and when he scrolled past the financials and the litigation summary there was an attachment labeled “Press Clippings - Week of Oct 12.” He almost skipped it. He didn’t. The first image was a photo from the Industry Dinner on Wednesday night. Elena was standing near the bar with a glass of water in her hand, and next to her, half a step behind her shoulder, was Kian Monroe. He was not touching her. He was not smiling at her. He was looking at the room like he was scanning for exits, and she was looking at him like she was listening to something he had j

*Monday | 9:00am | Carter Holdings, Mercer’s Office*Mercer did not own a tie that cost less than 2,000 dollars, and he did not believe in sending junior associates to do work that would end up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, which was why he was personally walking the manila envelope to the elevator himself at 9am on a Monday with two paralegals behind him carrying identical copies. The envelope was thick. Inside was the signed TRO, the amended complaint naming "Unknown Parties," and the formal notice of litigation to Blackwood Corporation and Voss Industries. Mercer said to the paralegal on his left, “Blackwood first. Then Voss. I want them served before lunch. I want photos. I want receipts.” Paralegal said, “Yes sir.” Mercer said, “And note.” He looked at her. Mercer said, “If anyone at either building tries to talk to you, you say ‘speak to my client’s counsel’ and you keep walking. Do you understand.” Paralegal said, “Yes sir.”---*Monday | 9:45am | Blackw