Emilia arrived at the office earlier than usual. The city was still shaking off dawn, its skyline caught in the faint blush of sunrise. She sipped her coffee in silence, the taste bitter but grounding.
The intrusion still nagged at her. Three failed logins weren't random not from someone like Adrian , who played every move with precision.
Her phone buzzed once. A new message from Tasha.
Tasha Ma'am, Mr. Wolfe followed up again. He insists it's about a potential merger opportunity. Should I ignore him?
Emilia stared at the screen, her reflection faint in the glass window. She could ignore him again but that wasn't her style. Not when someone had the nerve to trespass into her system and still ask for a meeting.
Emilia: "No. Set it up. Neutral ground. Somewhere public. I'll handle him myself.
There was a brief pause before Tasha replied.
Tasha: Understood. Should I bring security?
No need. This isn't a confrontation. It's a conversation he won't forget.
She placed the phone down and turned to her desk, opening the file on Titan Dynamics. Every number, every report, every shift in their market. He wanted access. He wanted Stone Tech's crown jewels: its AI research division and its renewable design patents.
But what he didn't realize was that Emilia had already set a quiet trap of her own.
By the time she walked into the day's board meeting, her mind was already made up. The meeting request had been confirmed for Thursday afternoon—at a luxury café downtown. Neutral territory. Surrounded by people, cameras, and sunlight.
Exactly how she wanted it.
As the meeting wound down, she closed her files and stood. Ladies and gentlemen, that'll be all. And if anyone asks, I'm unavailable Thursday afternoon. Personal engagement.
Tasha caught her eye, a silent question in her expression. Emilia's only reply was a faint smile—cool, knowing, confident.
By the time she reached her car later that day, she sent one final message to herself in the secure system—a habit she'd developed for moments like this.
Reminder: Never let the enemy choose the battlefield.
Emilia stepped out of her black sedan in front of the café, her reflection trailing across the sleek windows.
Inside, the café smelled of roasted coffee and vanilla cream. The walls were paneled with dark walnut, and soft jazz floated in the air. Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she moved through the room, drawing quiet attention from nearby tables. She was composed, radiant in her tailored cream suit, her hair swept neatly into a low bun.
Adrian Wolfe was already there.
He sat by the window, sunlight casting sharp lines across his face. He looked exactly as she expected—sleek, polished, and unsettlingly calm. The kind of man who thrived on reading people. His dark suit fit him like a weapon, and when he smiled as she approached, it was the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Emilia Stone," he greeted, rising slightly as she arrived. It is an honor. Stone Tech's genius herself.
Mr. Wolfe, she said evenly, sliding into the seat opposite him. I assume this isn't a social call.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth. Everything in business is social, don't you think?
The waiter appeared briefly, took their orders black coffee for Adrian, green tea for Emilia and disappeared again. The silence that followed felt deliberate. He was watching her, measuring every breath.
Emilia folded her hands neatly on the table. Let's skip the performance. I know you have been keeping tabs on Stone Tech for months. My team intercepted one of your data requests through a third-party vendor.
Adrian's eyebrow lifted, amused. Intercepted? That sounds invasive.
You would know, she replied. Her tone was cool but steady. You have men shadowing my staff, gathering information about our upcoming partnership proposals, even trying to bribe one of our contractors. I don't care how subtle you think you are, Adrian. I notice everything.
He leaned back, fingers brushing the rim of his cup. You are impressive, Emilia. But you see monsters everywhere. Titan Dynamics only analyzes market patterns, nothing personal.
You can drop the act, she said quietly, meeting his gaze head-on. You worked with Marcus Vane before. You tried to take down my father's company through the back door, and now you are circling again, hoping I will make a mistake. But here's the problem you are not dealing with the same girl who inherited a mess. You are dealing with the woman who rebuilt it.
The air shifted. His smirk faded, just slightly.
Power suits you, he said, voice low. So does pride.
I call it clarity, she answered. And clarity is what I came here for. Whatever your interest is in Stone Tech, stay off my track. I don't want your files, your spies, or your partnerships. Titan Dynamics should focus on its own internal cracks before it comes for me.
For a long moment, Adrian said nothing. He studied her, his eyes narrowing with faint admiration. Then, almost lazily, he spoke.
You are sharp, Emilia. And that is exactly why I like you.
I'm not here for your approval, she shot back.
Oh, I know, he said softly, leaning forward, elbows on the table. You are here to remind me that you are untouchable. But if you are truly as smart as you think, then perhaps you should know everything happening around you.
She frowned. What are you implying?
He tilted his head slightly, a predator playing with its prey. Let's just say that some secrets have a way of crawling out of the past. Secrets your husband never told you.
Her pulse stuttered, but she refused to let it show. You don't know my husband.
Adrian's lips curved. No, but I know his past has a name. He paused, his gaze locking on hers. Gracee.
The word dropped like a stone into silence.
Emilia's breath caught before she could stop it. Her mind went still, eyes narrowing slightly as she forced composure back into her voice. You are wasting your time with rumors.
Am I? he murmured. "I wonder what your perfect world looks like when truth starts whispering in the corners.
She stared at him, unflinching, though something in her chest began to ache an instinct she hated. You came here to provoke me. Congratulations, you almost did. But I don't entertain gossip, and I don't bend to threats.
The waiter returned briefly to refill their cups, and Adrian smiled as if the air between them hadn't just shifted. His voice dropped to a near whisper. You know what I admire most about you, Emilia? You wear your armor beautifully. But every armor has a fracture. And when I find yours, I'll make sure the world sees it.
Emilia stood slowly, smoothing the front of her blazer. Her tone was calm, Here's the difference between us, Mr. Wolfe—you think intimidation is power. I know it's desperation.
She picked up her bag and turned to leave.
"Be careful, Emilia," he said behind her, his tone almost tender. Some truths are better hidden. Especially when children are involved.
Her steps faltered for half a second just enough for him to notice before she kept walking.
Outside, the late afternoon breeze hit her skin, cooling the heat under her ribs. She walked to her car, head held high, but her hands trembled slightly as she unlocked the door. The name echoed in her mind, haunting and strange.
Gracee.
She didn't know who the child was, or why Adrian had used that name like a weapon, but something told her it was not a coincidence.
And deep down, she knew one thing whatever this was, it was coming for her family