Chapter 4: The Art of War
There are wars fought with bullets and blood.
And then there are wars fought with smiles and silence.
I preferred the latter.
The morning sunlight poured through the glass walls of Alade Holdings, making everything look deceptively peaceful. But beneath the surface, the company buzzed with tension — rumors of a merger, whispers of hidden agendas.
Perfect chaos to hide in.
I entered the boardroom early, laptop in hand, and took a seat near the head of the long marble table. Today's meeting would decide the future of the company — and unknowingly, seal Ethan Cole's first wound.
---
Ten minutes later, the room filled with executives, assistants, and sharks in suits. Jason walked in first, his easy grin earning nods from everyone. Ethan followed behind — sharp, poised, radiating authority.
My breath caught, just for a second. The man looked like sin wrapped in silk — and I reminded myself that he was the devil who burned me alive once before.
Not again.
"Miss Alade," he greeted, his voice smooth as whiskey. "I trust you've reviewed the reports?"
"I have," I said, sliding my laptop open. "And I found something… interesting."
That got his attention. His jaw tightened slightly, the faintest flicker of curiosity — or caution — in his eyes.
I projected the financial statements on the large screen. "These figures," I said coolly, "don't align with last quarter's audit. A few offshore transactions were rerouted. Quite creative, actually."
The room went silent. All eyes turned to Ethan.
Jason frowned. "Rerouted? By who?"
Ethan's smile didn't falter. "I'm sure it's a simple misclassification."
I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Perhaps. Though I did trace the account signatures. They lead to a subsidiary owned by… Cole Enterprises."
The silence that followed was delicious.
Ethan's fingers tightened around his pen, but his face remained unreadable. "You're suggesting my company misused funds?"
"I'm not suggesting anything," I replied lightly. "I'm just pointing out numbers. Numbers don't lie."
A murmur rippled through the room. My father glanced between us, uneasy. "I'm sure there's an explanation—"
"There always is," I cut in smoothly. "But transparency builds trust, doesn't it, Mr. Cole?"
Ethan met my gaze, and for a split second, I saw it — the flicker of recognition, the crack in his perfect composure.
He didn't know who I truly was… but something in him knew he'd met a worthy enemy.
---
The meeting adjourned in awkward silence. Ethan left first, his mask firmly back in place. Jason lingered, studying me with an unreadable expression.
"You really don't like my brother, do you?" he asked softly.
I smiled faintly. "Is that obvious?"
"To everyone." He leaned closer. "But you made him nervous, Sophie. I've never seen that before."
"Then I'll consider that a compliment."
Jason chuckled, but his eyes held something deeper — curiosity, maybe admiration. "You play a dangerous game."
"So do you," I replied. "You just hide it better."
His lips quirked, but before he could respond, my phone buzzed — a message from an unknown number.
Unknown: We need to talk. Alone. Rooftop, ten minutes.
– E. Cole
My pulse quickened. The first move had worked. Now came the real test.
---
The rooftop wind was sharp and biting, carrying the faint scent of rain. I stood by the railing, watching the skyline shimmer below, the city oblivious to the storm brewing above it.
Ethan's voice came from behind me. "You're bold."
I didn't turn around. "Boldness is the language of people who refuse to be silenced."
He stepped closer, his presence heavy and magnetic. "You humiliated me in front of half the board."
"You humiliated yourself," I replied evenly. "I just held up a mirror."
His jaw flexed. "You have no idea who you're playing with."
I turned then, meeting his cold, assessing gaze. "Oh, I do. A man who smiles while stabbing others in the back. A man who hides secrets behind charm."
His eyes narrowed. "You sound like you've known me before."
My heart skipped — a dangerous beat. I forced a calm smile. "Maybe I just study people well."
He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell the faint trace of his cologne — cedar, spice, and danger. "Study me all you want," he murmured. "Just remember, I always win."
I leaned in slightly, whispering, "Not this time."
His smirk faltered — barely noticeable, but I caught it. That was enough. I turned and walked away, heels clicking against the concrete like punctuation marks to a promise.
---
Back in my office, I sank into the chair, adrenaline still thrumming through my veins. My hands trembled slightly as I opened my phone.
Rebirth Project — Phase One: Complete.
Ethan destabilized. Public doubt created.
A knock came on the door. Jason entered without waiting for permission, carrying two cups of coffee. "You looked like you could use this," he said, setting one in front of me.
"You have good timing," I said quietly.
He smiled. "It's a gift."
For a moment, silence stretched between us — warm, steady. His presence was different from Ethan's — less calculated, more human. Dangerous in a different way.
"Can I ask you something?" he said suddenly.
"Go ahead."
"Who are you really, Sophie Alade?"
I met his gaze. "Why do you ask?"
"Because the woman I knew before… she never challenged anyone. But now?" He studied me carefully. "You look like someone who's lived through fire."
My heart squeezed. For a moment, I almost told him. Almost. But the memory of my last breath — Ethan's cold smile as the world faded — stopped me.
"Maybe I have," I said softly. "But I survived."
Jason nodded slowly, something like respect in his eyes. "Then I hope you know what you're doing."
"So do I," I whispered.
---
That night, as rain began to fall, I sat on the balcony overlooking the city — my new kingdom of shadows and secrets. The lights below glimmered like the souls of those who had forgotten me.
I took a slow sip of wine and smiled.
Revenge wasn't about anger anymore. It was about control. And for the first time since my death, I felt it again — that cold, perfect control.
They had taken my life once.
Now, I would take everything.