The knowledge burned inside Elara like a fever.
*She had the map.*
The coordinates from the dance pointed to a location she recognized with a sickening jolt: an old, exclusive arts conservatory on the city's outskirts, the same one her mother had been a primary benefactor for. The place was now mostly defunct, used only for storage and the occasional private lesson.
The final pose pointed to a specific wing, a specific room. The 'L' her mother's hand had formed could only mean one thing: Liana.
*Her mother had hidden the evidence in a place registered under her own name. A locker, a private room, a safe deposit box within the conservatory itself.*
But knowledge was useless without opportunity. Kian's vow to never let her go had translated into heightened surveillance. He was a shadow at her side, his possessiveness amplified by the shared "emotional" moment of watching the dance.
*He saw it as a new bond; she saw it as a shorter leash.*
She couldn't ask to go to the conservatory; it was too specific, too suspicious. She had to make him send her away. Or rather, create a situation so chaotic he would be forced to leave her side.
Her plan began to form, elegant and dangerous.
*It involved the two people Kian distrusted most: his sister and her former friend.*
***
The next day, during a tense gala planning meeting at the foundation office, Elara felt the moment was right to make her move. With Seraphina, Iris, and other board members present, she "innocently" proposed a new theme for the gala's main art auction.
"Instead of just showcasing established artists," Elara suggested, her eyes bright with false enthusiasm, "I believe the theme of 'Rebirth' calls for us to champion new talent. I've been researching, and the Feng family's private collection has several pieces from brilliant young artists. I think we should approach Liam Feng to co-curate the auction with us."
The air in the room thickened, words dying on lips.
*The Fengs. A provocation.*
*Proposing Liam Feng as a partner? A declaration of war against Kian's unspoken rules.*
Seraphina was the first to react, a slow, predatory smile spreading across her face.
*She saw exactly what Elara was doing: challenging Kian's authority.*
"An excellent idea, Elara," Seraphina said, her voice dripping with sweet venom. "Bold. Forward-thinking. I'll second the motion. It's time the foundation built new bridges."
*A glint in Seraphina's eye told Elara she was delighted to support any plan that would annoy her brother.*
***
As expected, when Kian heard the news that evening, a cold fury tightened his features.
"You went behind my back?" he demanded, storming into her office. "You invited Liam Feng, the son of a man who would see my family ruined, to be your partner?"
"I invited a respected art collector to participate in a charity event," Elara countered calmly, not backing down.
She stood up, facing him. "This is my foundation, Kian. You said so yourself. Or was that just another pretty lie? Did you give me a toy to play with, thinking I wouldn't dare use it?"
Her defiance, so direct and unexpected, seemed to throw him off balance.
"This is not a game, Elara!"
"Then stop treating me like a pawn in yours!" she retorted, her voice rising with practiced fire. "I am trying to make this gala a success! If you undermine my every decision, then this entire endeavor is a farce!"
She turned away from him, a gesture of dismissal, and stared out the window.
*It was a high-risk gamble. She was pushing him, daring him to tighten the leash so hard that it snapped.*
For a long moment, there was only the sound of his harsh breathing.
*He was trapped.*
If he overruled her publicly, he would look like a controlling tyrant and empower Seraphina. If he let it stand, he would have to endure Liam Feng's presence near her.
"Fine," he bit out, the word costing him dearly. "Have your way. But I will be at every meeting. He won't have a moment alone with you."
Phase one was complete.
*She had created a plausible reason for chaos. Phase two began the next day.*
***
At the first auction planning meeting, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Kian sat at the head of the table like a thundercloud, his eyes fixed on Liam, who looked pale and nervous. Elara played the part of the gracious host, while Seraphina watched the proceedings with the glee of a wolf watching a dogfight.
Elara had given Liam his instructions in a brief, encrypted message:
*Disagree with everything. Challenge their most valuable piece. Cause a scene.*
Liam, eager to prove his loyalty, did exactly that. He questioned the provenance of a centerpiece sculpture donated by one of Kian's staunchest allies.
He called its valuation "insulting."
The donor, a powerful, arrogant tycoon, exploded in anger. The argument escalated, fueled by Seraphina's subtle provocations.
In the middle of the shouting match, Kian's phone buzzed. It was his head of security.
Elara, who had been watching the phone on the table, saw the message preview.
"URGENT: Asset breach at Sterling Dynamics. Hostile takeover attempt initiated by Feng-aligned shell corp."
*It was the final piece of her plan.*
She had used her foundation access to leak a minor but credible piece of intel to Julian, who had passed it to a friendly financial journalist.
*The rumor of the Fengs' involvement was all it took.*
Kian read the message, his face turning to stone. He looked at the chaos in the room—the fight his rival was having, the smirk on his sister's face, Liam's defiance, and Elara at the center of it all.
*A grim realization tightened Kian's jaw: He had been played. He was being pulled in too many directions at once.*
He stood up, his authority silencing the room.
"The meeting is over," he commanded.
*He had to go deal with the corporate crisis, a fire she had started.*
He turned to his security chief. "Take Ms. Meng back to the penthouse. Full detail."
"Actually," Elara said, her voice sweet and calm. "All this shouting has given me a terrible headache. I'd rather go to my studio. It's so much quieter there. I need to rest before our dinner tonight."
Kian stared at her, his mind clearly racing, connecting the dots. But he had no proof. And he had a corporate emergency to handle.
*He was stretched too thin.*
"Fine," he ground out. "Go to your studio. But don't go anywhere else."
He stormed out of the room, his security team trailing him. Seraphina gave Elara a slow, approving wink before departing.
Elara was left in the silent boardroom.
*She had done it. She had created a cage of her own making, and every player had walked into it.*
*She had an alibi, a destination, and a two-hour window while Kian was occupied.*
*It was time to go to the conservatory. It was time to unlock her mother's last secret.*