The next morning, Elara arrived at Thorne Group as usual — tailored black suit, calm expression, every step measured.But inside, everything had changed.
There was a new player on her board now.And his name was Adrian Blackwell.
In her private office, the secure line blinked once — an encrypted call. She answered without hesitation.
"Good morning, partner," Adrian's voice drawled smoothly.
"I haven't agreed to anything," she replied.
"You will," he said simply. "Because you're too smart to fight Julian alone."
Elara leaned back in her chair. "You talk as if you know him."
A soft chuckle came from the other end. "Oh, I do. We built our fortunes on the same blood. His success was the reason my brother's company went bankrupt."
That detail made her pause. "Your brother…?"
"Henry Blackwell. He killed himself five years ago after Julian cornered him in a false merger. You were still married to Thorne then."
The silence that followed was heavy — not pity, but recognition.They had both lost something to the same man.
That evening, Elara met Adrian in a private penthouse lounge — minimal lights, champagne untouched, cityscape flickering like a battlefield.
He slid a folder across the table. Inside were documents — proof of Julian's offshore embezzlement.
Elara's breath caught. "Where did you get this?"
Adrian smiled faintly. "You're not the only one who knows how to dig."
She looked up at him, her expression unreadable. "What do you want in return?"
His gaze didn't waver. "Access. Your clearance at Thorne Group. I'll handle the external pressure — leaks, investors, press. You make sure Julian doesn't see it coming from inside."
It was a dangerous offer — the kind that could destroy them both.But Elara didn't flinch.
"Fine," she said finally. "But understand this — I'm not your pawn."
Adrian's smile sharpened. "Good. I don't collect pawns. I collect queens."
Later that night, as she drove home, Elara caught her reflection in the rearview mirror.For the first time in years, her eyes didn't look haunted.They looked alive.
She wasn't the broken ex-wife anymore.She was the woman two powerful men should've never underestimated.
Julian had taken her love.Adrian offered her revenge.And Elara Vale — the reborn phoenix — was ready to burn both if she had to.