Time of the Avenger

ferred the silent and calculated authority of shrewdness. As the company's key risk officer, he excelled in identifying and neutralizing vulnerabilities that

s were working agains

unmissable. Her presence somewhat demanded attention, but it wasn't Sophie that caught Alex off guard–it was Ethan's behavior. His brother, already mis

Ethan's interaction. She laughed at his jokes, smiled with his compliments

her," noted Alex as Ethan

n, twirling his Scotch. "Smart, glamorous,

you sure mystery does not come with a pri

n's smile was absolutely unwavering.

fine-tuned by years of detecting the latent th

cov

e that witnessed the Paris skyline through its windowpanes. First, he knew her as a skilled artist who had plated herself onto the high society ju

ff in a calculated raid by Hayes Industries. Ethan had profited accordingly from the raid, Richard was left dry and destitute. Such an implosion was too un

ed: Sophie was no coincidence. She was an effect–or a living reference of

ex who had first pointed out Clarke Holdings as a failing entity and ripe for a takeover in the

hought caused Alex a dis

ng in

ng café, she sat by the window and seemed engrossed in a classy leather-bound notebook. In th

p breath. "So

r one second before she composed herself. "Alex Hayes. I tho

chair opposite on the table. "You have be

o a faint smile. "Can I

rply. "I know who you are-and what

ess vaguely shimmering in her eyes before she c

Seduce Ethan, destroy him, eliminate H

adfastly. "I want him to pay. For my father's ruin. For my family's humil

dered aloud as he leaned back. "Would wrec

nwavering. "But at least I won't b

ering

couldn't deny how instrumental he was in the failure of Clarke Holdings. Yet he also knew that Ethan wasn't the m

keptical, "Help me? Why in

tted. "And I don't believe Ethan to be as guilty as you say; if any resolution can b

steady) I do not intend to meet you

part of the plan? I suppose this pla

rse. Ethan. He is the face of Hayes Industries, the hea

his eyes "Or s

s Ethan, the one who was called the shark by the press, the one who disassembled Clark

uietly)

ice sharp) Now

hich time Alex shifts un

carefully)

s you, Alex. You were the one who put Clarke Holdings on the list of target companies to be ta

long silence) That

the reports, the memos. Ethan may have executed the plan, but you-you-built it. Every step,

d running a hand through

r was proud; proud and stubborn. Losing the company broke him. He lost everything, hi

) I didn't kn

would you? It was just business to you. Numbe

. It never was personal. I didn't try to destroy your family-I just did my job.

stification for this? "Someone else would

y) I'm not s

ere to destroy Ethan. To make him fe

esitant)

don't know what to do. You have twisted everything ups

past. I cannot bring back your father's company or undo the hurt

) And how do you p

is: going after Ethan won't give you what you're loo

lp, Alex? Tell me. Because revenge was the o

s not about revenge. Maybe it's ab

you to say. You weren't the on

ophie. And if there is a way to help you rebuild,

expression unreadable) Wh

g in the shadows. And maybe...maybe it's time I

rn between anger and distrust and yet

tly) I will t

r cup again, her mind races. Trusting Alex might be her best chance at

moment, then hardened again. "

one thing: revenge doesn't heal anything.

itated. The fire in her eyes d

ut it," she sai

gerou

not shrug off what transpired merely minutes earlier. Sophie was dangerous,

a who Sophie really was or what she was capable of. And if this sp

bout Sophie's intentions but about everything that had happened that brought her to this point. That way