Roses and Ruins

A night of masquerade, wealth, and whispered secrets. For the first tim

mask, her every movement deliberate, graceful, and dangerous. Paparazzi lights flashed, and men turned to sta

. He hadn't noticed her yet. Good. Rosa slipped through the crowd, brushing shoulders with senators,

One caught her attention - a controlling share in an offshore company connected to Ma

ompany immediately - Bellaterra Investments. A fake portfolio Lorenzo used to stash dirty funds away from the Mancini

rself. "Before he sold her out. Before he fo

tailored navy suit stood beside her, his eyes curious but caut

"But it's not. It's a lie,

ile widening. "That's un

eplied, her voice cool an

gued. "I like storms.

head tilting slightly. She offe

bid. As he walked away, Rosa's eyes lingered on his back. She h

made. When the board awoke tomorrow, Lorenzo would be scrambling t

aight toward the edge of the ballroom - toward the balcony. The night air

ice she had memorized like a lullaby and a nightmare

twist in his stomach like poisoned wine. "No," she whis

By the time Lorenzo raised his glass to toast the crowd, Rosa was already across t

spresso steamed beside it, untouched. On her screen, the financial world l

n she opened a file titled "Project Phoenix." Lines of code. Transaction trail

onto a secure blockchain two weeks ago. Now, she was going

ents interesting. Especially if you're looking to expose a certain CE

during an audit. Then she sent it anonymously to a known financial journali

This was the moment she'd been planning for. She closed the laptop, took a si

By afternoon, stocks would slip. By evening,

flame dancing in front of her. She felt a sense of calm, a s

the room, her gaze lingering on a couple in the corner, their hands touching a

about love; it was about revenge. And

rom an unknown number. "You're p

across the keyboard. "I'm not p

me quickly. "I'

? She couldn't be sure. But one thing was certain - she

espresso, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew Lorenzo

aring into the night. The streets were empty

t. She knew every alleyway, every hidden corne

e them all to br

she would take it bac

. She was no longer the woman she once was.

uld not be

was lit. She knew exactly where she

nt city. The Mancini empire would be on shaky gr

n, and she wou