Chapter 76: Spill Everything Now!

"Alexei handles international expansion. If we convince him, we convince the family." Enzo pulled out his phone, showed her a dossier. "He’s thirty-two. Educated at Oxford. Speaks six languages. Ruthless but progressive.....wants to modernize the family business."

Isabella scrolled through the information, her mind already calculating angles, leverage points, potential risks.

"If we align with the Volkovs, we’ll have access to their Eastern European networks. Weapons. Trafficking routes. Money laundering infrastructure." She looked up. "But we’ll also paint a target on our backs. Antonio and Lorenzo will see this as betrayal."

"They already see us as disappointments," Enzo said. "At least this way, we’re disappointing them on our own terms."

She laughed. sharp and bitter. "Fair point."

They stood in companionable silence, watching the city wake up below them.

"Can I ask you something?" Enzo said finally.

"Of course."

"Do you really still love him? Dimitri?" He held up a hand. "I’m not asking to torture myself. I’m asking because if we’re going to be partners, I need to know where your head is. If seeing him with Eve is going to compromise your judgment."

Isabella considered the question carefully.

Did she love Dimitri?

Or did she love the idea of him?

The power he represented. The life she’d been promised. The validation of being chosen by the Devil himself.

"I don’t know," she admitted. "I’ve wanted him for so long, I’m not sure I know the difference between love and obsession anymore." She met Enzo’s eyes. "But I know this....I’m tired of feeling like this. Tired of my entire identity being wrapped up in whether or not he chooses me. Tired of being the jilted fiancée while he parades around with her."

"So what do you want?"

"I want to win." The words came out fierce, certain. "Not Dimitri. Not the engagement. I want to build something so powerful, so impressive, that when he looks at me, he regrets choosing her. I want him to see what he lost."

"Revenge, then."

"Closure," Isabella corrected. "There’s a difference."

Enzo nodded slowly. "Alright. Then that’s what we’ll build. An empire so formidable that Dimitri Valentino himself will have to respect it."

"Not just Dimitri." Isabella’s eyes hardened. "Antonio. Lorenzo. Every man who ever looked at us like we were disappointing reflections of what they wanted us to be." She turned to face Enzo fully. "We’re going to make them regret underestimating us."

"I like the sound of that."

They clinked coffee cups....a toast to rebellion, to independence, to finally choosing themselves.

Isabella’s phone buzzed. A text from one of her people.

Eve Thorne’s schedule for today: 9 AM Phoenix Talent, 12 PM lunch with friend Maya, 3 PM meeting with potential investor, 6 PM returns to penthouse.

She stared at the message, an idea forming.

"What is it?" Enzo asked.

"An opportunity." She showed him the text. "Eve has lunch with a friend today. Maya Chen. They’ve been friends since college."

"And?"

"And I’m going to accidentally run into them." Isabella’s smile was calculating. "Not to threaten. Not to intimidate. Just to... observe. Get a read on who Eve really is when Dimitri isn’t around."

"That’s risky. If Dimitri finds out...."

"He won’t. I’ll be perfectly polite. Charming, even." She scrolled through more information her team had gathered. "Maya Chen. Twenty-six. Works in marketing. Dating Tyler Brooks. No connection to our world." Isabella looked up. "She’s the perfect vector. If I can befriend the friend, I can get closer to Eve without triggering Dimitri’s defenses."

Enzo frowned. "To what end?"

"Information. Understanding. Sun Tzu said to know your enemy, you must become your enemy." Isabella set down her coffee cup. "I need to understand what Dimitri sees in her. What makes her different from every other woman who’s wanted him."

"You’re not going to hurt her."

It wasn’t a question. It was a boundary.

Isabella met his eyes. "I’m not Antonio. I don’t hurt innocent people just to make a point. But I will protect my interests. And right now, understanding Eve Thorne is in my interest."

"Why?"

"Because...." Isabella paused, choosing her words carefully. "Because if we’re building our own empire, we need to understand what makes people loyal. What inspires devotion beyond fear or obligation." She gestured toward the city. "Dimitri has built an empire on terror. But Eve chose him despite that terror. There’s something there worth understanding."

Enzo studied her for a long moment. "You’re not just doing this for information. Part of you wants to like her."

Isabella’s jaw clenched. "That’s ridiculous."

"Is it? Think about it. She’s everything you were trained not to be....soft, emotional, non-violent. But somehow she won. She got what you wanted." He stepped closer. "Part of you wants to understand how. And part of you....deep down.....wants to believe that maybe she deserves it. Because if she doesn’t, then what does that say about the world we live in?"

"You’re reading too much into this."

"Am I?" But he didn’t push. Just smiled gently. "Do what you need to do, Isabella. I trust your judgment. Just... be careful. Dimitri’s watching. And if he thinks you’re targeting Eve again....."

"I know." She touched the spot on her collarbone where Dimitri’s threat still echoed. I will systematically dismantle everything your father has built. "I’ll be careful."

****

The morning had been blissfully uneventful.

Eve had actually managed to focus on work.....quarterly projections, new client pitches, strategic planning for Q4. Marco stood by her office door, a silent sentinel, but she’d grown used to his presence.

At 11:45, her phone buzzed. Maya.

Still on for lunch? I’m DYING to hear about your new man. Tyler says the city’s buzzing with rumors about you and some dangerous mystery guy.

Eve smiled, typed back: Still on. Meet at Aria in 15? And he’s not that mysterious. Just... intense.

INTENSE. Girl. I need details. See you soon!

Fifteen minutes later, Eve walked into Aria, an upscale Italian restaurant three blocks from her office. Maya was already there, waving enthusiastically from a corner table.

"There she is!" Maya jumped up, pulled Eve into a hug. "Oh my God, look at you. You’re glowing. Literally glowing."

Eve laughed, settling into her seat. "I am not."

"You absolutely are. That’s the ’I’m getting amazing sex’ glow." Maya leaned forward conspiratorially. "Spill. Everything. Now."