Chapter 2 — The Perfect Ally

Cara

The Ember Lounge exuded an aura of exclusivity, its dim amber glow casting a warm sheen over velvet banquettes and mirrored walls. The faint aroma of leather and aged scotch mingled with the soft murmur of low voices—deals worth millions whispered over glittering glasses. Discreet staff moved with the precision of shadows, their presence felt but never acknowledged. Every detail of the space demanded perfection, a polished veneer masking the ruthless ambition that thrummed beneath.

Cara paused at the entrance, her hazel eyes sweeping the room with practiced subtlety. Her tailored emerald blazer hugged her frame, its sharp lines chosen to project confidence while drawing out the golden flecks in her eyes. Her low chignon, meticulously styled, framed her face in effortless elegance. Yet beneath the composed exterior, a knot of tension coiled tight in her stomach, her pulse quickening despite her deliberate breaths. This wasn’t just another step in her plan—it was the step. There was no room for error.

Her fingers brushed against the smooth barrel of her engraved fountain pen, tucked securely in her bag. A talisman of her resolve, its presence steadied her. Weeks of preparation had led to this moment. She knew Leo Ashford wasn’t just another businessman; he was a strategist, a force of order in a world of chaos. If she faltered, he would see it. If she lied poorly, he would know. But if she succeeded, he could be the key to everything.

Cara’s gaze sharpened as she found him, seated at a curved booth near the back of the lounge. Leo’s presence was magnetic, even in the subdued light. His dark eyes, fixed on the tablet before him, seemed to consume every detail with quiet intensity. His posture was relaxed but commanding, the subtle authority of a man accustomed to control. The tailored gray suit he wore fit perfectly, understated yet impossibly refined, while the faint gleam of a gold pocket watch chain against his waistcoat added an air of old-world sophistication. For a moment, Cara’s focus drifted to the watch. “Time reveals all.” The phrase engraved on it came to mind—a detail she’d discovered in her research. The thought lingered, a silent reminder that she was walking into a game where every move mattered.

Cara straightened her shoulders and began her approach, her heels tapping softly against the polished floor. The weight of the room’s attention seemed to shift subtly, a ripple in the current as her presence demanded notice. She passed clusters of other power players, their watchful eyes glancing her way, but stayed fixed on her target. With every step, the stakes tightened around her, the tension between her outward poise and inner turmoil threatening to crack. She couldn’t let it.

She reached his table and allowed herself a brief, knowing smile as her opening gambit. “I didn’t expect to find the infamous Leo Ashford tucked away in a corner.”

Leo’s eyes lifted slowly from his tablet, locking onto hers with a sharpness that stole her breath. His gaze was piercing, unhurried, and for a moment, Cara felt as though he’d already dissected her intentions. He set the tablet aside with deliberate precision, leaning back slightly, his movements calculated and measured. The air between them seemed to tighten.

“I could say the same about you,” he replied, his tone low and smooth, laced with intrigue. “Though you have me at a disadvantage.”

Cara extended her hand, her smile faint but deliberate. “Cara Weston. I’m surprised a man of your reputation doesn’t already know that.”

One corner of his mouth twitched—not quite a smile, but enough to convey a flicker of something that might have been amusement. His handshake was firm, his hand warm and steady, much like the man himself: strength wrapped in layers of control.

“Cara Weston,” he repeated, as though tasting the name. “Should I know you?”

“Not yet,” she said lightly, sliding into the seat opposite him with practiced ease. “But I’d like to change that.”

His expression remained inscrutable, though his dark eyes stayed fixed on hers, narrowing slightly, as if she were a puzzle he wasn’t sure he wanted to solve. “Bold approach. I’ll bite—what brings you to my table, Ms. Weston?”

Cara leaned back, crossing her legs with deliberate calm. “I couldn’t resist the chance to speak with one of the sharpest minds in the business world. Your reputation precedes you—innovative, methodical, ruthless when necessary, but fair. I admire that.”

It wasn’t entirely flattery, though she delivered it with enough detachment to suggest she wasn’t seeking approval. Leo Ashford was everything Daniel Carter wasn’t—principled, strategic, commanding respect rather than demanding it. He needed to see her as an asset, not just another opportunist.

Leo tilted his head slightly, a faint crease forming between his brows. “Flattering as that is, it doesn’t answer my question. What do you want, Ms. Weston?”

The deliberate edge in his tone made her shoulders tighten, but she didn’t flinch. “I want to help you.”

That drew a reaction. His brow arched, the faintest glint of curiosity in his gaze. “Help me? That’s quite the offer from someone I’ve just met.”

“Let’s call it shared interests, then,” she said, her tone calm but firm. “I know Daniel Carter has been targeting Ashford International—undercutting contracts, spreading rumors of instability among your clients, even poaching key staff. He doesn’t play fair, and he’s only getting started.”

Leo’s expression didn’t change, but she caught the faintest flicker in his eyes—a flash of something personal. Anger, perhaps, or something deeper. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual control.

“And you know this… how?” he asked, his voice measured.

Cara allowed herself a small, knowing smile. “Let’s just say I have firsthand experience with his methods. You’re not the first person he’s tried to destroy.”

For the first time, something shifted in Leo’s manner. He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the polished table. His gaze was sharper now, more focused, as though weighing her against some unseen scale. “If you’re so familiar with Carter’s tactics, why come to me? What’s your angle?”

This was it—the moment she’d rehearsed endlessly. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to stay composed. “I worked with Daniel for years. I saw how he manipulates, how he lies to take what he wants. And when I tried to hold him accountable, I became collateral damage.” She hesitated, letting just enough vulnerability creep into her voice to make it believable. “I lost everything because of him. I don’t want to see him destroy anyone else.”

Leo’s gaze lingered on her, peeling back layers she hadn’t realized she was still wearing. The silence between them stretched, heavy with unspoken questions.

“You’re asking me to trust you,” he said finally, his tone unreadable. “But trust is a rare commodity in my world, Ms. Weston. Especially when it comes to anyone connected to Daniel Carter.”

Cara straightened, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. “I don’t expect you to trust me yet. But give me the opportunity to prove myself. Let me help you take him down.”

Leo studied her for a long moment, and then, slowly, he leaned back, the faintest hint of intrigue glinting in his dark eyes. “I’m hosting a meeting at Ashford International tomorrow afternoon. Be there. We’ll see if you’re everything you claim to be.”

Relief surged through her, though she kept her composure. She nodded, her expression steady. “I’ll be there.”

Leo lifted his glass of scotch, swirling the amber liquid thoughtfully. “One more thing,” he said, his voice low but deliberate. “If this is a game, Ms. Weston—if you’re playing me—you won’t like how it ends.”

Her stomach tightened, but she forced a faint smile. “Good thing I’m not playing, then.”

A flicker of approval passed through his expression, and he raised his glass toward her in a silent toast. “We’ll see.”

As she left the lounge, her heels tapping softly against the polished floor, Cara allowed herself a small smile. She’d planted the seed. Now came the hard part—making it grow.

But as the night air hit her face, sharp and cool, a flicker of doubt crept in. Leo’s intensity had unsettled her, his piercing gaze stirring something deeper than she wanted to admit. For the first time, she glimpsed the cost of her revenge—not just to herself, but to anyone caught in its path.

Her fingers instinctively tightened around the strap of her bag, where her fountain pen rested. She couldn’t afford hesitation now. This wasn’t about emotions. It was about justice.

And she would see it through, no matter the cost.