By early afternoon, Aria found herself in a calm neighborhood on the city's west side, far from the chaos of high-rises and paparazzi. It was clean, quiet, and modestly upscale—perfect. The apartment she was shown was on the third floor of a well-kept building surrounded by trimmed hedges and gated entry.
"Two bedrooms, newly renovated kitchen, private balcony, and strong security," the property manager explained. "There was another buyer interested, but they backed out last minute. Lucky for you, we're offering a small discount to serious tenants."
Aria looked around the place. It wasn't extravagant, but it was warm. The pale oak floors, wide windows, and fresh white walls felt like a blank slate. Her own space. Her own rules.
"I'll take it," she said with quiet certainty.
"I'll forward the paperwork. Your lawyer can look it over."
What Aria didn't know—was that Damien Woods assistant Joel had already called the estate office that morning. Damien instructions had been simple:
"Cover seventy percent of the cost. She pays the rest. I don't want her to know I'm involved. Say it's a temporary incentive from the agency."
The manager, no stranger to discreet arrangements, didn't ask questions.
And so, when Aria's lawyer processed the payment and noted the massive discount, she assumed it was just good timing and luck.
On Monday
The top-floor conference room of Sterling Enterprises buzzed with polite excitement. Staff lined the walls, media flashed cameras, and the atmosphere shimmered with tension masked as celebration.
Evie sat proudly beside the senior executive, her flawless smile frozen for the photographers. The cream suit she wore shimmered under the soft light—symbolic of the bright future they believed awaited Sterling Enterprises.
Marcus sat at the head of the table, a glass of aged scotch untouched before him, eyes gleaming with ambition.
Aria entered unnoticed, tucked into the rear corner of the room. Dressed in an understated navy outfit, she watched the ceremony with a quiet calm that masked the storm in her mind.
Adrien Valeoras, CEO of the prestigious Valeoras Group, exchanged handshakes with Marcus. His assistant passed him the golden pen—a symbolic gesture of finality.
The deal was signed.
Applause erupted.
Evie basked in the glow, bowing slightly as cameras captured her from every angle. Marcus clapped a fraction too long, his grin stretching wider than usual. To the world, it was a win. A billion-dollar deal secured, reputation solidified.
But wins signed in shadows don't last long.
One Week Later
The internet was calm that morning—until it wasn't.
A post appeared on a popular anonymous business whistleblower forum. At first, it looked like a regular gossip thread, until readers saw the documents—leaked financial statements, shadow company links, offshore accounts under the Sterling Group's name, and falsified invoices tied to Evie Sterling's luxury endorsements.
Within hours, the tag #SterlingScam was trending across every major platform.
"Sterling Group's Billion-Dollar Facade Crumbles"
"Evie Sterling's Public Persona: Just Another Mask?"
"Where Did the Money Go, Mr. Marcus Sterling?"
The press went wild. Influencers who once worshipped Evie began distancing themselves. Brand partnerships dropped overnight. Dior pulled out of the upcoming campaign with a blunt statement: "We do not support brands associated with financial misconduct."
By Friday, Sterling Enterprises' shares were bleeding red.
Monday Morning
Investors began pulling out. Panic shook the boardroom. Marcus shouted into phones. Freya sobbed in silence. Evie hid in her room, refusing to speak to the press. But it was already too late.
By Tuesday
News leaked again—75% of Sterling shares had been silently acquired by a single anonymous investor through various proxy accounts.
That left Marcus with only 30%. He was legally disqualified from continuing as CEO.
The Sterling Group's once-proud logo now appeared on gossip channels and meme pages. Their reputation, once untouchable, was ash and whispers.
Wednesday
The company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Staff resigned in waves. Protesters gathered outside the gates. Reporters hounded Evie and Freya's every step. The very world they looked down on now looked down on them.
From a quiet corner of a minimalist apartment, Aria watched the chaos unfold on her phone." Damien woods is the big boss" she laughed with a smirk