Chapter 121

Chapter 121:

Victoria turned back to face him, her mind racing through scenarios. “We need to identify his proxy before they make a move. And we need to know how much stock he actually owns.”

Alexander was already typing on his phone. “I’ll have my team dig deeper. There may be other shell companies we haven’t traced yet.”

“Good. And have them check recent trading patterns in Kane Industries stock. He may be accelerating his purchases now that the Grid launch is imminent.” Victoria returned to her desk, her momentary loss of control now replaced with cold calculation. “If Herod thinks he can use my company against me, he’ll discover just how wrong he is.”

Alexander pocketed his phone. “There’s another angle we should consider.”

“Which is?”

“If his stock purchases are discovered—and they will be, because we’ve found them—Herod will assume we’re focused on protecting the company from takeover.” Alexander’s eyes met hers. “Which may distract us from whatever his actual plan might be.”

Victoria considered this. “A diversion?”

“Possibly. The Grid sabotage. The stock purchases. What if neither is his primary goal?” Alexander crossed to the coffeemaker in the corner of Victoria’s office, pouring two cups. “Herod strikes me as a man who always has multiple strategies in play.”

Victoria accepted the coffee he offered, warming her hands around the cup. “Like a chess master sacrificing pieces to disguise his true objective.”

“Exactly.” Alexander took a sip of his coffee. “We need to ask ourselves: what would hurt you the most? Not just financially, but personally?”

The question hung in the air between them. Victoria knew the answer immediately, though she would never say it aloud. There was only one thing left in this world that could truly destroy her.

Camille.

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“Have you told her?” Alexander asked quietly, seeming to read her thoughts. “About the stock purchases?”

Victoria shook her head. “She has enough to worry about with the Grid launch.”

“She should know. This affects her too.” Alexander’s voice remained steady, but Victoria heard the underlying steel. His relationship with Camille had shifted, deepened. He was no longer just an ally but a protector.

“I’ll tell her,” Victoria agreed, though reluctantly. “After the shadow engineering team finishes correcting the Grid sabotage.”

Alexander nodded, apparently satisfied with that compromise. “In the meantime, I have a suggestion.”

“I’m listening.”

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