The silence in Isabella's dressing room was shattered by the frantic tapping on her phone. Her two assistants stood by, wide-eyed, as she punched in a number, her face a mask of cold fury.
"Dad," she snapped into the receiver, her voice strained. "I need you to deal with someone. This new actress on set, Zara... she's a complete idiot. She ruined my costume and now she's trying to steal my spotlight. Mark is taking her side."
A deep, gravelly voice answered from the other end. "Isabella, what have I told you? Don't bother me with your petty Hollywood dramas. I have more important things to deal with."
"But Dad! She's insulting me!" Isabella pleaded, her voice rising. "She's an embarrassment to the family name!"
"Our family name is not for you to use as a weapon for your little feuds," Damian Zhenya's voice was sharp, a chilling authority in every word. "I am in the middle of a very delicate situation. You will handle your own problems. This is a business, not a playground. If you can't handle a little competition, then you're not worthy of the Zhenya name. Do not call me again about this."
The line went dead. Isabella stared at her phone, the anger in her eyes turning to a cold, calculating rage. Her father had refused to help her. Fine. She would deal with this herself. She had other ways of getting what she wanted.
Meanwhile, in a discreet office in a less-than-reputable part of the city, Sergei watched with a smirk as Anya's stepsisters, Clara and Sophia, walked into the room. They looked nervous, their cheap clothes a stark contrast to the luxurious suit Sergei wore.
"Thank you for coming," Sergei said, his voice as smooth as silk. "My boss, Mr. Damian Zhenya, is very interested in what you have to say."
Clara, the more outspoken of the two, spoke up. "We have information on Anya, and Lex Volkov. We know they framed our parents. We want revenge. We want to see them ruined."
"We believe they have been sleeping with Lex," Sophia added, "and that Lex has given Anya all the power over her mother's company."
Sergei's smirk widened into a full-blown grin. "My boss knows this. He is already taking steps to deal with them. He's very interested in your information, but he's also a man who likes to be thorough. He wants you to keep an eye on Anya and Lex. We will provide you with a phone and a camera. You will send us photos and any information you get. Think of it as a small way of getting your revenge."
Clara's eyes lit up. "And in return? What do we get?"
Sergei leaned forward, his voice a low hiss. "You get to see them destroyed. My boss has no use for traitors. He will be watching you, and if you betray him, there will be nowhere for you to hide. But if you do what we ask, you will be well compensated. You will get to be a part of their downfall."
The sisters exchanged a look. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain. They would do it. They would be the ones to finally take Anya down.
At the same time, Lex was at one of his private casinos, a sleek, modern fortress of opulence and high-stakes gambling. He was in a meeting with a group of his most trusted men, including Dimitri and Loe. On the table between them was a thick file, filled with reports and photographs.
"The container was delivered to the Oakhaven port, boss," a man with a scarred face said, his voice a low growl. "It was supposed to be a shipment of designer goods, but it was hijacked. It contained weapons and a new shipment of raw materials for our laboratories. They were meant for the Phoenix Pharmaceuticals. The men who took it... they're not locals. They're foreign. And they're working for the Zhenya family."
Lex's face was a mask of cold fury. "Damian is getting bolder. He knows I have an alliance with Ben and Anya, and he's trying to hurt me through my new business. This is a declaration of war. I want you to send a message. Find the men who took the container, and bring them to me."
"I'm on it," Dimitri said, his voice flat. He was a man of action, and he was ready for a fight.
Loe, ever the strategic mind, spoke up. "Boss, this is not just about a container. This is a message. Damian is trying to show you that he can reach you anywhere, even in your own city. You need to send a message back."
Lex nodded. "I know. And I will. But first, I have a meeting with a new business associate in the monaco. Loe, book my flight and Ben's. We need to go over the new business venture and finalize some contracts. This is a legitimate business trip, but it's also a chance to show Damian that he's not the only one who can operate in the shadows."
He stood up, his gaze intense. "Dimitri, I want you to stay here. Anya and my grandmother need to be protected. The moment I leave, Damian will see it as an opportunity. Keep your eyes on Eva, too. She's a variable I can't trust."
He turned to Loe. "And Ben. Tell him to be ready to go. We're leaving tonight."
Across town, at his prestigious clinic, Dr. Ben was finishing up a complex surgery. He was a brilliant man, a world-class surgeon who had saved countless lives. But he was also Lex's childhood friend and a man who understood the dark world Lex lived in. As he scrubbed his hands, his phone rang. It was Lex.
"Ben, I need you to come with me. monaco. Tonight," Lex said, his voice a low command.
"Tonight? What's going on?" Ben asked, a note of concern in his voice.
"A new business venture. It's a deal I need you to look at. And it's time to show Damian that I'm not afraid to go on the offensive. He's trying to mess with my business. I will show him what happens when you cross me."
Ben sighed. He had a feeling this wasn't just about a new business venture. It was about something much more dangerous. But he knew Lex, and he knew that when Lex called, he had to answer. He trusted Lex with his life, and he knew that Lex would protect him.
"I'll be there," Ben said. "Just tell me where and when."
Lex hung up the phone and walked back to his team. He was ready for this war. He had his own army, his own rules, and his own way of dealing with his enemies. He would not let Damian win. He would protect his family, his business, and most of all, the woman he loved.