The private jet, a sleek marvel of modern engineering, was Lex's sanctuary in the sky. He sat across from Ben, the silence in the cabin broken only by the quiet hum of the engines. Loe was in the back, working on a laptop, his face illuminated by the screen's glow. Lex had a glass of whiskey in his hand, but he didn't drink it. His mind was miles away, back in Oakhaven, with Anya.
"You're not sleeping," Ben said, his voice calm and steady. "And you haven't touched your drink. This is more than a business trip, isn't it?"
"Damian Zhenya is making a move," Lex replied, his voice a low growl. "He had a container of my goods hijacked at the port. He's trying to hit me where it hurts, and he's going to use Anya as his leverage. He thinks she's just a pawn in his game, but she's not. She's my world. I will not let him hurt her."
Ben nodded, his expression serious. He knew the risks of being Lex's friend, but he also knew that Lex was a man who would protect his own to the death. "What can I do? I'm a surgeon, Lex, not a bodyguard."
"You're my friend," Lex said, a rare warmth in his eyes. "And you're the head of Phoenix Pharmaceuticals. This trip is about showing Damian that my legitimate business is untouchable. He's going to find out that I'm not just a mafia boss. I'm a powerful CEO with connections all over the world. He's going to know that if he touches my company, he's touching my family. You're a part of that now."
Loe walked up to them, his face serious. "Boss, Dimitri just called. He said everything is fine. Anya is with your grandmother, and the stepsisters are still under surveillance. They met with Damian's assistant, Sergei. They're his pawns now."
Lex's jaw tightened. He had expected it. "Good. Let them play. They don't know who they're dealing with."
Back in Oakhaven, at the Volkov family estate, Anya was trying her best to put on a brave face. She was sitting with Grandmother Volkov in the garden, a place of stunning beauty and serenity. The old woman's eyes were sharp, and Anya could feel her gaze on her, weighing and measuring her.
"Lex told me you are a brave young woman," Grandmother Volkov said, her voice a soft murmur. "He has a soft spot for you. He cares for you deeply. I have never seen him so open to a woman before."
Anya smiled. "He's a very good man, ma'am. He's been my rock."
"He told me that you have a new business venture," the old woman said, her voice a little warmer now. "Phoenix Pharmaceuticals. I like the name. It's a testament to a new beginning. A new life, rising from the ashes of the old."
Anya's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them away. "Yes, ma'am. That's exactly what it is. I want to make my mother proud. And I want to make something good come out of all the pain."
The old woman gave a small nod. "Good. You have a good heart. And you have Lex. Don't let anything or anyone come between you. Not even a ghost from the past."
Anya knew she was talking about Eva. "I won't, ma'am."
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit interior of a high-end club, Clara and Sophia were celebrating. They had just received their first payment from Sergei. It was a substantial amount, enough to buy them new clothes and a night out.
"We did it!" Clara said, a wide grin on her face. "We're finally getting our revenge. Anya thinks she's so high and mighty, but she has no idea what's coming for her."
"We're going to be rich," Sophia added, her eyes gleaming with greed. "We'll be able to buy everything we lost, and more. And we'll watch as Anya and Lex lose everything. It's perfect."
They had no idea they were being watched. Dimitri's men were everywhere, their faces calm and unreadable. They had followed the sisters, and they knew exactly what they were up to. They had seen them take the phone and the camera from Sergei's men, and they had seen them celebrate. Dimitri had a full report ready for Lex.
Back on the movie set, Zara was still reeling from the day's drama. She was in her dressing room, trying to find some semblance of calm, when her new assistant, Emily, knocked on her door.
"Zara, can I talk to you for a second?" Emily asked, her voice low and serious. She closed the door behind her, her expression unreadable. "I need to tell you something. I was a junior assistant on a few of Isabella's other projects. She has a reputation for getting rid of people who get in her way. She's not just a spoiled actress. She has powerful backing in this industry, and it's because of her family. You need to be very careful. Don't make an enemy of her."
Zara's heart pounded in her chest. "Her family? What do you mean?"
"They have influence everywhere," Emily whispered. "And she's not afraid to use it. If she wants someone off a project, they get taken off. She's ruthless. And now, she's after you."
Zara's face went white. She knew the Zhenya name. Anya had told her everything. She had no idea that her new rival was also a part of Lex worst enemy. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. The world was so much smaller, and so much more dangerous, than she had ever imagined.
Meanwhile, in Monaco, Lex and Ben were being driven to a secluded location. The meeting was in a fortified, underground bunker, a place where business was done in the shadows. A man with a scar running down his face greeted them at the entrance. He was a trusted associate of Lex's, a man who knew the rules of the underworld.
"Mr. Volkov," the man said, his voice a low growl. "We have the documents ready. The deal is set. This new pharmaceuticals company will be a global powerhouse."
Lex nodded, his eyes scanning the room. He was in his element here, a powerful CEO with a ruthless edge. He knew that the deal would be a major blow to Damian Zhenya, a way to show him that he was not the only one who could operate in the shadows. He had to be careful here, every move a calculation, every word a weapon. The fate of his company, his family, and his love was in his hands.