Light rain fell over the city as Adrian received a short message from an unknown number.
No name.
No pleasantries.
We have the same enemy.
Tomorrow. 11:30 PM.
Old Riverside Parking Lot.
Come alone.
Adrian read the message twice.
The number was encrypted. Untraceable through normal channels.
He didn't need to guess for long.
Ethan.
Rafael stood in front of the desk.
"A trap?" he asked.
"Could be."
"If Marcus finds out about this.."
"Marcus already knows," Adrian cut in calmly.
Sophia, sitting in a chair near the window, looked up.
"You're going."
It was not a question.
Adrian looked at her.
"I don't have a choice."
Sophia rose slowly. Her pregnancy was now even more visible. But her gaze remained sharp.
"Don't bring your ego with you."
Adrian furrowed his brow slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"If Ethan truly realizes he's just a pawn… then he's desperate."
Adrian fell silent.
Desperation makes people dangerous.
But also honest.
11:27 PM.
The old Riverside Parking Lot was almost empty. The surrounding old buildings were like shadows of a past yet to be renovated.
Streetlights flickered dimly.
Adrian got out of his car with no visible guards.
But he knew his team was still on standby within a safe radius.
A few minutes later, another black car pulled in slowly.
Ethan got out alone.
No expensive suit.
No entourage.
Only a dark coat and a face more serious than usual.
They stood facing each other.
Light rain touched their shoulders.
"Thank you for coming," Ethan opened the conversation.
"I didn't come for small talk."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Good. Neither did I."
Silence hung in the air.
Two men who had spent the past few months destroying each other's reputations now stood three steps apart.
Enemies.
Or something yet to be named.
"What do you want?" Adrian asked directly.
Ethan did not answer immediately.
Instead, he asked back.
"Do you know how deep Marcus is rooted?"
"Enough to know he's not just a consultant."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"He holds twelve percent of indirect control over my company."
Adrian showed no sign of surprise.
"Through credit schemes and preferred voting rights," he said calmly.
Now it was Ethan's turn to fall silent.
"You already knew."
"I always knew Marcus never moved for free."
Ethan laughed softly. Not out of humor. More out of bitterness.
"And I only just fully realized it."
The rain began to fall a little harder.
Streetlights reflected their shadows on the wet asphalt.
"Why did you invite me?" Adrian asked again.
Ethan looked straight into Adrian's eyes.
"Alliance."
One word.
Heavy.
Adrian did not answer right away.
"Why should I trust you?"
"You don't need to trust me," Ethan replied quickly. "Just do the math."
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
Ethan continued, "Marcus pushed me to attack Sophia."
That made Adrian's jaw tighten.
"He gave you information."
"Yes."
"And you still used it."
Ethan nodded.
"I'm not saying I'm innocent."
Silence fell again.
Adrian could see something had changed in Ethan.
No more arrogance.
But awareness.
"Why now?" Adrian asked softly.
"Because now I know I'm not the main player. I'm just a piece moved to test the reaction."
Adrian studied Ethan's face.
"And if I refuse?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Then Marcus will take us down one by one."
In the distance, lightning struck far away in the sky.
The rain was now falling steadily.
Adrian stood still.
"Prove it," he finally said.
Ethan took his phone out of his pocket.
He displayed digital documents.
Hidden ownership schemes.
Offshore fund routes.
Names of companies connected to Marcus's network.
"This is just part of it," he said.
Adrian scanned quickly.
The data was real.
And dangerous.
"Why give this to me?" Adrian asked.
"Because alone, I lose."
Adrian looked up.
"And you think with me, you win?"
Ethan looked straight at him.
"I think with you, we have a chance."
A moment of silence.
Only the sound of rain on asphalt.
Adrian finally spoke softly, "You attacked my wife."
Ethan did not look away.
"I know."
"Her reputation was toyed with."
"I know."
"And you expect me to forget that?"
Ethan shook his head slightly.
"No. I expect you to be rational enough to see the bigger picture."
The words were bold.
Too bold.
But not without reason.
Adrian took one step closer.
"If this is a trap."
"If this is a trap, I wouldn't have come alone," Ethan cut in.
Their eyes met.
Two stubborn men.
Two great ambitions.
Two egos not yet fully extinguished.
Yet now there was something new between them.
A common threat.
At the mansion, Sophia stood on the balcony.
She could not sleep.
Her intuition was restless.
She knew Adrian was meeting Ethan.
She knew this was no small step.
And she knew if Marcus caught wind of this alliance, his reaction would not be gentle.
Back at the parking lot.
"What's your plan?" Adrian asked.
Ethan took a long breath.
"We won't attack directly."
"We'll gather evidence."
"We'll take apart one small knot first. His shell company overseas."
Adrian thought quickly.
"If we move too fast, he'll cut the line."
"That's why we'll move differently."
"How differently?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"We'll still look like enemies."
Adrian understood what he meant.
The public would still see them in conflict.
Marcus would not suspect.
While behind the scenes…
They worked together.
Dangerous.
But effective.
"We won't meet in person again," Adrian said firmly.
"Agreed."
"All communication through secure channels."
"Leon will coordinate with your people."
Adrian looked at him sharply.
"If you betray me.."
Ethan smiled slightly.
"If I betray you, Marcus still wins."
One last silence hung between them.
Finally, Adrian nodded slowly.
"This isn't friendship."
Ethan nodded.
"This is mutual interest."
They did not shake hands.
No dramatic gestures.
Only two men turning toward their respective cars.
An alliance without trust.
From afar, inside a dark car parked far from the streetlights.
A man lowered his camera with a telephoto lens.
He did not smile.
He just pressed send.
The photo of Adrian and Ethan standing face-to-face in the night parking lot was sent to one number.
Marcus Sterling.
In his office, Marcus looked at the photo calmly.
No anger.
No surprise.
Only… observing.
"Interesting," he murmured softly.
His assistant stood beside him.
"They met."
Marcus nodded.
"An aware pawn… does tend to look for allies."
"Should we stop them?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"No."
He moved a chess piece on his desk.
"Let them feel smart."
His assistant fell silent.
Marcus stared at the board for a long time.
"Because the real game… they haven't seen it yet."
Adrian's car entered the mansion grounds.
Sophia was already waiting in the living room.
Their eyes met.
"So?" Sophia asked softly.
Adrian removed his coat.
"We're no longer alone against Marcus."
Sophia held her breath.
"You agreed."
"For now."
Sophia stepped closer.
"And do you trust him?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"I trust his self-interest."
Sophia nodded.
That was enough.
Yet deep inside, she felt something.
An alliance built from fear and ambition…
Is always fragile.
And if Marcus already knows.
Then the next move will not be small.
The rain outside began to ease.
But the real storm…
Had just formed.