Chapter 48
The jet hummed softly as it soared through the clouds, carrying Victoria and Zayden back to reality. The weekend in Bali had been nothing short of magical—a much-needed escape from the chaos that had consumed their lives. As she sat by the window, gazing at the endless expanse of blue sky, Victoria couldn’t help but glance at her left hand. The diamond ring on her finger sparkled brilliantly, catching the sunlight. It was a constant reminder of Zayden’s love and commitment, and it made her heart swell every time she looked at it.
Zayden, seated beside her, noticed her admiring the ring and leaned over with a smirk. “Still can’t believe you said yes?”
She laughed, nudging him playfully. “Still can’t believe you proposed. In Bali, no less. You’re setting the bar ridiculously high, Zayden.”
“Good,” he said, resting a hand on hers. “You deserve nothing less.”
As the plane began its descent, Victoria took a deep breath, steeling herself for what awaited them. The problems at Kane Industries, the mystery of Xanos, and the remnants of Damian and Selena’s schemes still loomed large. But for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful. With Zayden by her side and a newfound clarity about what mattered most, she was ready to tackle whatever came next.
Walking into Kane Industries that Monday morning felt different. Victoria’s spirits were high, and for the first time in weeks, she didn’t feel the weight of the world on her shoulders. But the moment she stepped into her office, the energy shifted. Her assistant, Marla, rushed toward her, her face pale and anxious.
“Ms. Cross,” Marla said, clutching a tablet. “We have a situation.”
Victoria’s heart sank. “What happened?”
Marla hesitated before speaking. “There was an attempted hack on the company’s systems early this morning. IT was able to block it before any sensitive information was accessed, but whoever it was… they were sophisticated. They knew exactly what they were looking for.”
Victoria’s stomach tightened. “Did they identify the source?”
Marla shook her head. “Not yet. But they’re still investigating.”
“Alert the IT team that I want updates every hour,” Victoria said, her voice firm. “And make sure our security measures are at the highest level.”
“Already done,” Marla assured her. “But there’s more. The hacker left a trace—a message.”
Victoria’s brows furrowed. “What kind of message?”
Marla handed her the tablet, and Victoria’s eyes scanned the text on the screen. It was brief but chilling:
“Xanos sees all. You’re running out of time.”
Victoria’s blood ran cold. The name she’d been dreading was now staring her in the face, and the brazenness of the message sent a clear signal: Xanos wasn’t going to back down.
Later that afternoon, Victoria sat in her office with Tobias and Jonathan, both of whom wore expressions of concern.
“So, Xanos is officially stepping out of the shadows,” Jonathan said, leaning back in his chair. “That message wasn’t just a threat. It’s a challenge.”
“Exactly,” Victoria replied, pacing the room. “They want us to know they’re watching. That they’re still pulling strings.”
Tobias crossed his arms. “We need to assume they’ll try again. If this hack was a warning shot, the next attempt could be worse.”
Victoria nodded, her mind racing. “I want every department on high alert. No emails, no file transfers, nothing goes out unless it’s been triple-checked. And I want a private meeting with the IT team. We need to anticipate their next move.”
“I’ll handle it,” Tobias said. “But what about the board? They’re already jittery after the last few weeks. If they hear about this—”
“They won’t,” Victoria interrupted, her tone firm. “Not yet. We don’t need panic right now. Let’s gather as much information as we can before making any announcements.”
Jonathan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “This Xanos character is playing a long game. We need to figure out what they want.”
Victoria’s lips pressed into a thin line. “They’ve already made their intentions clear. Chaos. Control. They’re trying to destabilize everything we’ve rebuilt.”
As if on cue, there was a knock at the door. Marla stepped in, holding a large bouquet of white roses. “These just arrived for you, Ms. Cross.”
Victoria’s tense expression softened slightly as she took the bouquet. “Thank you, Marla.”
As Marla left, Jonathan raised an eyebrow. “Zayden, I assume?”
Victoria smiled faintly, inhaling the sweet scent of the roses. But as she pulled the card from the bouquet, her smile vanished. The message written in neat, blocky handwriting made her blood turn to ice.
“Release Damian and Selena now.”
Tobias stood immediately, noticing her reaction. “What’s wrong?”
Victoria handed him the card, her hands trembling slightly. Tobias read it aloud, his voice grim. “Release Damian and Selena now.”
Jonathan let out a low whistle. “That’s not from Zayden.”
“Obviously,” Victoria said, her voice sharp. “This is Xanos. They’re escalating.”
Tobias tossed the card onto the table. “They’ve got guts, I’ll give them that. But sending flowers? That’s a whole new level of twisted.”
Victoria’s mind raced. The connection was clear—Xanos was willing to go to any lengths to free Damian and Selena, even if it meant psychological warfare. “They’re trying to intimidate me,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. “But it’s not going to work.”
Jonathan gave her a cautious look. “V, this isn’t just a threat. It’s a statement. They’re saying they still have power.”
Victoria met his gaze, her determination unwavering. “Then we’ll take that power away.”
Tobias nodded, his jaw tight. “What’s the plan?”
Victoria took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. “We stay ahead of them. Double security, monitor every employee, and keep digging for Xanos’s identity. If they think they can scare me into submission, they’ve underestimated me.”
Jonathan smirked faintly. “That’s the spirit.”
