Isla’s POV

The day had barely begun, and Isla already felt like she was walking through a battlefield. The tension from her last meeting with Grayson and the looming presence of Victoria made every step feel heavier. But she wouldn’t let it show. If there was one thing she had learned in her career, it was that power belonged to those who refused to be shaken.

Her assistant, Chloe, rushed into her office, looking more nervous than usual.

“Ms. Carter, you need to see this.”

She handed Isla a tablet, and the second her eyes landed on the screen, her stomach clenched.

A news article.

Mystery Woman at Sinclair Enterprises—More Than Just Business?

Underneath was a grainy photo of her and Grayson from the night before. It was nothing compromising—just them standing close in the restaurant. But paired with the speculative headline? It was fuel for rumors.

Isla’s grip on the tablet tightened. She knew exactly who had orchestrated this.

Victoria.

The woman wasn’t just attacking her position—she was attacking her reputation.

Chloe hesitated. “Should I contact PR?”

“No,” Isla said firmly. “That’s exactly what she wants. If we respond, we legitimize it.”

She set the tablet down, her mind racing. This wasn’t just about the article—it was a warning. A signal that Victoria wasn’t just playing defense. She was going on the attack.

And Isla? She wasn’t going to sit back and take it.

---

Grayson’s POV

Grayson had barely stepped into his office before his phone was flooded with messages. His PR team, board members, even his own mother—all asking the same question.

Who was the woman in the article?

He scrubbed a hand down his face, annoyance bubbling under the surface. He had spent years keeping his personal life separate from the media circus that surrounded Sinclair Enterprises. And now, because of Victoria’s interference, Isla had been dragged into it.

His phone buzzed again.

Victoria.

He let it ring.

Instead, he grabbed his jacket and strode out of his office, heading straight for Isla’s. The moment he stepped inside, she was already waiting, arms crossed, the tablet with the article still open on her desk.

“I take it you’ve seen it,” she said, her voice carefully controlled.

He nodded. “It’ll blow over.”

Her eyes flashed. “That’s not the point, Grayson. She’s making this personal.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “It’s always been personal for Victoria.”

She held his gaze. “And what about you?”

The question hung between them, heavier than it should have been. He could lie—tell her she was just another player in a corporate game. But he didn’t want to lie to her.

So instead, he said nothing.

Her lips pressed together, frustration flickering across her face. “Fine. If you won’t fight back, I will.”

She turned, grabbing her phone, but before she could make the call, he reached out, catching her wrist.

“Isla.”

The way he said her name—low, steady, dangerous—made something in her chest tighten. “Don’t let her control the narrative.”

She met his gaze, her pulse racing. “Then what do you suggest?”

His fingers lingered for just a moment before he let go. “Let me handle it.”

She exhaled sharply. “And what exactly does that mean?”

“It means trust me.”

Trust.

A dangerous word.

But as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to.

---

Victoria’s POV

Victoria tapped her manicured nails against the surface of her desk, watching the online reactions unfold exactly as she had planned. Isla was strong, but she had a weakness—she cared too much about perception.

And perception was something Victoria excelled at controlling.

Her office door opened, and her assistant stepped in. “Ms. Langley, he declined the call.”

She smirked. “Of course, he did.”

Grayson Sinclair was predictable in many ways. He thought by ignoring her, he could diminish her power. But he had already lost the upper hand.

Because now, Isla Carter was on the defensive.

And Victoria? She was just getting started.