127

127

VIVIAN'S POV

The dimly lit room was quiet, save for the steady ticking of a clock on the wall. Kane’s office wasn’t large or glamorous, but it was private, discreet—exactly the kind of place you’d go to if you wanted to discuss something that could never see the light of day. As I looked around, taking in the neatly organized stacks of files and the faint scent of cigar smoke lingering in the air, I felt a surge of satisfaction. After everything, I was finally here. The pieces were in place, and soon, I would get exactly what I wanted.

Kane sat across from me, his gaze steady, his hands clasped on the table. He was a tall, imposing figure with sharp eyes that seemed to miss nothing. In the brief time I’d known him, I’d come to understand that he was methodical, focused. He knew what he wanted, and he didn’t let emotions cloud his judgment—a quality I respected.

“Are you ready?” Kane asked, his voice calm and measured.

I nodded, leaning forward. “Yes. Every detail has been accounted for. I’ve secured our contacts, and I’ve made sure there won’t be any loose ends. This is our moment, Kane.”

A small smile flickered across his face. “Good. Zara’s schedule is predictable. We’ll move in when it’s least expected. I’ll have my people handle the logistics. They know how to avoid drawing attention.”

I met his gaze, feeling the familiar rush of control settling over me. I’d waited for this, carefully maneuvered every obstacle, and now, with Kane by my side, there was nothing left to stand in my way. Not Bethany, not Damien, and certainly not Joel.

As if reading my thoughts, Kane leaned back, his gaze growing a shade darker. “Speaking of obstacles… Joel called me.”

I raised an eyebrow, though I wasn’t entirely surprised. I’d anticipated that he’d lash out after I’d cut him off, but hearing it confirmed only deepened my annoyance.

“What did he say?” I asked, keeping my voice even.

Kane shrugged, his expression unreadable. “He tried to convince me that he had ‘important information’ about you. Said it was something I’d need to hear if I knew what was good for me.”

A flicker of irritation sparked within me, but I quickly suppressed it. Joel’s desperation was evident, and I wasn’t about to let him interfere with my plans. He was scrambling, trying to regain some semblance of control, but he was too late. I’d already moved on, and he was little more than a nuisance at this point.

“Did you take him seriously?” I asked, my tone dismissive.

Kane let out a low chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Not in the slightest. The man’s unraveling. He sounded like he was grasping at straws, trying to make himself seem relevant. He knows he’s been cut out, and he’s angry. Desperate men say desperate things.”

I felt a sense of relief mixed with satisfaction. Kane saw through Joel’s ploys, understood the kind of manipulations he was capable of. It was a testament to his own discernment, and it reaffirmed my decision to work with him.

“Good,” I replied, my tone cool. “He’s out of control, and I can’t risk him jeopardizing everything we’ve built. I filed a restraining order against him to keep him out of my way, but it seems he’s still determined to stir up trouble.”

Kane nodded thoughtfully. “A restraining order’s a good move. It’ll keep him at a distance. But if he persists… we might need to take further action to ensure he doesn’t interfere.”

The implication was clear, and I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. Joel had pushed me to this point, made it impossible for me to trust him. If he wanted to fight, then he’d face the consequences.

“Let’s keep him in the dark for now,” I said, leaning forward. “The last thing we need is him alerting Bethany or Damien to our plans. If he tries to reach out to them, we need to be prepared to shut it down immediately.”

Kane’s expression grew serious. “Agreed. I have people who can monitor his communications. If he makes a move, we’ll know.”

The level of control, the precision with which we’d planned this—it all reassured me that nothing would go wrong. Kane’s professionalism and dedication made him the perfect ally, and with him by my side, there was no room for error.

“So,” Kane continued, a faint smirk on his lips, “let’s go over the plan one final time.”

I nodded, feeling the familiar thrill of power surge through me. “We’ll wait until Zara’s routine is predictable, likely after school when Bethany’s attention is occupied. We’ll send someone she doesn’t recognize to pick her up. I have a trusted contact who’s done similar work before. He’s thorough, leaves no traces.”

“Good,” Kane replied, his tone approving. “And once we have her?”

I smiled, a cold satisfaction settling over me. “Once we have Zara, we’ll hold her in a secure location. Somewhere remote, isolated. Somewhere they’d never think to look. I’ll reach out to Bethany, make it clear that if she wants her daughter back safely, she’ll follow my instructions to the letter.”

Kane gave a short nod, his gaze steady. “You’re certain she won’t go to the authorities?”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Bethany’s many things, but she’s not stupid. She knows what I’m capable of, and she won’t risk Zara’s safety by involving the police. Besides, by the time she realizes Zara’s missing, we’ll be in full control.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed, a glint of approval in his gaze. “And Damien?”

My smile faded slightly, though I kept my composure. Damien had always been the wild card, a man who wouldn’t hesitate to go to any lengths for his family. But I’d accounted for that as well.

“He’ll do whatever Bethany tells him,” I replied confidently. “And she’ll follow my instructions. We’ll leave no room for them to retaliate.”

There was a pause, and then Kane leaned back, folding his hands as he regarded me with something like admiration. “I have to say, Vivian, you’ve thought of everything. This is more than a simple kidnapping—this is a strategy. And I respect that.”

I felt a rush of satisfaction at his words, a validation of the meticulous planning I’d put into this. I’d always known I was capable of achieving great things, but having someone like Kane acknowledge it only solidified my confidence.

“This is just the beginning,” I said, my voice low. “Bethany thinks she can live her life without consequence, that she can ignore me and push me aside. But she’s about to learn that I’m not someone to be trifled with.”

Kane’s smile widened, and he extended a hand toward me. “Then let’s make it official.”

I shook his hand, feeling the weight of our agreement settle over me. This was it—the moment I’d worked toward, the culmination of every careful move, every calculated risk. With Kane by my side, I had the resources, the allies, the power to make this plan a reality.

“Now,” Kane continued, releasing my hand, “we’ll keep an eye on Joel, make sure he doesn’t interfere. I’ll have someone report his movements, just in case he decides to play hero.”

“Perfect,” I replied, feeling the last of my reservations fade. “The less he knows, the better. He’s already proven he’s a liability.”

Kane gave a short nod, his expression thoughtful. “And if he becomes more than that?”

I smiled, a hint of satisfaction coloring my tone. “Then he’ll be dealt with.”

With that, I rose from my seat, feeling a renewed sense of control, of purpose. The plan was set, and the pieces were in place. All that remained was execution.

“Thank you, Kane,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I couldn’t have done this without your support.”

He nodded, his face impassive but his eyes gleaming. “You bring the plan; I bring the resources. Together, we make things happen. Let’s just hope Bethany knows better than to cross us.”

I inclined my head, my smile widening. “She’ll understand soon enough.”

As I walked out of Kane’s office, a surge of confidence filled me. Joel’s attempts to reach out, his pathetic attempts to sabotage my plans—they were nothing more than the desperate actions of a man who’d lost all control. With Kane on my side, I had everything I needed to see this through.

Bethany would soon understand what it meant to challenge me. She’d realize that the life she’d built was fragile, that I could shatter it with a single move. And as for Joel… well, he’d learn too.