Chapter 2
Zora
I sit at my desk with the latest quarterly reports spread across the screen, scrolling through the numbers that tell the story of my company over the past five years.
Revenue is steady, client retention is up three percent from last quarter, and the new logistics partnerships I signed last month are already showing early returns.
I feel a quiet sense of pride as I review the data because these figures represent choices I made on my own, long before Dad’s empire landed fully in my lap. Still, the weight of everything I inherited lingers in the back of my mind, mixing with the satisfaction of seeing my own work succeed.
My phone rings, pulling me out of my focus. Erin’s name appears on the screen, and I answer immediately.
"I’m sorry to bother you, Zora." Erin says carefully, sounding more hesitant than usual. "But there’s a man here asking to see you personally. He refuses to speak with anyone else."
I lean back slightly in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Erin, you know how this works. New clients don’t come directly to me unless there’s a reason. Who is he?"
There’s a brief pause on the other end before she answers quietly, "Mr. Stefano Rinaldi."
The name settles heavily in the room.
My fingers still against the desk. "...Stefano Rinaldi is here?"
"Yes." Erin says. "He’s waiting in the private lounge. I tried sending him through the usual channels, but he made it very clear he only wants to speak with you."
I exhale slowly, forcing myself to stay composed. "All right. Give me a few minutes."
"Of course."
"And Erin?" I add, standing from my chair. "Make sure he’s comfortable. Whatever he asks for, give it to him."
I end the call and sit there for a moment, staring at the reports still open on my screen. Stefano Rinaldi is one of the biggest investors in the country. He comes from an Italian family but built his empire in Manhattan through sheer determination and sharp instincts.
He specializes in finding companies or larger empires that look strong on the surface but hide serious financial weaknesses. He buys them, tears them apart during restructuring, and sells them for much higher profits.
Before he commits to anything, he runs extreme due diligence that leaves no stone unturned. If he is here in my office, it is probably because he has his eyes on a new target and thinks my team can help him gather the information he needs.
The possibility of landing an offer from someone like him sends a spark of excitement through me. A collaboration with Rinaldi could open massive doors for my company and give the Krogen assets even more stability.
I stand up, smooth down my blouse, and head toward the private lounge reserved exclusively for our VVIP clients.
My heels click steadily along the hallway as I walk.
I remind myself to stay sharp. This is business, and I have learned never to show all my cards too early, especially with someone who’s known for seeing through every layer.
When I reach the lounge, I pause just outside the door for a second to collect myself.
Through the slightly open entrance, I see him.
A man in his early-thirties sits with one leg crossed casually over the other.
He has his phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a calm, low voice.
Dark hair is brushed neatly back from his face, and his navy suit fits him with effortless precision, like it was made exclusively for him.
He’s handsome. Quietly, dangerously handsome. The kind of man who doesn’t need attention to command a room anyway.
"Yes, tell them the offer increases by twelve percent if they sign by the end of the week.
" He says smoothly. "No, I will not negotiate further on the restructuring timeline. They either accept the terms or I walk. You know how this works. Make it clear that this is their best and final chance. Good. Call me when it’s done. "
He ends the call with a decisive tap and slips the phone into his jacket pocket. At that exact moment, he looks up and sees me standing in the doorway. A polished smile spreads across his face as he rises to his full height.
"Ms. Krogen." He says, extending his hand. His grip is firm and warm when we shake. "Thank you for making time to see me on such short notice."
I return the smile, keeping my tone calm and professional. "Mr. Rinaldi, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard quite a bit about you."
"The feeling is mutual, Ms. Krogen." He says smoothly.
I gesture toward the seating area near the window. "Please."
We sit across from each other, the city skyline stretching behind him. He settles back comfortably, one arm resting against the chair, every movement controlled and effortless.
"I have to admit," he says after a moment, "building a company like this at your age is impressive. Most people spend years trying to establish something stable. You managed to do it while carrying responsibilities most wouldn’t know how to handle."
There’s no exaggeration in his tone. Just observation. Somehow, that makes it feel more sincere.
"Thank you." I reply with a small smile. "It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of what we’ve built."
"And you should be."
For a second, the room falls quiet. Not awkward, just measured.
I cross one leg over the other. "So, Mr. Rinaldi… what exactly brings you here?"
A faint smile touches his mouth, subtle enough that it almost disappears before I fully catch it.
"Straight to business." He says. "I expected nothing less."
"I try not to waste time. You’re a busy man."
"I can appreciate that." He adjusts the cuff of his watch before continuing. "I’m currently working toward acquiring a family-owned empire. Valuable assets, complicated structure, a lot buried beneath the surface. Normally, information like that can be obtained through the right channels."
"But not this time." I say.
His eyes meet mine again. Steady. Focused.
"Not this time." He agrees. "The people involved are careful. Extremely careful. Which is why I’m here." He pauses briefly. "Your network has a reputation for finding information other people can’t."
I keep my face composed even as a sense of caution rises inside me. "I understand. Which family are we talking about?"
Stefano studies me for a brief moment before answering. "The Keegan family of Ireland."
The name immediately pulls up everything I know about them. Security structures. Private compounds. Controlled access routes. Military-grade surveillance systems. The Keegans were known for running their operations like fortresses. And fortresses were expensive to crack.
I stay composed, though my mind is already calculating risks.
Stefano notices the brief silence. "You know them?"
"I know of them." I reply calmly. "Enough to understand the scale of what you’re asking for."
He waits for me to continue.
I lean back slightly in my chair. "Mr. Rinaldi, my team specializes in obtaining information other people can’t access.
But the Keegans…" I let out a quiet breath.
"Their entire infrastructure is built around prevention.
Armed security, restricted internal networks, layered authentication systems, private monitoring teams. Everything about their operations is designed to keep people out. "
My eyes meet his. "Breaching that level of security successfully?" I shake my head once. "That's impossible."
"Almost impossible." Stefano corrects smoothly.
The room falls quiet.
He watches me steadily, that faint smile still resting on his face. And suddenly, I am not sure which part of this conversation unsettles me more.
The target. Or the fact that Stefano already seems convinced someone can breach it.