Chapter 3
Zora
"Almost impossible?" I question him.
He studies me carefully before continuing, his tone calm and measured. "A few months ago, someone managed to breach one of the Keegans’ internal systems. Not for long." He adds.
"A matter of minutes, from what I was told. Their security team detected the intrusion quickly enough to shut it down before any real damage was done."
I say nothing, but my attention sharpens instantly.
"But the fact that somebody got in at all…" Stefano continues, leaning back slightly in his chair, "means their system isn’t untouchable. It means there’s a weakness somewhere."
A slow curiosity settles in my chest.
Over the years, I had spent an absurd amount of money building one of the best private intelligence and cybersecurity divisions possible.
Recruitment alone had taken years. Former military analysts, ethical hackers, surveillance specialists, data extraction experts.
People who were very good at what they did.
And still, none of them had ever gotten close to breaching anything connected to the Keegans.
The idea that someone else had managed it, even briefly, was enough to make my mind start moving in entirely different directions.
"Who was it?" I ask before I can stop myself.
A faint smile appears on Stefano’s face, subtle but noticeable this time, like he had been waiting for that question.
"You’re interested now."
"I’m curious." I correct smoothly. "There’s a difference."
"Of course." His eyes hold mine for a second before he continues. "His name is Domenico Valenti."
The name settles somewhere unfamiliar in my mind. Not entirely unknown… just distant. Like something overheard years ago and forgotten before it could fully register.
Stefano watches my reaction carefully.
"Most people," he says, "know him as The Hunter. Others call him Il Fantasma. The Gh…"
"The Ghost." I interrupt.
That earns me another small smile. "Exactly."
The nickname fits too well already.
I shift slightly in my chair, unable to ignore the growing intrigue curling through me. "And he actually breached the Keegans’ systems?"
"For a few minutes." Stefano says. "Which, considering who we’re talking about, is already impressive."
I nod slowly. "What do you know about him?"
"Very little." He admits. "That’s part of the reason people talk about him the way they do."
His voice stays even, professional, but there’s something knowing underneath it.
"Some people claim he was trained through off-record black operations programs across different countries. Others say he’s one of the best contract operatives in Europe.
Surveillance, infiltration, close combat, long-range work…
" Stefano pauses briefly. "Apparently, he prefers knives when situations get personal. "
My brows lift slightly. "That sounds more like mythology than fact."
"Maybe." Stefano’s expression doesn’t change. "But people rarely become myths without giving others a reason."
I stay quiet, listening.
"He’s also highly skilled with security systems." Stefano continues. "Advanced surveillance overrides, encrypted network breaches, counter-tracking. From what I’ve heard, by the time people realize he was there, he’s already gone."
"Convenient reputation."
"It keeps people cautious."
I glance toward the window for a second, thinking. A man capable of slipping through the Keegans’ defenses, even temporarily, wasn’t just talented. He was dangerous. And suddenly, this meeting feels much bigger than a simple acquisition request.
I listen carefully, and with every detail he shares, my intrigue grows stronger. There is something almost thrilling about the idea of a man who can slip through defenses that my best people cannot touch.
Part of me feels cautious because people like that usually come with complications, but another part, the part that now carries the full weight of Dad’s empire, sees opportunity.
If I could bring someone like Domenico onto my side, even temporarily, it could change how I approach every difficult target going forward.
"How would I even find someone like him?" I ask after a moment, breaking the silence that had settled between us.
My tone stays composed, but I can hear the curiosity underneath it now. "If he’s as skilled as you say he is, there has to be some way to contact him."
Stefano watches me carefully, almost like he’s trying to decide how much to say.
I lean back slightly in my chair, crossing one leg over the other. "I’m interested in understanding how somebody managed to get past the Keegans’ security when some of the best cybersecurity teams in Europe can’t even get close."
"That," Stefano says smoothly, "is exactly why people become fascinated with Domenico."
The name lingers in my mind again. Domenico Valenti. Il Fantasma.
Even the nickname sounds calculated. Like something designed to spread quietly through conversations until it became larger than the man himself.
Stefano's expression doesn't change as he continues."But finding him isn’t simple, Ms. Krogen. Domenico doesn’t operate like a normal contractor. You can’t call an assistant, schedule a meeting, or send him an offer through some encrypted business channel."
"And yet people still hire him."
"They do." Stefano says. "When he allows it."
That answer only deepens my curiosity.
I study him carefully. "What makes him so selective?"
For the first time since this conversation began, Stefano takes a few seconds before answering. "It’s not really about money."
My brows lift slightly. "That’s unusual for someone in his line of work."
"Yes." Stefano agrees calmly. "Which is part of what makes him difficult."
Sharp lines of shadow cut across his face as he sits back in his chair. He looks relaxed, but there is something deliberate about the way he speaks, as if every sentence is weighed carefully before he allows it out.
"From what I understand," he continues, "Domenico takes jobs because they interest him. Not because he needs them."
"And what exactly interests a man like that?"
Stefano’s gaze settles on me for a moment. "Challenge. Control. The thrill of doing something nobody else can."
A quiet silence stretches between us. I should probably find the entire conversation concerning. Instead, I feel my interest growing stronger with every word.
A man who breached the Keegans’ systems for even a few minutes wasn’t just talented. He was operating on a level most people would never reach.
And for some reason, the idea of convincing someone like that to work with me feels less intimidating than it should.
"There’s a phrase people associate with him." Stefano says eventually.
I look back at him.
"When everyone else fails, they call Domenico."
The words settle heavily in the room. Not dramatic. Not exaggerated. Just cold.
I let out a quiet breath, trying to picture the kind of man people would describe that way.
"And if a job doesn’t interest him?"
"He refuses it."
"That doesn’t sound too terrible."
Stefano’s expression barely changes. "Apparently he dislikes having his time wasted."
Something in his tone makes me narrow my eyes slightly.
"How much does he dislike it?"
Another faint smile. "Enough that people tend to be careful when approaching him."
I hold his gaze for a second longer, understanding exactly what he isn’t saying out loud.
Interesting. Dangerous. Unpredictable. Every description should be pushing me away from this conversation. Instead, it’s pulling me in deeper.
"There still has to be some way to reach him." I say finally.
Stefano stays quiet for a moment before nodding once.
"There is. Occasionally."
I wait.
"He sometimes participates in private auctions."
The words catch me off guard enough that I blink. "Auctions?"
"For contracts." Stefano explains. "Very exclusive ones. Invitation-only circles. Wealthy people, criminal networks, political figures, private organizations…" He pauses slightly. "People bid for his services and people like him."
I stare at him for a second, unsure whether the idea sounds insane or brilliant.
"Does he actually choose the highest bidder?"
"Not always."
That answer somehow feels more dangerous.
Stefano considers his words for a moment before continuing. "Money helps, obviously. But from what I’ve heard, Domenico chooses jobs based on whether they interest him personally. Sometimes he accepts lower offers simply because the challenge appeals to him more."
I glance toward the skyline outside my office windows, my thoughts moving faster now.
A private auction for one of the most elusive operatives. The entire thing sounds unreal. And yet… believable. Men like Domenico probably couldn’t exist openly. Not in normal spaces.
"When is the next auction?" I ask quietly.
"I don’t have the details yet." Stefano replies. "The locations change every time. Dates too. Whoever organizes them prioritizes security above everything else."
Of course they do.
"But I can find out." He continues. "If you decide you’re serious about this."
Part of me knows I should walk away from the idea entirely. Hiring somebody like Domenico Valenti would drag me into a world far more dangerous than the one I already operate in.
But another part of me, the part that built this company from nothing, the part that refuses to back down from impossible situations, is already too curious to let it go.
"If I go to this auction," I say carefully, "what exactly am I walking into?"
Stefano studies me for a moment before answering. "A room full of people dangerous enough to afford him."
A strange thrill moves through me at the thought. Not fear. Anticipation.
"And Domenico?"
Stefano's eyes remain steady on mine. "If you ever meet him, he'll already know who you are long before you know anything about him."
Stefano glances down at his watch before standing smoothly from the chair, straightening the sleeve of his suit with calm precision.
"I should let you get back to work, Ms. Krogen." He says. "I know things have been... demanding lately. Especially with the recent changes in your family’s business."