Chapter 257

“What’s going on?” Isabella’s brow furrowed. Why were her people so jumpy lately?

Maxwell blurted out, “You won’t believe who Victoria slept with! It was Harrison—Alexander’s personal assistant!”

Isabella’s eyes narrowed. Harrison?

Now that was interesting. She had sent the message to Alexander, but he sent his assistant instead?

And Victoria wanted Nathaniel, but ended up with Harrison?

Maxwell asked, “Should we leak this? Or let Alexander handle it himself?” If this got out, Victoria’s reputation would be ruined.

“No. We watch. Where’s the fun in ending her too quickly?” A cold smile touched her lips, beautiful and dangerous.

A thought struck her. She glanced toward Nathaniel’s room and stepped back into her own. Closing the door, she asked, “What about the task I gave you earlier?”

“I looked into the Blackthorn Syndicate immediately. They’ve had a strong underground presence in Westchester for over a century. Their profits come from assassinations, mercenary work, and similar operations. They use low-level thugs for collections and fights. Essentially, they’re task-for-hire. My findings confirm Victoria had contact with them five years ago,” Maxwell reported.

Isabella’s expression darkened. Knowing it was the Blackthorns simplified things.

But Maxwell wasn’t finished. “They have roughly ten thousand members in Westchester. Causing them trouble is one thing, but capturing every single member is impossible. Most are rarely at their main base.”

Isabella frowned. Without a full capture, a complete investigation was off the table. They didn’t even know which branch Victoria had dealt with.

Maxwell added, “If you want everyone, Boss, we must strike during their annual gathering. That happens at year’s end.”

The Syndicate’s annual dinner was at the end of the year. It was only June. A plan began to form in her mind.

“Understood. I’ll handle the arrangements. Stand down for now and await my orders.” She ended the call and gazed out the window, deep in thought.

She had a mission tonight. Since they’d identified the Blackthorns, she might as well pay their base a visit later.

Meanwhile…

Victoria awoke filled with anticipation, only to find Harrison lying beside her.

“Ahhh!” A piercing scream tore from her throat. She bolted upright, clutching the sheets to her chest.

Harrison jolted awake. Taking in the scene, his eyes widened in horror.

What had happened? Alexander had sent him to fetch Victoria. How did he end up in bed with her? She was his boss’s woman!

“Why are you here?!” Victoria snarled, her voice tight with rage. “When did you get here? What did you do?!”

“Ms. Kensington, I’m sorry! I… I don’t know what happened! Mr. Whitmore sent me to get you. I came into the room and then…” He trailed off, too terrified to continue.

Victoria’s fists clenched. Was it the perfume? Had Harrison come in and been affected by its scent? She could have sworn it was Nathaniel!

The perfume’s label mentioned hallucinations, including mistaking one person for another. Had she been under its influence, thinking he was Nathaniel?

That meant Nathaniel never came. It was Harrison all along. She had slept with an assistant!

Seeing the murderous look in her eyes, Harrison scrambled off the bed and dropped to his knees, begging.