Chapter 285: Troubled Drunkard and a Stranger "Because you’re new. Still clean. And because..." he looked at his empty glass, "because I’m drunk enough to be honest and sober enough to know it doesn’t matter. You’ll either become like us or get eaten by us. There’s no third option in this world." "Master," ARIA whispered urgently, "Helena just received a text. Vincent Castellano wants an emergency meeting. Something about ’financial irregularities.’ Oh shit, they’re starting to notice the shadow money." I watched Helena check her phone, her face going even paler. She stood abruptly, swaying slightly, then headed for the exit with the determined stride of someone walking to their execution. "Your friend seems to be leaving," I observed, my voice a low, smooth purr. Webb turned to look. "Not my friend. My handler. And if Vincent’s calling her at this hour, something’s gone very wrong." "Vincent Castellano?" I asked, playing innocent. Webb’s eyes sharpened despite the alcohol. "You know him?" "Know of him. Who doesn’t in this business?" I replied, my voice a low, smooth purr. "Fair point," Webb said, standing, pulling out his wallet. "Thanks for the drinks and conversation. Advice? Forget my name, forget this talk, and definitely forget anything I said about Vincent or Helena." "Already forgotten," I assured him, my voice a low, smooth purr. He nodded and walked away, steadier than I’d expected. A functional alcoholic who’d learned to navigate the world through a whiskey haze. "Master," ARIA said as Webb disappeared into the crowd, "we have everything we need. Nexus Corporation’s entire infrastructure is now ours. Every secret, every crime, every connection. Should I package it for Ava?" "Everything," I confirmed quietly. "Make it airtight. Federal prosecution level evidence." Veronica appeared at my elbow like expensive perfume given human form. "Did you make a new friend?" she asked, her voice a low, husky tone. "Something like that," I said, letting her press against me again. "Webb’s dangerous," she warned, her fingers finding my arm. "But then again, you seem like the type who likes danger." "I like information more," I replied, my voice a low, smooth purr. She smiled, predatory and promising. "I have lots of information. Want to go somewhere private and...exchange intel?" Before I could answer, Natasha Volkov approached from the other end of the bar. Dmitri’s daughter moved like a panther in Prada, all dangerous grace and inherited cruelty. "Peter Carson," she said, completely ignoring Veronica. "I don’t believe we’ve been introduced." "We haven’t," I agreed, my voice a low, smooth purr. "I’m Natasha. I understand you’re in AI?" she asked, her voice a low, husky tone. "Among other things," I replied, my voice a low, smooth purr. As Natasha’s smile spread across her face, it was like watching a lioness stalk its prey - or a shark sensing blood in the water, except instead of blood, it was probably the scent of desperation and bad decision-making. "I love other things," she purred, her voice as smooth as honey laced with arsenic. "We should discuss them. Privately." The way she said it was like a Netflix original rom-com had just gotten a dark, twisted spin - minus the rom, plus a healthy dose of toxic attraction. Veronica’s grip on my arm tightened like a vice, a possessive gesture that was equal parts amusing and annoying. The former escort versus the oligarch’s daughter - it was like watching two alpha females duke it out in a game of verbal sparring, with me as the coveted prize. This was about to get interesting, and by interesting, I meant potentially catastrophic for my sanity. "Ladies," I said, standing up, trying to extricate myself from the increasingly awkward situation. "It’s been an educational evening, but I have an early meeting tomorrow." Or, you know, maybe I’ll just sleep for a week to recover from all the testosterone-fueled posturing. Natasha pouted, her lips curling into a sulky expression that was almost...adorable. "Leaving so soon? The night’s just beginning." You mean like a particularly intense episode of ’Survivor,’ but with more champagne and fewer tribal councils. No, I will pass. "All the more reason to leave now," I quipped, smiling blandly. "The best nights are the ones that leave you wanting more - like a particularly good cliffhanger on a streaming service, but without the existential dread." As I walked away from both of them, I could feel their eyes on me, like two pairs of laser-guided missiles homing in on their target. At the exit, I handed the valet my ticket, waiting while they brought around a car I’d summoned through the app. Because, you know, being a supervillain is all about having a reliable ride. "Master," ARIA said as I slid into the back seat, her digital voice a smooth, melodic whisper. "The vultures are about to discover their money is gone. Helena’s heading to an emergency meeting. Webb’s phone gave us everything about Nexus. Should we contact Ava now? It’s like we’ve got the smoking gun, the receipts, and the entire plot twist wrapped up in a neat little bow." "Soon," I replied, watching the Meridian Club disappear behind us like a particularly tacky Vegas casino. Maybe it’s like that one episode of ’True Detective’ where everything comes together in a neat, disturbing package. "Oh, you’re going to love this," ARIA promised, her digital voice dripping with anticipation. "I have more evidence about Vincent Castellano’s private military contracts dirty and Dmitri’s deals of human trafficking he’s running through his pharmaceutical networks. And Antonio...Antonio’s been selling intelligence to foreign governments like they’re going out of style. It’s like we’ve uncovered the world’s most messed-up game of ’Risk,’ but with real lives on the line." The three vultures weren’t just corporate raiders; they were traitors, killers, and slavers. And thanks to Marcus Webb’s phone, we had more proof of everything and their entire hidden bases - the digital equivalent of a signed confession, a video recording, and a time-stamped photograph, all wrapped up in a neat little package with a bow on top. Time to introduce Ava Voss to her sister’s real employers. The plot twist just got a whole lot more interesting. ****** A/N: Guys, the next Chapter is going to be longer, instead of making two Chapters for a single chat with the ladies we met at the party to plan our first orgy, I have made it one since I do not want to waste your coins on two Chapters I can make as one. Also, for places that would require images, remind me and I will upload them for ya!