Volume 8: The Shadow War Escalates
Synopsis: Jack's position on Wall Street grows more stable, but his battle against the remnants of Richard's empire intensifies. A silent war unfolds in both the open and the shadows—and Jack faces greater challenges and dangers than ever before.
Chapter 7: The Traitor Revealed
The air inside Jack's office felt heavy, almost frozen. Beyond the thick floor-to-ceiling windows, Manhattan's night skyline stretched out like a meticulously painted oil masterpiece—beautiful, yet cold and distant. His fingers clicked rapidly over the mouse, eyes locked onto the screen filled with rows upon rows of financial data.
Alpine Capital… Black Wolf… Mercenaries… Damn it! He muttered under his breath, barely audible, his voice laced with frustration. What had seemed like a brief moment of calm just weeks ago now felt like nothing more than the eerie silence before a storm—one packed with deadly consequences.
Kevin stood behind him, arms crossed, brow furrowed. "Emily Greene is moving faster than we expected. Viktor and his Black Wolf mercenaries are ruthless. They don't play games."
Jack swiveled his chair around, his gaze sharp as a blade. "We have one goal—stop them. Do they want my shares? My company? Or…" he paused, voice low and dangerous, "…my life?"
Kevin shook his head. "That's what worries me most. Their intentions aren't clear. Without knowing their next move, we can't defend ourselves."
"Then we find out," Jack said firmly, fire burning in his eyes. "If Emily has gone as far as hiring Black Wolf, this isn't about intimidation. She wants to destroy me—completely."
"I've already increased security for you and your family," Kevin added, then hesitated. "But there's something else we might be missing. For Black Wolf to act so precisely, they must have inside intel. How do they know your schedule? Your security protocols?"
Jack's expression turned icy. Kevin was right. Without internal assistance, even the most skilled mercenaries couldn't launch such an accurate strike in a city as tightly guarded as New York.
"Pull up all employee surveillance footage," Jack ordered, his tone colder than steel. "I want every frame reviewed. No suspicious movement goes unnoticed."
Time ticked by in silence, broken only by the soft hum of computer fans and Jack's occasional mutterings. The screen flickered with fast-moving images—like a hypnotic rhythm that could easily dull the senses. But Jack remained alert. Beneath the surface, danger lurked like a venomous snake.
Suddenly, something caught his eye.
It was footage from three days ago, just after 3:00 AM. On the screen, Emily Carter—assistant in the finance department—sneaked into John Smith's office. She moved with unsettling familiarity, avoiding every blind spot in the surveillance system. Her movements were swift, deliberate.
Though the scene lasted only a few minutes, her actions were deeply unsettling. She appeared to be searching for something—before finally copying a file from John's computer and slipping away.
"Emily Carter… why would she sneak into John Smith's office at three in the morning?" Jack narrowed his eyes, a chill crawling down his spine.
"Run a full background check on Emily Carter," he instructed Kevin.
Kevin left without hesitation. Jack kept replaying the footage, studying every detail of Emily's movements. Her caution, her secrecy—it all felt wrong.
Within the hour, Kevin returned with the report.
"Emily Carter claims to come from a regular working-class family. But we dug deeper," Kevin began, his tone grim. "Her father was Richard Greene's personal attorney—handling all overseas assets for the Greene family."
Jack's face darkened instantly. Just as he feared—Emily Greene had embedded a spy deep within his inner circle.
"She's been watching me this whole time!" Jack slammed his fist onto the desk, rage boiling beneath the surface.
"What about John Smith? Did he know?" Jack asked.
Kevin shook his head. "No red flags in John's background so far. He's been loyal to you, and recently helped secure a major investment deal for the company."
Jack let out a bitter laugh. "Loyal? That could all be part of the act. Find them both. Now. And be careful—they might already know we're onto them."
Kevin nodded and immediately set the operation in motion.
But hours later, he returned with devastating news.
"Emily Carter is gone," Kevin said, frustration evident in his voice. "We found large sums of cash and forged passports in her apartment. She was ready to vanish."
Jack's stomach dropped. "And John Smith?"
Kevin hesitated, his face growing darker. "We found his body in his office."
A wave of shock crashed over Jack. His heart clenched, pain spreading through his chest like wildfire.
"How did he die?" Jack's voice trembled.
"Gunshot to the head. Instant death," Kevin replied solemnly.
Jack closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He had assumed John was merely manipulated by Emily Carter—but now, the truth was far more complex.
"Any clues at the scene?" Jack asked, struggling to keep his composure.
Kevin shook his head. "Cleaned up thoroughly. No fingerprints. No trace. Whoever did this was a professional."
Anger and grief surged inside Jack. John's death wasn't just a loss—it was a warning. Emily Greene was willing to kill to achieve her goals.
"Keep this quiet," Jack ordered, his voice drained but firm. "Don't release the news about John's death. Increase protection for my family, friends—and especially Isabella. I suspect she may be next on their list."
"Understood," Kevin replied.
Uncovering the traitor brought no relief. Instead, it made Jack feel even more vulnerable. He knew now—Emily Greene had launched a full-scale attack. He needed to find a way to strike back, or risk losing everything.
He walked to the window, staring at the gray sky above New York, emotions churning inside him. Once a Wall Street elite, admired for wealth and success—he now stood on the edge of ruin, facing an enemy who would stop at nothing.
He clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes. He wouldn't fall. He wouldn't surrender. He would protect those he loved—and win this war.
Just then, his phone rang. An unfamiliar number lit up the screen.
Jack answered, voice sharp. "Who is this?"
A cold, raspy voice responded. "Jack Chen, you think you're clever. But you've crossed the wrong people. If you want to survive, stay out of our way. Otherwise…"
The line went dead.
Jack stared at the phone, fury twisting his features. He knew exactly who had sent that message—Emily Greene's men.
"Kevin, trace that number," he commanded.
Within minutes, Kevin had the result.
"It's registered in Romania," he said. "Likely linked to Viktor and Black Wolf."
Jack's jaw tightened. Emily was done waiting. She wanted him eliminated—now.
"It seems the shadow war has reached its boiling point," Jack murmured, eyes narrowing. "Let's see who comes out on top."