The Person They Weren't Supposed to Involve
For years, Jonathan Sterling had always warned them about one particular person—someone brilliant, ruthless, and completely unpredictable.
Someone who operated outside the law.
Someone who owed their father a debt—but was never trusted enough to truly be part of the Sterling empire.
That person?
Dante Reyes.
A former business strategist turned underground informant.
A man who knew all the secrets of the corporate world—but didn't follow its rules.
A man who had once worked with their father—but had been forced out for being too reckless.
And now?
He was their only hope.
Step 1: Finding Dante Reyes (Bad Decision-Making Begins)
Dante wasn't the kind of person you found easily.
He wasn't listed in company directories.
He wasn't accessible through normal networks.
And he definitely wasn't the type to casually answer phone calls from clueless rich kids.
Which meant—they had to go looking for him.
And where did Dante Reyes operate?
Underground business circles.
Which led to—yet another terrible decision.
Step 2: Entering the Underground Market (Total Disaster)
In their attempt to track down Dante, the Sterling heirs found themselves in a secret underground business market, where powerful people exchanged information, illegal deals were made, and corporate secrets were bought like products.
It was dangerous.
It was high-stakes.
It was completely out of their depth.
Horrible Decisions That Immediately Happened:
Solene tried to blend in by pretending she was launching a "hidden luxury brand," accidentally attracting the attention of a very serious investor.Zephyr attempted to negotiate with information brokers, but immediately got scammed out of half their remaining money.Caspian, completely misunderstanding the environment, tried ordering coffee from someone who was clearly a high-level arms dealer.
After an hour of embarrassment, they finally found Dante Reyes.
And he was not impressed.
The Moment They Knew They Had No Leverage
Dante Reyes—tall, sharp-eyed, casually dangerous—leaned against the bar, staring at them like they were lost puppies begging for help.
"This is hilarious," he said, smirking. "Jonathan finally kicked you out, huh?"
Zephyr straightened, trying to sound powerful. "We need your help."
Dante laughed, shaking his head. "Of course you do."
Solene crossed her arms. "This isn't a joke."
Dante raised an eyebrow. "Oh, but it is."
Then—he leaned forward, his expression shifting.
"Sterling Enterprises is collapsing. You think you can stop it?"
Zephyr nodded. "We have proof of sabotage."
Dante chuckled. "Cute."
"We need to expose the conspiracy," Zephyr pressed.
Dante held up a finger. "No, no, let's be clear. You need ME to expose it for you."
And suddenly—they realized how bad of a position they were in.
Step 1: The Deal (Which Is Not in Their Favor)
Dante Reyes didn't help for free.
He didn't work out of kindness.
And he definitely didn't owe them anything.
Which meant—if they wanted his assistance, they had to offer something in return.
And unfortunately—the only thing they had?
Their name.
Which meant—they had to gamble with the one thing they couldn't afford to lose.
"If you help us," Zephyr said slowly, "we'll bring you back into the Sterling empire once this is over."
Dante Reyes smirked, eyes glinting with amusement.
"Now that," he murmured, "is interesting."
And just like that—they had made a deal with someone they barely trusted.
And the war for Sterling Enterprises?
Had officially begun.
They were outnumbered, outmatched, completely inexperienced.
But now?
They had an ally who knew how to fight.
And if their father's enemies thought they could take down the empire quietly…
They were about to be very, very wrong.