Ava barely slept that night.

  She had spent hours combing through the details of Josh’s scandal, trying to separate fact from fiction. The media frenzy was relentless, each new article painting a more damning picture. But something felt off. The way the story had broken, the way it had escalated so quickly—it wasn’t just a reckless night gone wrong. Someone wanted Josh ruined.

  And then there was the note.

  Win this one for me.

  Her father’s handwriting. Or at least, it looked like it. It had arrived anonymously in the mail, slipped into a plain envelope with no return address. The more she thought about it, the more it nagged at her. What was it doing there? Was it a coincidence, or was it connected to something much bigger?

  By morning, she had two priorities: damage control for Josh and answers about the note.

  When she arrived at Josh’s penthouse, Marco was already there, looking exhausted. Josh sat on the couch, head in his hands, tension radiating off him in waves. The moment he saw her, he scoffed.

  "Finally decided to show up?" His voice was hoarse, either from stress or the amount of whiskey she saw on the table beside him.

  Ava ignored his attitude. "Who did this to you?"

  Josh gave a hollow laugh. "I did this to myself, remember? That’s what you said."

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  "Josh, I need you to be serious. This isn’t just about a scandal. Someone orchestrated this. Who have you pissed off lately?"

  "Take your pick." He leaned back, rubbing his temples. "Investors, competitors, women—hell, even some of my so-called friends. But this? This feels personal."

  Ava’s fingers tightened around her phone. Personal. Just like the note.

  She sat down, exhaling. "Tell me everything from the beginning. Every detail."

  Josh hesitated but then relented, recounting the night of the so-called "yacht orgy." It had started as a business meeting—an exclusive, high-profile gathering. Drinks were involved, yes, but he swore he had control. And then… things got hazy. Too hazy.

  "I think I was drugged," he admitted quietly. "I remember flashes. Laughter. Cameras. Someone whispering something in my ear. But I don’t remember losing control like that."

  Ava’s jaw clenched. "Who was there?"

  "A lot of people. But one stands out—Richard Calloway."

  The name sent a chill down her spine. Calloway was a cutthroat businessman with a reputation for making problems disappear. If he had something to gain from Josh’s downfall, that meant this was bigger than just a smear campaign.

  And then it clicked. Calloway had ties to Cole Industries.

  Ethan’s case. The note. Her father. Josh’s scandal.

  They weren’t separate.

  She stood abruptly. "I need to make a call."

  Josh frowned. "Ava—"

  "Just sit tight and stay off the radar. No interviews, no statements. Let me handle this."

  She stepped onto the balcony, dialing Ethan’s number. He answered on the first ring.

  "Ava?"

  She took a breath. "I need to know everything you know about Richard Calloway."

  There was a pause. Then Ethan’s voice dropped to something unreadable. "What happened?"

  Ava gripped the railing, the pieces of the puzzle starting to align in ways she didn’t like. "I think he’s the reason behind my brother’s scandal. And I think this goes deeper than either of us realized."

  For the first time, she heard something in Ethan’s voice that she hadn’t before.

  Concern.

  "Come to my office," he said. "Now."

  Ava had a sinking feeling that whatever she was about to uncover…

  It was only the beginning.