Episode 3: Power Play

The Singapore trip came faster than Alex anticipated. Sunday evening found him at the international terminal, passport in hand as he navigated through security. He'd spent the weekend preparing, researching Singapore's business culture and regulatory environment while trying to ignore Victoria's increasingly explicit texts.

His phone buzzed as he reached the gate. Another message from Victoria:

*"Have fun in Singapore with my stepdaughter. Remember who you'll answer to when you return. Send me something naughty from your hotel room. -V"*

Alex deleted the message without responding, a practice he'd adopted over the past week. Victoria's pursuit had only intensified with his silence, but engaging would only encourage her further.

"Ignoring her won't make her stop."

Alex looked up to find Sophia standing beside him, carry-on bag in hand. She wore dark jeans and a simple white blouse, her hair pulled back in a loose bun. Even in casual clothes, she carried herself with the same quiet confidence that had first caught his attention.

"How do you always know?" he asked, pocketing his phone.

"Victoria's been using the same tactics for years." Sophia handed him a coffee. "Black, no sugar."

"Thank you." Their fingers brushed during the exchange, and Alex felt that now-familiar current between them. "How was your weekend?"

"Eventful. My father hosted James Harrison at the estate." Her tone was carefully neutral, but Alex detected the tension beneath.

"How did that go?"

"As expected. James talked business with my father while his mother discussed wedding venues with Victoria." Sophia's expression remained composed, but her knuckles whitened around her coffee cup. "Apparently, I'm getting married in June."

"That's... soon."

"Convenient timing for the European merger." She took a sip of her coffee. "But we're not here to discuss my personal life. Did you review the Singapore regulatory briefing I sent?"

The abrupt shift to business was deliberate, a clear signal that her impending marriage was not up for discussion. Alex respected the boundary, though he couldn't ignore the unexpected disappointment he felt at the confirmation of her engagement.

"Yes, thoroughly. I have some concerns about the intellectual property protections in the proposed joint venture structure."

They spent the remainder of their wait discussing business, the personal moment passed but not forgotten. When boarding was announced, they joined the business class line, standing close enough that their shoulders occasionally brushed.

On the plane, their seats were as Sophia had arranged—adjacent but separated by the business class configuration. As they settled in, Alex noticed her methodical organization, the way she arranged her workspace with practiced efficiency.

"Fourteen-hour flight," he commented. "Planning to work the whole time?"

"Most of it." She glanced at him. "You?"

"I thought I might actually sleep. Novel concept, I know."

A hint of a smile touched her lips. "Sleep is overrated in the Maxwell world."

"Your father's philosophy?"

"His exact words are 'Sleep is a luxury for those who've already succeeded.'" She pulled out her laptop. "He sleeps four hours a night and expects the same from his executives."

"And from his daughter?"

"Especially from his daughter." There was no self-pity in her voice, just matter-of-fact acceptance of the expectations that had shaped her life.

As the flight progressed, Alex managed a few hours of sleep before waking to find Sophia still working, the blue light of her laptop illuminating her face in the darkened cabin. Most passengers were asleep, the cabin quiet except for the hum of the engines.

"Don't you ever rest?" he asked softly.

She looked up, surprised to find him awake. "I could ask you the same."

"I did sleep. You, apparently, didn't."

Sophia closed her laptop, the cabin plunging into deeper darkness. "I'm reviewing the financial discrepancies I found. They're more extensive than I initially thought."

Alex shifted in his seat to face her better. "What have you found?"

She hesitated, then moved to the empty seat beside him, bringing her tablet. Their shoulders pressed together as she showed him the spreadsheets, her voice low to avoid being overheard.

"These are the official reports submitted to the board," she explained, swiping to the first document. "And these are the internal numbers I found on the secure server."

Alex studied the figures, the discrepancies obvious now that they were side by side. "They've inflated the European division's performance by nearly thirty percent."

"Yes. And it's been happening for at least three quarters." Sophia's face was close to his, her expression grave. "This isn't an accounting error, Alex. It's deliberate fraud."

The implications hung between them. If Maxwell Industries was falsifying financial reports to its board and shareholders, the company—and its executives—could face serious legal consequences.

"Have you confronted your father?" Alex asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Not yet. I needed to be certain first." She met his gaze, her dark eyes troubled. "And I needed someone I could trust."

The admission surprised him. "You trust me? We've only known each other a week."

"I'm a good judge of character." Her voice softened. "And you've already proven yourself by resisting Victoria. That puts you in a very exclusive club."

There was something in her tone—a vulnerability beneath the professional exterior—that made Alex want to reach for her hand. He resisted the impulse, aware of the boundaries between them.

"What do you want to do about this?" he asked instead.

"I don't know yet. If my father is behind this..." She didn't finish the thought, but she didn't need to. If Richard Maxwell was deliberately defrauding his board and shareholders, his own daughter would be faced with an impossible choice between family loyalty and legal obligation.

"We need more information," Alex said. "Let's focus on Singapore for now, and when we return, we can dig deeper into the European financials."

Sophia nodded, relief evident in her expression. "Thank you, Alex."

"For what?"

"For not immediately running to my father. For listening." She hesitated, then added softly, "For being someone I can trust."

In the dim light of the cabin, with most passengers asleep around them, the moment felt intimate in a way that transcended physical proximity. Alex was acutely aware of her beside him—the subtle floral scent of her perfume, the warmth of her shoulder against his, the vulnerability in her eyes that she rarely allowed anyone to see.

"We should try to get some sleep," Sophia said finally, breaking the moment. "We land in four hours."

She returned to her seat, leaving Alex with the lingering warmth of her presence and the weight of her trust. As he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but think that he was crossing a line—not just professionally, but personally. Richard's warning about Sophia echoed in his mind, yet he found himself drawn to her in a way that had nothing to do with Maxwell Industries and everything to do with the woman herself.

---

Singapore greeted them with oppressive humidity and efficient professionalism. A driver met them at the airport, whisking them to the Fullerton Bay Hotel where Maxwell Industries maintained a corporate suite. The luxury accommodations occupied the top floor, with two master bedrooms flanking a shared living and dining area.

"Home for the next three days," Sophia said as they entered the suite. "The legal team will meet us here in two hours. I thought you might want to freshen up first."

Alex nodded, grateful for the chance to shower and change after the long flight. "Perfect. Thank you."

They retreated to their respective rooms, and Alex took the opportunity to shower and change into a fresh suit. When he emerged, he found Sophia in the living area, already dressed in a tailored navy suit, her hair swept into an elegant updo that emphasized her graceful neck.

"You clean up well," she commented with a small smile.

"As do you," he replied, noting how the tailored suit accentuated her slender figure while maintaining professional authority.

Before they could continue their conversation, there was a knock at the door. Sophia answered it to reveal a team of four lawyers from Maxwell Industries' Singapore office, all impeccably dressed and carrying leather portfolios.

For the next three hours, they discussed the regulatory challenges of the Asian expansion, with Sophia leading the legal strategy while Alex focused on the business implications. The Singapore team was impressed by their preparation and alignment, commenting more than once on how seamlessly they worked together.

When the meeting concluded, the sun was setting over Marina Bay, casting golden light through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the suite. Sophia saw the legal team out, then returned to find Alex standing by the window, admiring the view.

"Productive meeting," he said as she joined him.

"Very. We're ahead of schedule." She stood beside him, close enough that their arms almost touched. "We should celebrate."

Alex glanced at her, surprised by the suggestion. "What did you have in mind?"

"Singapore has some of the best restaurants in Asia. I know a place with an excellent view and even better food." She hesitated, then added, "Unless you're too tired?"

"Not at all." The prospect of dinner with Sophia, away from the office and Victoria's watchful eyes, was too appealing to pass up. "Lead the way."

An hour later, they were seated at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city skyline, the Marina Bay Sands visible in the distance, its distinctive silhouette illuminated against the night sky. Sophia had changed into a simple black dress that managed to be both elegant and understated, while Alex had opted for a more casual look—dark slacks and a light blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

"This is incredible," Alex said, taking in the panoramic view as their waiter poured wine.

"One of my favorite places in Singapore." Sophia took a sip of her wine. "I discovered it during my first business trip here. I was twenty-two, fresh out of law school, and terrified of disappointing my father."

"I find that hard to believe. You're the most confident person I know."

She laughed softly. "Now, perhaps. Then, I was just Richard Maxwell's daughter, trying desperately to prove I deserved my position."

"And now?"

"Now I know I've earned my place." She met his gaze over her wine glass. "Just as you have."

The compliment warmed him. "High praise from someone who doesn't believe in false modesty."

"I don't believe in false anything." Her eyes held his. "Life's too short for pretense."

There was something in her tone—a subtle shift from professional to personal—that made Alex's pulse quicken. Before he could respond, his phone buzzed with an incoming text. He glanced at it reflexively, then frowned.

"Victoria?" Sophia asked, noting his expression.

"Yes." He turned the phone face down without responding. "She's persistent."

"What does she want?"

Alex hesitated, uncomfortable discussing Victoria's explicit messages. "The usual. Attention. Validation."

"Sex," Sophia added bluntly. "You can say it. I'm well aware of my stepmother's appetites."

The directness of her statement caught him off guard. "Yes, that too."

Sophia studied him for a moment. "You're different from her usual targets. They typically fall over themselves responding to her advances."

"I'm not interested in being anyone's conquest." Alex took a sip of his wine. "Especially not when it could jeopardize my career."

"Is that the only reason? Professional self-preservation?"

The question hung between them, loaded with unspoken implications. Alex considered his answer carefully.

"No," he said finally. "It's not just that."

Sophia waited, her dark eyes intent on his face.

"I'm not attracted to her type," he continued. "The obvious seduction, the game-playing. I prefer..." He paused, aware he was approaching dangerous territory.

"What do you prefer, Alex?" Her voice was soft, almost intimate.

"Substance. Intelligence. Someone who challenges me intellectually as well as..." He stopped, realizing how personal the conversation had become.

"As well as physically?" Sophia finished for him, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

The air between them seemed charged with possibility. Before Alex could respond, their waiter arrived with their first course, breaking the moment.

They ate and talked, the conversation flowing naturally from business to books to travel experiences. Sophia was different outside of the office—still intelligent and direct, but with a warmth and humor that her professional persona kept carefully hidden. Alex found himself increasingly drawn to this side of her, the woman behind the corporate lawyer.

As they finished their main course, Sophia's phone rang. She glanced at it, her expression darkening. "It's my father."

She answered, her tone immediately shifting to professional. "Yes, Father... The meeting went well... Yes, Alex is here..." She listened for a moment, then held out the phone. "He wants to speak with you."

Alex took the phone, conscious of Sophia watching him. "Richard, hello."

"Alex." Richard's voice was crisp and businesslike. "How did the regulatory meeting go?"

"Very well. Your Singapore legal team is excellent, and Sophia's preparation was impeccable. We're ahead of schedule."

"Good, good." There was a pause, then Richard's tone shifted slightly. "I understand you and my daughter are having dinner."

The comment wasn't a question, and Alex felt a chill at the implication that Richard was monitoring their activities. "Yes, we're discussing tomorrow's strategy."

"Of course." Richard's tone made it clear he didn't believe that was all they were discussing. "Remember our conversation, Alex. Sophia's future is set. Don't complicate things."

"I understand, sir."

"Do you?" Richard's voice hardened. "Because Victoria seems to think otherwise. She tells me you two have been... close."

Alex's grip tightened on the phone. Victoria was deliberately misrepresenting his relationship with Sophia to Richard—a dangerous game that could threaten both his career and the Asian expansion.

"Victoria is mistaken," Alex said carefully. "Sophia and I have a professional relationship. We're focused on making the Asian expansion successful."

"See that it stays that way." Richard's tone left no room for argument. "I'd hate to reconsider your position on this project."

The threat was clear. "Understood, sir."

"Good. Put Sophia back on."

Alex handed the phone back to Sophia, who took it with a questioning look. As she listened to her father, her expression hardened, a muscle working in her jaw. Finally, she said, "Yes, Father. Understood. Goodnight."

She ended the call and set the phone down with deliberate care. "I apologize for my father's... concern."

"What did he say to you?" Alex asked.

Sophia took a long sip of her wine before answering. "He reminded me of my obligations to the family and the company. And of my engagement to James."

The mention of her engagement sent an unexpected pang through Alex. "I see."

"Do you?" She met his gaze directly. "Because I'm beginning to question those obligations myself."

The admission hung between them, fraught with implications. Before Alex could respond, Sophia's phone buzzed with a text. She glanced at it, her expression unreadable.

"Victoria?" Alex guessed.

"No. James." Sophia set the phone aside without responding. "Apparently, he and my father have been discussing the merger details all day. Now he wants to 'touch base' with his fiancée."

There was a bitterness in her tone that Alex hadn't heard before. "You don't sound enthusiastic about the marriage."

"It's a business arrangement, not a love match." She finished her wine in one swallow. "James understands that. He has his own... diversions."

"And you're okay with that?"

"I've never had the luxury of choosing based on personal preference." Her eyes met his. "Until now, perhaps."

The implication was unmistakable. Alex felt his pulse quicken, aware they were venturing into dangerous territory. "Sophia..."

"Don't." She held up a hand. "Don't say what you're about to say. Don't remind me of my obligations or my father's expectations or the professional boundaries between us." Her voice softened. "For once, I'd like to do something because I want to, not because it's expected of me."

The vulnerability in her admission touched something in Alex. Before he could respond, she stood. "Let's get out of here."

They walked along the waterfront after dinner, the night air warm and heavy with humidity. Neither spoke for several minutes, the tension of their dinner conversation lingering between them.

Finally, Sophia broke the silence. "I've never told anyone about my doubts before. About the marriage, about my father's plans for me."

"Why me?" Alex asked.

She stopped walking, turning to face him. "Because you see me, Alex. Not as Richard Maxwell's daughter or the future Mrs. James Harrison. You see me."

The sincerity in her voice moved him. Without thinking, he reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. His hand lingered, cupping her cheek. Sophia leaned into his touch, her eyes closing briefly.

"This is dangerous," he murmured, even as he stepped closer.

"I know." She looked up at him, her dark eyes reflecting the city lights. "I don't care."

The moment stretched between them, taut with possibility. Alex knew he should step back, maintain the professional distance that his position—and her engagement—demanded. Instead, he found himself leaning forward, drawn by a pull that defied logic or self-preservation.

Their lips met in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened, years of restraint giving way to sudden, overwhelming desire. Sophia's arms wound around his neck as she pressed against him, her body soft and yielding in contrast to her usual controlled demeanor. Alex's hands found her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss intensified, the taste of wine on her lips intoxicating him further.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, reality came crashing back. They were in public, in Singapore on company business, and they had just crossed a line that could not be uncrossed.

"We should get back to the hotel," Sophia said, her voice husky.

The walk back was charged with unspoken tension, their hands occasionally brushing but neither daring to take hold. In the elevator of their hotel, they stood close enough to feel the heat of each other's bodies, yet not touching, both acutely aware of the hotel cameras.

When they reached the suite, Sophia unlocked the door with a keycard, her hands slightly unsteady. Inside, the spacious living area was dimly lit, the city skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

They stood facing each other in the semi-darkness, the air between them electric with possibility and danger.

"This is a bad idea," Alex said, even as he stepped closer to her.

"Probably the worst," Sophia agreed, her hands already reaching for him.

Their second kiss was hungrier than the first, months of suppressed attraction exploding into urgent need. Alex backed her against the wall, his hands tangling in her hair as her fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt. The rational part of his mind screamed warnings—about Richard, about Victoria, about his career—but those concerns faded beneath the overwhelming desire for the woman in his arms.

Sophia broke the kiss, her breathing ragged. "My room," she whispered against his lips. "Now."

They moved through the suite, unwilling to break contact, shedding clothing as they went. By the time they reached her bedroom, Alex's shirt was open, and Sophia's dress was unzipped, revealing the black lace beneath. She pulled him inside, closing the door behind them with a decisive click.

In the privacy of her room, illuminated only by the city lights filtering through the windows, they gave in to the attraction that had been building since their first meeting. Alex's hands explored the curves of her body as she pushed his shirt from his shoulders, her touch leaving trails of fire on his skin.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, giving her one last chance to step back from the precipice.

Sophia's answer was to reach behind her and unzip her dress fully, letting it pool at her feet. She stood before him in black lace lingerie, her body a study in elegant curves and soft skin. "I've never been more sure of anything."

Alex pulled her to him, his mouth finding hers in a kiss that communicated everything words couldn't—desire, need, and something deeper that neither was ready to name. They fell onto the bed together, hands exploring, mouths tasting, bodies pressing closer as if trying to eliminate any space between them.

When he finally entered her, Sophia gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders. They moved together in perfect rhythm, as in sync in this as they were in their professional collaboration. Alex watched her face as pleasure overtook her, memorizing every expression, every sound she made.

Afterward, they lay tangled together, the reality of what they'd done settling over them like a shadow. Sophia traced patterns on his chest, her expression thoughtful.

"My father will destroy you if he finds out," she said softly.

"I know." Alex kissed her forehead. "Do you regret it?"

She looked up at him, her dark eyes serious. "No. Do you?"

"Not for a second." He pulled her closer. "But we need to be careful."

"Victoria already suspects. That's why she's been feeding my father information." Sophia's voice hardened. "She doesn't want me to be happy."

"Why does she hate you so much?"

Sophia was quiet for a moment. "Because I'm a reminder that she wasn't my father's first choice. And because I know her secrets."

"What secrets?"

Before she could answer, both their phones buzzed simultaneously. They exchanged a look of alarm before reaching for their devices.

Alex's screen showed a text from Richard: *"Video conference in 30 minutes. Both of you. Urgent development with the European division."*

Sophia's expression was grim as she showed him her screen—an identical message. "He never calls this late unless something's wrong."

They dressed quickly, the afterglow of their lovemaking replaced by professional concern. As Sophia fastened her dress, Alex came up behind her, helping with the zipper.

"Whatever happens," he said quietly, "I don't regret tonight."

She turned in his arms, her expression vulnerable in a way he'd never seen before. "Neither do I. But Alex... be careful with my father. He doesn't respond well to challenges to his authority."

"Is that what I am? A challenge?"

"You're becoming the most dangerous kind." She touched his face gently. "Someone I care about."

The admission hung between them as they finished dressing and moved to the living area to set up the video conference. As the call connected, Richard's face appeared on the screen, his expression thunderous.

"We have a problem," he said without preamble. "The SEC is investigating our European financial reports. Someone leaked information."

Sophia's hand found Alex's beneath the table, their fingers intertwining out of the camera's view. "What information?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hand.

"The same discrepancies you found," Richard replied, his gaze boring into his daughter. "The question is, who gave them to the SEC?"

His accusatory tone made it clear he had suspicions. Alex felt Sophia's grip tighten on his hand as the implications became clear—Richard believed one of them had betrayed him.

"I need you both back in New York. Tomorrow." Richard's voice was cold. "We have a leak to find and plug. Permanently."

As the call ended, Alex and Sophia sat in stunned silence, their newfound intimacy now complicated by professional crisis and Richard's suspicions. The night that had begun with passion now ended with the looming threat of Richard Maxwell's wrath—and the knowledge that their secret relationship had just become infinitely more dangerous.

"He knows," Sophia whispered, her face pale in the dim light. "Or at least, he suspects."

"About us? Or about the financial discrepancies?"

"Both, possibly." She stood, pacing the room. "Someone leaked those reports to the SEC, and my father thinks it was one of us."

"Was it?" Alex asked carefully.

Sophia stopped pacing, turning to face him. "No. But I was considering it." Her expression was torn between professional duty and personal loyalty. "Those falsified reports are illegal, Alex. People could go to prison—including my father."

The reality of their situation hit Alex with full force. He was sleeping with the daughter of his boss—a boss who might be engaged in corporate fraud, who was now suspicious of them both, and who had explicitly warned Alex to stay away from Sophia.

"What do we do now?" he asked.

Sophia came to him, taking his hands in hers. "We go back to New York. We face my father. And we decide where our loyalties lie." She searched his face. "The question is, where do yours lie, Alex? With Maxwell Industries? With your career? Or with me?"

It was a question Alex wasn't prepared to answer—a choice he wasn't ready to make. But as he pulled Sophia into his arms, feeling her heart beat against his chest, he knew that whatever he decided would change everything.

"We'll figure it out together," he promised, even as doubt clouded his mind. Could they really stand against Richard Maxwell and survive? Or was their relationship doomed before it had truly begun?

As they held each other in the darkened suite, thousands of miles from home, the weight of their choices hung over them like a storm cloud. The power play had begun, and they were both pawns in a game where Richard Maxwell made the rules—and broke anyone who dared to challenge them.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***