Chapter 2 An Interesting Game

The Rolls-Royce drove into the underground parking area of the Central Business District.

Once the car came to a stop, the driver stepped out and guided Alexia toward a private elevator reserved for direct access to the CEO's office.

Up on the highest floor, a man dressed in a tailored black suit stood before a wide glass window, watching the flow of traffic far below.

A soft knock sounded at the office door before the secretary spoke. "Mr. Campbell, Miss White is here."

At that, he turned around without rushing.

The moment Alexia saw his face, a quiet gasp slipped out.

This was the first time she had ever stood face to face with Ethan Campbell, the man everyone had been talking about in the business world.

The polished image shown in the media didn't fully capture him. There was something far more imposing in person. His presence carried weight, and the way his eyes settled on someone felt sharp and unyielding, like he was assessing rather than simply looking.

Compared to what she expected, he felt far more dangerous.

Ethan's gaze stayed on her as if measuring every detail. "You're Lia?"

Alexia gave a small nod. "Yes."

A faint crease appeared between his brows.

The person standing in front of him didn't match the image he had formed in his mind.

Five years earlier, Campbell Group had been caught in a storm within the market. Meetings dragged on without any real progress from the board.

Right in the middle of that chaos, an email from Lia had landed in Ethan's inbox for the first time.

The message laid out the direction the market would take and detailed what the company needed to do next.

At first, Ethan dismissed it. However, the events that followed proved every point in that email correct.

From that point on, whenever the market shifted, another message from Lia would arrive without fail over the next five years.

Doubt had once shaped Ethan's view, but over time, that doubt gave way to complete reliance.

What started as a few short emails ended up pushing Campbell Group's market share up by twenty percent.

Not long ago, their international business ran into trouble when new policies were introduced overseas.

Just then, another message from Lia appeared in Ethan's inbox.

This time, there were no detailed steps or solutions laid out. Instead, the message asked for a direct meeting.

Someone who could read market shifts so clearly and offer such precise directions should have been challenging.

Yet the woman standing in front of him looked fragile enough to be knocked over by a passing breeze.

Ethan studied her in silence before speaking. "Give me a reason to believe you're Lia."

Alexia didn't answer right away. Her eyes shifted briefly toward the secretary.

Understanding her intent, Ethan raised a hand, signaling for the secretary to step out.

The office fell quiet as the door closed, leaving only the two of them inside.

"Go on," Ethan said, his voice low. "Convince me."

A faint smile touched Alexia's lips as she began outlining the unresolved problems in Campbell Group's overseas operations. She pointed out two openings that hadn't even crossed Ethan's mind.

Everything she said followed a clear line of reasoning. The information she laid out was thorough, and her conclusions cut straight to the point.

When it came time to explain how to act on it, Alexia stopped.

Lifting her gaze to meet his, she spoke calmly. "Does that answer your question?"

Something shifted in Ethan's expression as he looked at her again, this time with a trace of curiosity.

"So it's you. You've been guiding me for five years," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You've helped me make billions."

Alexia didn't hesitate. "If you want, I can keep working with you."

Ethan kept his eyes on her, studying every detail. "What do you want in return?"

"I need Campbell Group backing me," Alexia said without hesitation.

"That's it?"

"That's enough," Alexia answered. She then added, "Everything else, I'll deal with on my own."

A subtle sense of danger crept into Ethan's thoughts.

Her appearance gave off weakness, yet the look in her eyes told a different story.

Something about her felt concealed and sharp, like a threat waiting beneath the surface, making instinct warn him to stay alert.

His tone dropped. "Sounds like you're asking me to take on quite a risk."

"That's right," she said firmly. "The bigger the risk, the greater the return. Whether you take it or not is your choice, Mr. Campbell."

Silence filled the space between them.

Ethan lowered his gaze to the woman in front of him.

There was a quiet certainty in her posture, almost as if she had already decided he would agree.

"Fine," Ethan said at last. "I'll accept. But Campbell Group doesn't carry dead weight, and it won't be used for someone's personal agenda. If you fail to show results..."

Alexia cut in before he could finish, "You don't need to warn me. You already know what I can do."

For a brief second, Ethan had no reply. Instead of annoyance, a faint sense of interest settled in.

He reached for the phone and dialed his assistant, Dominic Payne, who came in shortly after.

"Dominic, take Miss White to Hillcrest Manor. Let the staff know she's to be treated as an honored guest."

"Understood," Dominic replied.

He turned and led Alexia out of the office.

The door shut behind them with a quiet click.

Left alone, Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the closed door as his fingers tapped slowly against the armrest.

One tap, then another, then a third.

As if something had just occurred to him, he picked up the phone again.

"Look into Alexia's history before prison," he said. "I want everything from those five years inside as well. And keep an eye on her from now on. Report every detail, no matter how small."

After he ended the call, his attention shifted to the email still open on his screen.

The name "Lia" no longer felt as simple as before.

Who was actually in control here?

It had turned into an interesting game.