Chapter 102

Rain streaked the windows of Herod Preston's penthouse, blurring Manhattan's skyline into a watercolor painting. Rose stood at the glass, watching lightning flash between the clouds. Her reflection stared back, a ghost caught between the storm outside and the one brewing within.

Behind her, Herod ended his phone call, the soft click of his phone on the marble counter pulling Rose from her thoughts. "Well?" she asked, without turning.

"It's confirmed," he replied, his voice smooth and confident. "Walsh says construction is proceeding exactly according to our modified plans. He installed the final altered circuit boards himself this morning."

Rose pressed her palm against the cool glass. "And no one noticed the changes?"

"No one. Not even the chief engineer," he said, his footsteps approaching slowly. "The beauty of our modifications is their subtlety. Each change looks legitimate individually. Only when viewed collectively do they create the perfect storm."

A smile touched Rose's lips. Perfect storm. How fitting. She'd spent her life creating storms in Camille's perfect world.

"How long until it fails?" she asked.

"The Grid goes fully operational in six days," Herod said, standing close enough for Rose to feel his body heat. "The safety systems are designed for seventy-two hours of testing before full power integration. Once they connect to the city's main power supply…"

"Boom," Rose whispered, watching lightning split the sky.

"Precisely," he said, his hand resting on her shoulder. "And Camille Kane will be held responsible for the greatest engineering disaster in New York's history."

Rose turned to face him. Herod's dark eyes held hers, intense and unreadable. She'd worked with him for weeks, plotting Camille's destruction, yet he remained a mystery, a dangerous one.

"Victoria will protect her," Rose said, old bitterness rising. "She always protects her precious new daughter."

"Not this time," Herod countered, his thumb tracing a small circle on her shoulder. "The evidence will be overwhelming. Criminal negligence at minimum. Potentially even charges of knowingly endangering public safety for profit."

"Prison," Rose breathed, the word sweet on her tongue.

"If she's lucky," Herod said, a smile playing on his lips but not reaching his eyes. "More likely, Victoria Kane's empire will collapse trying to defend against lawsuits. The stock will plummet. The board will remove them both. And I'll be there to pick up the pieces at pennies on the dollar."

He moved to the bar, pouring amber liquid into two crystal glasses. "A perfect revenge for both of us. Victoria loses everything, just as my family did. And your sister…" He handed Rose a glass. "Your sister loses her freedom, her reputation, and her new mother figure, all at once."

Rose accepted the drink, the crystal cool against her fingers. "To perfect revenge," she said, raising her glass.

"To mutual satisfaction," Herod replied, clinking his glass against hers, his eyes never leaving her face as they drank.

The liquor burned pleasantly. Rose wandered to the large desk where multiple screens displayed different angles of the Phoenix Grid construction site. Workers in hard hats moved about like industrious ants, unwittingly building a disaster.

"Look at them," she murmured. "No idea what's coming."

Herod moved beside her, setting his glass down. "Do you ever wonder," he asked, his voice lower now, "what you'll do after?"

The question caught Rose off guard. She'd been so focused on destroying Camille, on taking back what should have been hers, that she'd given little thought to what came next.

"After?" she repeated.

"After Camille is disgraced. After Victoria's empire falls," he said, his eyes studying her face. "After you've won."

Rose considered the question. Before meeting Herod, her vision had extended only to Camille's destruction. But working with him had awakened something new: ambition beyond mere revenge.

"I haven't decided," she admitted. "What about you? After you buy Kane Industries for nothing, what then?"

"I rebuild it. Rebrand it. Turn it into something greater than Victoria ever imagined." He leaned against the desk, facing her. "But businesses are only as strong as the people who run them."

The implication hung in the air. Rose set her glass down, suddenly aware of how close they stood, how alone they were in the vast penthouse with the storm raging outside.

"Are you offering me a job, Herod?" she asked, her voice deliberately light.

"I'm suggesting a partnership," his eyes darkened. "We work well together, Rose. We understand each other in ways few people could. We both know what it means to be overlooked, underestimated, denied what's rightfully ours."

Lightning flashed again, briefly illuminating the room. In that flash, Rose saw something in Herod's face—hunger, yes, but also something that looked almost like vulnerability.

"A business partnership?" she asked, stepping closer.

"To start," his voice dropped lower. "Though I find myself wondering if it might become something more."

The confession surprised her. In their weeks of planning, Herod had been all cold calculation and strategic thinking. This hint of personal interest was unexpected, and strangely thrilling.

"Something more," she echoed, testing the words. "Like what?"

Instead of answering, Herod reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The gesture was tentative, almost gentle, at odds with the ruthless businessman she’d come to know.

"I didn't plan for this," he said quietly. "When I agreed to help you destroy Camille Kane, I saw it as a means to my own revenge against Victoria. Nothing more."

"And now?" Rose asked, her heart beating faster.

"Now I find myself thinking about you. Not just about our plan. About you." His fingers lingered at her jawline. "About your mind. Your determination. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to get what you want."

Rose had manipulated men all her life. Stefan had been easy—weak, easily swayed by flattery and attention. But Herod was different. Sharper. More dangerous. And infinitely more interesting.

"Those aren't exactly romantic qualities," she said.

"Aren't they?" The corner of his mouth lifted. "I don't want some fragile flower, Rose. I want an equal. Someone who understands that power is never given, it must be taken."

The words resonated deep within her. No one had ever seen her so clearly before. Not her adoptive parents, certainly not Stefan, and especially not Camille. They'd all wanted her to be something else—grateful, loving, supportive. None of them had valued the hunger that drove her. But Herod did. He saw it, understood it, admired it.

"And if I don't want a partnership?" she asked, testing him.

His eyes hardened slightly. "Then we finish our plan. Destroy Kane Industries. Get our revenge. And part ways as… what? Successful co-conspirators?"

The thought of walking away after it was done, of never seeing Herod again, left an unexpected hollow feeling in Rose's chest. She reached up, covering his hand with hers where it rested against her face.

"And if I do want it?" she asked softly.

Something flared in his eyes—triumph, desire, relief? Rose couldn't tell. Before she could analyze it further, Herod leaned forward and kissed her.

The kiss was nothing like she expected. Not calculated or controlling or cold. It was hungry, almost desperate, as if he'd been holding himself back for weeks. His hands slid into her hair, cradling her head as the kiss deepened.

Rose responded with equal intensity, her fingers gripping the lapels of his expensive suit. For so long, she'd channeled all her passion into hatred, into destroying Camille. This new outlet felt dangerously liberating.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, the storm outside had intensified. Rain lashed against the windows, and thunder rumbled through the sky.

"Well," Herod said, his voice rougher than usual. "I suppose that answers the question."

Rose laughed, a real laugh, without the bitterness that usually colored her humor. "I'm not that easy to read."

"No," he agreed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You're not. That's part of what fascinates me."

He led her to the black leather sofa. They sat close, the electricity between them almost as palpable as the lightning outside.

"You know," Rose said, curling her legs beneath her, "this complicates things."

"How so?"

"When we started this, it was purely business. Revenge. Clean and simple." She traced a pattern on the leather between them. "Now it's…"

"Personal," he finished for her.

"Yes." She looked up at him. "Is that wise?"

Herod considered her question, his fingers playing with a strand of her hair. "Probably not," he admitted. "But wisdom is overrated."

Their second kiss was slower, more deliberate, but no less intense. Rose found herself melting into it, into him, all thoughts of Camille and Victoria temporarily pushed aside. This wasn't part of the plan, but maybe, just maybe, it could be part of something better.

Later, much later, they lay tangled together on Herod's massive bed, watching the storm gradually subside. Rose's head rested on his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear.

"What happens if something goes wrong?" she asked suddenly. "With the Grid, I mean."

Herod's hand, which had been stroking her back, paused. "Nothing will go wrong. The modifications are perfect."

"But if they find them somehow? If Camille or that engineer discovers what we've done?"

"They won't," his voice held absolute confidence. "The changes are too subtle to catch unless someone knows exactly what to look for. And by the time anyone realizes something's wrong, it will be too late."

Rose wanted to believe him. But she'd underestimated Camille before. Her sister had a way of surviving, of turning disaster into opportunity.

"We should have a backup plan," Rose insisted, propping herself up to look at him. "Something else in motion, just in case."

Herod studied her face, then nodded slowly. "You're right. It's good strategy."

He sat up, reaching for his robe. "Actually, I may already have something in mind. A contingency I've been developing."

"Tell me," Rose said, wrapping the sheet around herself as she watched him move to the desk.

Herod returned with a tablet, sitting beside her on the bed. He pulled up a file labeled "Phoenix Gala" and handed it to her.

"What's this?" she asked, scrolling through what appeared to be security details and floor plans.

"Kane Industries is planning a charity gala to celebrate the Phoenix Grid going live." His finger tapped the screen. "All their key people will be there. Camille. Victoria. Alexander Pierce. The engineers. The board members."

Understanding dawned on Rose. "The perfect target."

Herod nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. "If the Grid fails, wonderful. But if not…"

"We bring the disaster to them directly," Rose finished, a thrill running through her.

"Exactly." He took the tablet back, setting it aside before pulling her close again. "See? This is why we make such good partners. You anticipate. You prepare for all contingencies."

Rose smiled, settling against him. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt truly understood. Truly valued.

"Partners," she repeated, liking how the word felt on her tongue.

Outside, the storm had passed. The city lights twinkled through the clearing sky, millions of people going about their lives, unaware of the destruction being planned in this high-rise sanctuary.

Rose closed her eyes, contentment washing over her. Soon Camille would lose everything. Victoria would watch her empire crumble. And Rose, Rose would finally win. But now, she realized, victory would taste even sweeter. Because she wouldn't be celebrating alone.