Eligos grinned wide, his satisfaction spilling over as he leaned back in the plush hotel chair. Italy had been a decent hideaway so far, with a good espresso here, a glass of wine there, and, apparently, Cindy finally calling him back. He'd kept her on hold, knowing she'd be reaching out sooner or later. Cindy wasn't the type to come begging for help unless something had genuinely rattled her-and whatever that was, it would make her far easier to convince. Her voice crackled through the phone, and she didn't sound pleased. "Hello? Are you even there?" she snapped, obviously annoyed.

Eligos chuckled silently, letting her frustration hang in the air a second longer. "I'm here, Cindy. Just... savoring this lovely call. And happy to hear you're finally on board."

Her scoff on the other end was almost satisfying enough to get him through the rest of her rant.

"Don't start with that sweet talk," she said. "I just had to deal with that snake, Claire Peterson. Do you know what it's like to watch her float around like she owns the world? She even has this exclusive, ridiculous little card for... something. L-S-H or something like that. Ring a bell?"

Eligos's brow went up. LSH? He didn't know what it was, but anything that annoyed Cindy enough to bring her to him was worth looking into. His fingers flew over his laptop keys as he searched for them, letting Cindy simmer while she rambled about her infuriating encounter with Claire.

Finally, Cindy's impatient voice cut in again. "What, did you suddenly go deaf? Can you hear me, or are you ignoring me on purpose?"

Eligos rolled his eyes and thought, This one's going to be a handful. But still, she was driven, and she had her sights set on revenge. That could come in handy. "Apologies, Cindy, I was just doing a little research. LSH stands for London High Socialite. It's an elite organization-very hush-hush, female-only, and about as exclusive as they come. The only way in is through an invitation from Adrianna Saint Laurent herself."

"So, it's like some secret society?" Cindy rolled her eyes, sounding unimpressed. "Nothing special, but I'll admit, that little card of hers seems to unlock quite a few doors."

"Sure," Eligos replied with a nonchalant shrug. "But it's mostly for appearances. If you have money and connections, the LSH card doesn't get you much you can't get on your own."

"Yeah, well, I'm about to get everything Claire has anyway," Cindy said confidently. "But don't think I'm doing this for you, Eligos. I'm doing this because it's time someone put Claire Peterson in her place. No one's ever tried to go toe-to-toe with her-or if they have, they clearly didn't have the brains or the guts for it."

He couldn't help but smirk. "I'm thrilled to hear you're so motivated. Just remember, once you're in, there's no backing out. You're sure this is what you want?"

"Yes," Cindy replied without hesitation. "Claire's going to know she doesn't run this city-or anyone else, for that matter."

"Good," Eligos said with finality. "I'll reach out when I need you. Rest assured, you'll have your moment."

The call ended, and Cindy let out a long breath, staring down at her phone. Then, as she looked out the cab window, her eyes caught a massive billboard featuring Claire's face and her company, Metacortex, in bold letters. Cindy could practically feel the urge to burn it down, or maybe go buy some tomatoes just to hurl at that smug grin.

Meanwhile, Eligos took a long sip of his wine, thoroughly amused. His plan was falling into place-piece by piece. He had Andrea, the secret half-sibling no one knew about, and now Cindy, a woman practically burning with the desire to get back at Claire. Perfect.

Turning to one of his men, he said, "Prepare the jet. We're heading back to London. This Italian getaway wasn't half-bad, but we have work to do."

Just as he was settling back with a sigh of satisfaction, another of his men approached, a slight urgency in his tone. "Sir, there's someone here to see you." Eligos raised a brow, gesturing for him to let them in. A moment later, Andrea strode in, looking every bit as determined as he had during their last encounter.

Eligos smirked, crossing his arms. "Andrea. Didn't expect to see you here. How'd you find me?"

Andrea gave a slight shrug. "Not hard to figure out where the rich and powerful hideaway," he replied with a hint of a smirk. "I'm not here to play games, though. I want in."

Eligos tilted his head, curious. "You're serious? Just a few days ago, you were unsure."

Andrea's gaze was steely. "I want to be rich. I want to get my mother the care she needs, and I want out of that tiny apartment I'm stuck in. If you have a way to make that happen, I'm listening." Eligos's lips curled into a triumphant grin. This was going even better than he'd planned. "Oh, I have a way, alright. But it's not a simple route. You're ready to deal with whatever that involves?" Andrea's voice was firm. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

Eligos leaned back, considering him.

"You'll be rubbing elbows with

people like Claire, playing along with

the elite, pretending to be one

of

them and most importantly, you have to what I tell you. You ready

to hold your own?"

Andrea smirked. "I've been holding my own for years. Trust me, Claire won't even know what hit her."

Eligos chuckled, feeling the thrill of anticipation building. "Good. You'll be right where I need you. Keep your cards close, play the part, and before you know it, you'll have everything you want-and more." Andrea nodded, his expression unreadable. "Then let's get started."

They shook hands, sealing an unspoken paet. Eligos knew Andrea's ambition and Cindy's fury were just the catalysts he needed to set everything in motion. Both of them had something driving them forward, something Claire had carelessly stomped on, and now they were going to be his secret weapons.

"First things first," Eligos said, releasing Andrea's hand. "I want you to go back to your apartment and pack all your stuff then meet me at this hotel."

Andrea frowned looking confused. "Why do I have to pack my stuff? Where are we going?"

Eligos lips curl up into a smile. "We are heading back to London and once we arrive, I have everything for you to prepare and I want you to lie low. We're playing a long game here. I'll contact you when it's time." Andrea gave a nod, his eyes flashing with determination. "Understood."

"One more thing, there is no turning back. Once you are in, there is no way out. Meet me here at 3 sharp if you come, then you are on board but if you don't, I take that answer as a yes."noveldrama

As Andrea left, Eligos leaned back,

savoring the way his plan was coming together. He had the pieces he needed now it was just a matter of time before they all fell into place. For now, he'd let Cindy fume in traffic and let Andrea get a taste of London's elite. When the time was right, he'd pull all the strings just like what he had planned.