The Ascendant Shadow

Chapter 11: Unmask Her Dark Side

Valentina's POV:

"I'm Erica," she introduced herself with a confident smile.

Fuck my life, I thought, trying to keep my expression neutral. Erica wasn't just some passing investor. She was one of the key players in the intricate web of deception Rogelio and I had spun. My father's company served as the perfect front to conceal Rogelio's criminal activities—smuggling crates filled with weapons, drugs, and other illegal contraband. To the outside world, it appeared as though the shipments were just regular imports, completely above board. But the truth was far more dangerous.

To keep everything under the radar and avoid public attention, we needed powerful investors. People who could grease the wheels, make sure no one looked too closely at what was really going on. That's where Erica came in.

She wasn't just any investor—Erica was the one funneling the money needed to keep the operation afloat. She provided the capital, the connections, and the influence to ensure our smuggling operations continued without a hitch. Her clean-cut image and business acumen made her the perfect cover for what was, in reality, a deeply corrupt scheme.

But Erica wasn't doing this out of the goodness of her heart. She was in it for the massive profits, taking her cut of the illegal shipments as they passed through my father's company. The more crates that went unnoticed, the more money she made, and the deeper she sank into Rogelio's world.

As I stood there, facing her, I struggled to maintain my composure. She looked every bit the respectable businesswoman, but I knew better. I knew the darkness behind her polished exterior.

I plastered on a big smile and straightened my posture. Erica looked me up and down, clearly surprised by my appearance.

"Lucas, I'll be back," I said without glancing at my brother, who was too absorbed in Erica's presence to notice.

I led Erica to a room far down the hallway, away from the main gathering. As I opened the door, she walked in and immediately took in the surroundings.

"Beautiful library," she remarked, sipping from her glass.

"To be honest, I wasn't expecting you," I said, taking my place next to her. She chuckled softly before meeting my gaze.

"I understand. I'm gaining a significant share with this investment, but I need to see how it's performing," she said, placing her cup down on the table in the center of the room.

"It's working smoothly. Shipments are on track. Did you see everything?" I asked, noticing her trying to suppress a smile.

"It's all functioning perfectly. They're blending seamlessly," she agreed.

"Look, I may seem like an outsider to you, just some kid, but I know exactly what I'm doing," I said, my frustration creeping into my voice. "Underestimate me all you want, but don't mistake me for someone who doesn't understand how this works."

Erica's eyes widened slightly, the briefest flicker of surprise crossing her face before she smirked. "Well then, I'll call you 'Little Casillas' from now on. I'm sure you like that better than 'Rogelio's little helper'... or 'Rogelio's little slut,'" she added, her tone dripping with casual venom as she took another slow sip from her drink.

"I do like it, Little Casillas," I repeated, testing the name on my tongue. To my surprise, it actually sounded good.

Erica continued, her eyes never leaving mine. "I like you a lot. I've seen the guys—Connor, Miguel—they're idiots. All they can see is Rogelio and the power he holds."

"His name carries a lot of weight," I admitted, though the mention of Rogelio made my skin crawl.

Erica scoffed, her tone dripping with contempt. "Sure, but strip away his men and the money, and he's just a name. All the wealth he's stacking up right now? That's because of this organization. The whole thing is a smart setup, but let's be fucking real here—it's built on a house of cards."