"She brought a recomndation letter with Janet’s signature and seal. She even ntioned how embarrassed Janet was about using her connections. I didn’t doubt it. You know Janet... she’s too proud to let others know she pulls strings."
Silas tapped his fingers against the desk slowly.
"That doesn’t add up."
Dante frowned. "What do you an?"
"Even if Janet helped her," Silas said evenly, "why would she approach you instead of sticking close to Janet herself? And why show you the letter directly?"
Dante went silent.
Silas continued, his voice colder now.
"And her clothes... they’re too deliberate. No one dresses like that to survive in a military base."
Dante’s eyes widened slightly.
"You think she’s here to seduce soone?"
Silas snorted.
"She’s here for you."
The realization hit Dante like ice water. Goosebumps erupted across his arms.
"What?" he snapped. "I’ve never led her on. I haven’t even spoken to her beyond official matters."
Silas leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"Then be careful," he warned. "Because this doesn’t look accidental at all."
"Then does she think I’m so kind of catch?"
Dante’s brows knitted together as the question slipped out, frustration seeping into his tone.
His fingers tapped against the table, the cold surface grounding him.
"Is she after the food I own?" he continued, shaking his head. "That doesn’t make sense. I’ve already made it clear throughout the base that the food belongs to my son. If she wanted resources, shouldn’t she be going after you instead?"
Silas nodded slowly, his expression turning thoughtful.
"It is strange," he agreed. "She ignored the younger, more handso man in the room and went straight for an old man."
His lips curved faintly, rcilessly. "She even batted her eyelashes at you. That alone proves her target was never ."
Dante’s face darkened instantly.
His own son had just insulted him without hesitation.
He shot Silas a sharp glare, anger surging hot and fast through his chest.
Silas, completely unfazed, continued, "There’s a high chance Frank sent her."
Dante frowned deeply.
"Why would he send soone to seduce ?" His voice dropped. "What does he gain from that?"
"There are several possibilities," Silas replied calmly. "First, Frank might want Nina to get close to you so she can help him gain control over the Blackthorn family’s food and resources."
Dante nodded slowly.
"But that plan has a flaw," Silas continued. "A woman like her could easily betray Frank once she gains real power. Frank wouldn’t risk that."
"That’s true," Dante admitted.
"There’s another possibility," Silas said. "She seduces you, then starts to leak private secrets of the Blackthorn family, maybe stirring public outrage."
Dante’s jaw tightened.
"That... sounds plausible."
Silas shook his head.
"But there’s still a problem," he said coolly. "You would never fall for her. Frank knows that."
Dante exhaled heavily.
"Then what’s left?"
Silas’s gaze sharpened.
"The last possibility," he said slowly, "is that Frank never intended her to seduce you at all. He wants to create the illusion that she’s close to you."
Dante froze.
His mind clicked rapidly, pieces falling into place.
"So he plans to use that illusion," Dante muttered, "to blackmail ... or push out of the military entirely?"
Silas’s expression changed subtly.
Ivy’s warning flashed through his mind.
A woman accusing Dante of improper relations. Of harassnt. Of sothing unspeakable.
Dante rembered it too.
Cold sweat broke out along his back.
Their eyes t.
"She’s going to stage a scene," they said at the sa ti. "She’ll accuse you of harassing her."
The realization hit like a hamr.
They both fell silent, the weight of it pressing heavily against their chests. If Ivy hadn’t warned them in advance, this would have already spiraled out of control.
Silas took a slow breath, his expression turning cold and sharp.
"If earlier I didn’t care about Frank’s petty tricks," he said quietly, "this one is different. This is ant to destroy you completely."
He looked straight at Dante.
"We can’t let that happen."
Without hesitation, Silas continued, "Install caras. If not caras, then video recording. Every single ti she enters your office, there must be evidence."
Dante nodded firmly.
"And more than that," Silas added, frowning, "you need to find a reason to move her far away from your core operations. Once we leave, she can return here if needed."
Dante swallowed hard.
"I need to leave this place quickly," he said hoarsely. "Otherwise, I’ll be sold without even realizing it."
Silas nodded. This ti, his old man was truly in danger.
After a mont of thought, Silas spoke again.
"You should keep a very loyal female colleague near you."
Dante’s eyes lit with understanding.
"And not soone close to you," Silas continued. "General Janet would be best. Soone neutral. If you bring soone like Talia or my subordinate, people will claim they’re biased toward you."
Dante nodded again.
"If Nina accuses you," Silas said calmly, "soone like Janet, female, authoritative, and not close to you, will be the best witness."
Dante exhaled slowly.
Then Silas’s expression darkened.
"Since Frank loves stirring trouble," he muttered, "this ti, I’ll let him know what it ans to go for a sheep... and be left with nothing."
Dante frowned slightly.
Sothing about that taphor felt off, but he didn’t comnt.
Silas stood up, ready to leave, then paused.
"Where’s Talia?"
"She’s busy with base matters," Dante replied. "She already left."
Silas frowned. "She shouldn’t wander too far in this apocalypse."
He turned to go, but Dante stopped him, holding up the resignation letter.
"What should I do with this?"
Silas rolled his eyes.
"Use it," he replied. "Lure the enemy out."
Dante’s eyes sharpened.
If people believed there was a rift between him and Silas, Frank would surely make a move. And when he did... Dante would strike back.
It was a clever plan.
"One more thing," Dante added quickly. "The food stored in the Blackthorn mansion needs to be transported. But with all those protesters outside, it won’t be safe."
Silas nodded calmly.
"I’ll handle it," he said.
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