Jacob stared at the glowing city lights outside his office window, his mind racing with strategies. The revelation from Claire about Russell Harper’s covert movements gnawed at him. While securing Evelyn Drake’s continued support had been a win, it wasn’t enough to tip the scales in his favor. Harper was moving faster than anticipated, and Jacob needed to act before the gap widened.
His phone buzzed again, jolting him from his thoughts. It was Alan Ross.
"Jacob," Alan greeted without preamble, his tone tense. "We’ve got another problem."
Jacob sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What now?"
"I just received word from one of our long-standing suppliers. They’re threatening to pull their contract and go with Harper instead. He’s offering them a better deal."
Jacob’s grip on the pho
