The most dangerous traps…
Don't use chains.
They use choices.
And Damien Volkov had just created one for Elara.
A trap she couldn't ignore.
---
The press conference shook the world.
Within hours, every major news channel was discussing the same thing.
Project Helios.
Elara Hart.
Ares Valentino's declaration of war.
Inside the Valentino penthouse, however—
The mood was quiet.
Too quiet.
Marcus walked in holding his tablet again.
He looked… disturbed.
"That didn't go the way we expected."
Ares glanced up from the desk.
"What happened."
Marcus placed the tablet down.
"Volkov responded."
Elara frowned.
"Already?"
Marcus nodded.
"And it's not good."
---
Volkov's Message
Marcus turned the screen toward them.
A new video was trending across the world.
Uploaded only thirty minutes ago.
Millions of views already.
Ares pressed play.
The video began with darkness.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
Calm.
Cold.
Damien Volkov.
"Good evening."
His face slowly appeared on the screen.
Behind him—
A large digital wall filled with data.
"Mr. Valentino," Volkov said smoothly.
"You wanted the world to know the truth."
He smiled faintly.
"So let's talk about truth."
The video shifted.
A new image appeared.
A laboratory.
Old.
Hidden.
Project Helios.
Volkov continued.
"The Helios program did not simply create intelligence."
His voice lowered.
"It created something far more dangerous."
Elara felt a chill run through her body.
Volkov leaned closer to the camera.
"A mind capable of predicting global economic behavior."
Marcus blinked.
"That's… impossible."
But Elara whispered something different.
"No."
Everyone turned to her.
She looked at the screen again.
"He's not wrong."
---
A New Revelation
The video continued.
"Imagine a person," Volkov said.
"Who can predict financial collapses."
"Market shifts."
"Political instability."
"Military strategies."
The screen showed complex predictive models.
Numbers.
Algorithms.
Future projections.
Volkov spoke calmly.
"With the Helios subject…"
"We can see the future of power."
Marcus shook his head.
"This guy is insane."
But Ares watched quietly.
Because he understood something.
Volkov wasn't lying.
He was revealing just enough truth—
To make the world curious.
The video ended with one final statement.
"If Elara Hart truly wishes to prove she is not a threat…"
Volkov smiled.
"She is welcome to meet me."
Marcus almost choked.
"Oh that's definitely a trap."
Ares nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Elara asked quietly.
"Where."
Marcus zoomed the video description.
The location appeared.
A single place.
Zurich – International Economic Summit
Marcus stared at the screen.
"That's tomorrow."
---
The Impossible Choice
Silence filled the penthouse.
Everyone understood what Volkov had done.
He had issued a challenge.
In front of the entire world.
Elara spoke first.
"If I don't go…"
Marcus answered.
"People will think you're hiding something."
"And if I do go?"
Marcus sighed.
"You're walking straight into Volkov's territory."
Ares finally spoke.
"You're not going."
Elara looked at him.
"I might have to."
His eyes hardened.
"No."
"This is exactly what he wants."
She stepped closer.
"Maybe."
"But he also gave me something."
Ares narrowed his eyes.
"What."
"A stage."
Marcus blinked.
"Oh no."
Elara continued.
"If the world thinks I'm dangerous…"
"Then maybe it's time they see what I really am."
Ares grabbed her wrist gently.
"You don't need to prove anything."
She looked at him calmly.
"I'm not proving anything."
"Then what are you doing?"
Her voice was steady.
"Taking control of the narrative."
Marcus leaned back slowly.
"Well…"
"That sounds terrifying."
---
Volkov's Real Plan
Across Europe—
Inside a private aircraft flying toward Switzerland—
Damien Volkov watched the global reactions on his tablet.
Rayan sat across from him.
"You know she might actually come."
Volkov smiled.
"She will."
"You're very confident."
Volkov looked out the plane window.
Snow-covered mountains stretched beneath them.
"Because people like Elara Hart…"
"Cannot ignore a challenge."
Rayan asked quietly.
"And when she arrives?"
Volkov's smile grew darker.
"Then the real experiment begins."
---
The Calm Before the Storm
Back in Milan—
The night grew silent again.
Elara stood by the window.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Preparing.
Ares walked beside her.
"You're still considering it."
"Yes."
His voice lowered.
"You trust Volkov?"
"No."
"Then why risk it?"
She turned toward him.
"Because if I hide now…"
"Volkov controls the story forever."
Ares studied her carefully.
"You're not afraid."
"No."
He exhaled slowly.
"Then we go together."
Marcus nearly fell off the couch.
"Wait—WE?"
Ares didn't look away from Elara.
"Yes."
Marcus sighed loudly.
"Great."
"International summit."
"Global media."
"World's most dangerous villain."
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Elara smiled faintly.
"Everything."
Elara Hart has been challenged in front of the entire world.
If she refuses—
The world will believe she is dangerous.
If she accepts—
She walks directly into Damien Volkov's trap.
And tomorrow in Zurich—
The most powerful minds on Earth will watch what happens next.