Chapter 216: Elena's Card

Mrs. Skies was in her office based in New York which has a panoramic view of the New York Skyline. While standing there, her assistant came in.

"Mrs. Skies, he has arrived."

"Great, let him in," Elena said, turning to look over at the person she invited.

"Mrs. Skies, you called for me?" said a gentleman with a deep voice.

"Yes I do," Elena finally turned around, and there standing was none other than—. "Mr. Carter, I appreciate you coming from Manila despite you having a contract with your client."

"It's no concern, I have my team watching over them," Carter said with a dismissive wave of a hand. "So, why did you call me?"

Elena beckoned him to step forward and invited him to take a seat in one of the plush chairs facing her desk.

"Can I offer you something to drink?" Elena asked, moving gracefully to the small bar set in the corner of her office.

Carter hesitated for a moment, scanning the array of bottles and decanters. "What do you recommend?"

Elena smiled, picking up a crystal decanter filled with amber liquid. "I have an excellent Scotch, but if you prefer something non-alcoholic, I have a selection of fine teas and coffee."

Carter gave a non-committal nod, still standing off to the side of the plush chair. "Water will be fine, thank you."

"Are you sure?" Elena pressed, her hand pausing as she reached for a glass. "The Scotch is exceptional."

"Water is perfect, really," Carter finally caved, taking the seat she had indicated.

Elena poured water into a glass from a sleek, stainless steel pitcher. She handed the glass to Carter, who took it with a nod of thanks.

"Now," Elena said, returning to her chair behind the desk, "let's discuss why I asked you here. What do you know about Mr. Reyes?"

While Carter was drinking his water, he paused as if weighing his response carefully. He set the glass down and leaned back slightly.

"Michael Reyes? My client's activities are not usually a topic for discussion with others. May I ask why the sudden interest?"

Elena leaned forward, her fingers steepled before her as she regarded Carter intently.

"So you are threatening me? If I don't work for you, will you release this?" Carter asked, his tone growing cold as he stared across the desk at Elena.

Elena shook her head slightly with a calm expression. "Not a threat, Mr. Carter. Consider it... an incentive for cooperation. I believe in mutually beneficial arrangements.

You help me with Reyes MedTech, and in return, Aegis Pharmaceuticals can help ensure these documents don't find their way into the wrong hands."

"Well, do you know how we prevent that information from getting released to the public? By removing loose ends."

"I am very aware of that, however, that's not going to work because I involved a lot of people, and saved a lot of copies of these documents in different places. So, if anything happens to me, those documents will be released automatically," Elena explained her tone firm, hinting at the layers of security she had in place to protect herself.

Carter was silent for a moment, the weight of her statement settling in. The complexity of the situation was clear: any aggressive move against Elena could trigger a fail-safe that would lead to public disclosure of the documents.

"So, what do you propose?" Carter finally asked, his voice low.

Elena leaned back, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "It's simple, Mr. Carter. You collaborate with us and help us navigate the developments at Reyes MedTech. In return, we manage the potential fallout from these documents. We keep them sealed, as long as you cooperate."

Carter considered his options. The proposal was essentially blackmail, but it offered a way to protect his company and its employees from the catastrophic consequences of the allegations being made public. It was a distasteful arrangement, but it might be the only viable path forward given the circumstances.

"And if I agree, how do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain?" Carter asked, his gaze sharp.

Elena smiled slightly, a trace of assurance in her expression. "You'll have written guarantees. Plus, it's not in our interest to release these documents if you're helping us. Aegis Pharmaceuticals values long-term partnerships over short-term gains. You'll see that once we start working together."

"I'm going to spy on my own client. If Mr. Reyes finds that out, he would be very displeased," Carter said.

"He will be displeased," Elena agreed. "But that's where your expertise comes in, Mr. Carter. Don't get found out, and if you are compromised, do not, in any way, implicate us. As part of our agreement, we'll provide you with all the necessary resources to ensure your operations remain covert."

Carter nodded slowly, absorbing the full scope of the agreement. His role would now involve walking a razor-thin line, requiring every bit of his skill and discretion.

"And if Reyes suspects something or if things go south?" Carter asked, needing to understand every possible contingency.

"We'll have exit strategies in place," Elena assured him. "Both for you and for the information. You won't be left exposed. If it comes down to it, we can arrange a plausible deniability scenario, and if necessary, extraction."

The term 'extraction' hung in the air heavily, hinting at the dangerous game they were about to play. Carter understood the stakes but also recognized the leverage he now held. He was no longer just a player in the game but a key piece on which multiple players depended.

"All right, Mrs. Skies," Carter said finally, extending his hand to seal the agreement. "You have my cooperation."