Chapter 7: Chapter 7: The Rival

As Sophia and the Sentinel team raced to finalize their exposé, an unexpected complication arose.

One morning, Sophia arrived at the office to find James in a heated discussion with a tall, dark-haired man she didn't recognize.

"Sophia," James called, waving her over. "I'd like you to meet someone. This is Ethan Ryder, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. "FBI? I don't understand..."

Ethan extended his hand, his green eyes assessing her carefully. "Ms. Reeves. I've heard a lot about you. It seems we have a mutual interest in Marcus Blackwood."

Over the next hour, Ethan revealed that the FBI had been conducting their own investigation into Blackwood Enterprises for months. They had evidence of money laundering and connections to organized crime, but hadn't been able to crack the inner circle.