In banking, the deadliest rival is the one who signs the paycheck.

Alasdair Stewart built Cambria Financial's New York branch into a global success story. Profitable, independent, and admired, he seemed destined for the group's top job. But his rise made him dangerous, not to rivals across Wall Street, but to his own boss in Swansea.

Amid the fallout of the financial crisis, Dr. Cadwgan Rhun takes over as group CEO. He has no intention of letting Alasdair claim the crown. Piece by piece, he dismantles him: forged documents, manipulated systems, and betrayal disguised as loyalty. By the time Alasdair sees the trap, it's too late.

Drawn into the conspiracy is David Wallace, Cambria's new chief technology officer. Hired to modernize systems, David discovers he has walked into a war where every line of code, every alliance, and every choice carries consequences. Standing with Alasdair could cost him everything-but staying silent could make him complicit in a crime that will never be spoken of.

Set against the looming 2008 financial crisis, Planted is a taut financial thriller about ambition, sabotage, and the brutal cost of power. In a world where success paints a target on your back, loyalty can be the deadliest risk of all.