Chapter 31

Adam's POV

I watched as Laura walked out of my office, her shoulders stiff, her mind undoubtedly racing. She thought she could waltz in here, challenge me, and walk away on her terms. Amusing.

She was still the same, fierce, defiant, unwilling to back down. That’s what I always admired about her. But admiration didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t trust her.

I turned my chair toward the floor-to-ceiling window, my gaze settling on the city skyline. The company I had just taken over, “Eccho Enterprises” wasn’t just another acquisition. It was a calculated move. A strike against old enemies who had been circling my family like vultures for years.

Every company paid taxes. Every company had loopholes. But Eccho Enterprises had more than just financial skeletons in its closet. For years, they had hidden behind boardrooms and legal jargon, pretending to be legitimate. But I knew better.

They had been working in the shadows, funneling money to anyone who had a reason to see my family fall.

Politicians. Rival families. Law enforcement officers with stupidly weak plans.

It was almost poetic—taking the very empire they built to destroy us and making it mine.

A knock sounded at my door.

I didn’t have to look to know who it was.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Dylan stepped inside, his usual composed expression in place. He was one of the few men I trusted, a strategist who had been by my side since the beginning.

"It’s done," he said, closing the door behind him. "The board has been neutralized. Every major shareholder has agreed to the takeover, and those who didn’t—" He smirked. "Well, they saw reason soon enough."

I smirked, leaning back. "Of course they did. People always see reason when their survival depends on it."

He stepped forward, placing a folder on my desk. "You were right about the company. Their financial records were clean, at least on the surface, but we dug deeper. Offshore accounts, shell companies, and a steady flow of money to organizations that have been working against us for years."

I flipped open the folder, scanning the numbers and names. "How deep does it go?"

"Deeper than we thought," he admitted. "They weren’t just trying to bring you down, they were funding your enemies directly. That senator who tried to push for an investigation into your businesses? Bought and paid for by the company. That attempted raid on our shipments last year? Guess who tipped off the Feds?"

My grip tightened on the paper. I had expected them to be dirty, but this? This was a declaration of war.

"And Laura?" Dylan asked, tilting his head. "You sure it’s a good idea keeping her this close?"

I closed the file and exhaled slowly. "She’s a wildcard. I need to know if she’s a threat or an asset."

He arched a brow. "And if she turns out to be a threat?"

I smirked, though it didn’t reach my eyes.

"Then I’ll deal with her accordingly.”

Dylan remained standing, watching me closely as I processed the information.

“Anything else?” I asked, my fingers tapping against the polished wood of my desk.

He hesitated, which meant I wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.

“There’s a meeting tonight,” he said carefully. “With your uncle.”

I frowned slightly.

For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside.

Then, slowly, I leaned back in my chair, exhaling through my nose. “Of course there is.”

Dylan’s lips twitched, but it wasn’t amusement. “I take it you’re thrilled.”

“Ecstatic.”

Uncle Lorenzo. My mother’s only brother. The man was a walking liability, a reckless fool who had survived this long only because of his last name. If he had been anyone else, anyone not related to me by blood, he would have been dead years ago.

Not just because of his stupidity.

But because stupidity in our world wasn’t just an inconvenience. It was dangerous. It got people killed. It made enemies bolder. And worst of all? It made me look weak for letting him live.

Dylan crossed his arms. “Apparently, he has something urgent to discuss.”

“He always does.” I ran a hand over my jaw. “What’s the excuse this time?”

“No details. Just that he wants a private meeting. Usual spot.”

I scoffed. The usual spot. A dimly lit lounge on the outskirts of town, neutral ground where he liked to pretend he was still relevant.

Dylan gave me a look. “Want me to handle it?”

I shook my head. As much as I wanted to send someone else in my place, I knew better. A no-show would only make him desperate, and a desperate Lorenzo was even more of a problem than an irritating one.

“No. I’ll deal with him myself.”

Dylan nodded, then turned for the door.

“Wait.”

He paused.

I glanced at the closed folder on my desk, thoughts shifting back to Laura. “Keep an eye on her. I want to know where she goes, who she talks to, and if she so much as breathes in a way that seems off, I want to know.”

Dylan smirked. “Already on it.”

I nodded once, then watched as he disappeared through the door.

Alone again, I turned back toward the window, my fingers tightening around the armrest of my chair.

I pushed back my chair and stood, rolling my shoulders as I made my way to the door.

The moment my employees caught sight of me, conversations died down, backs straightened, and all focus shifted elsewhere. Power had that effect on people.

I descended the sleek marble stairs, my polished shoes clicking against the surface. I preferred to take it as opposed to taking the elevator. The entire floor buzzed with movement, but my attention was locked on one room.

As I approached, murmurs and hushed whispers filled the air. People moved aside instinctively, eyes widening as they noticed where I was headed.

I stepped into the office, leaning against the doorway.

Laura stood at her desk, packing the last of her things into a box. Her posture was tense, but her hands were steady. Stubborn as a mule she was.

She hadn’t noticed me yet.

The room was still, save for the soft rustling of papers. And then, finally, she sensed me. She stiffened, her back going straight before she turned to face me.

The moment her eyes met mine, the air shifted.

"Going somewhere?" I asked, my voice casual.

She exhaled sharply, setting down a framed photo she had been holding. "I was under the impression I didn’t have a choice."

I smirked, stepping further into the room. "You don’t."

A ripple of hushed gasps came from the employees lingering just outside, their eyes darting between us.

Laura folded her arms. "Then why are you here?"

"Your PA duties start now," I said smoothly, shoving my hands into my pockets. "I’m heading out, and you’re coming with me."