Chapter 4

Evelyn sat in her father’s office, surrounded by the remnants of a legacy that now seemed fragile under the weight of uncertainty. The large mahogany desk, once a symbol of power and control, now felt like an anchor pulling her into the depths of responsibility. The faint scent of her father’s cologne lingered in the air, a painful reminder of the man who had built this empire from the ground up.

She traced the edge of a framed photograph on the desk—her father standing proudly in front of Smith Hotels’ first grand opening. It had been a moment of triumph, a culmination of years of relentless effort. Now, that triumph was overshadowed by the looming threat of Lucas Martin.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Jack Young, the family’s trusted lawyer, stepped inside, his expression grim. “Evelyn, I have the financial reports you requested.”

She took the file from his hands, flipping through the pages. Her stomach tightened at the sight of declining numbers and board member signatures that confirmed Lucas’s control. “Is there any legal ground we can stand on to fight this?” she asked, her voice edged with desperation.

Jack sighed, rubbing his temples. “Lucas Martin is too smart to leave any loopholes. He acquired controlling shares legally, and unless we find an alternative strategy, we’ll be left with nothing.”

Evelyn clenched her jaw. She refused to believe that all was lost. “There has to be something,” she insisted. “A way to challenge him, to force him into a negotiation.”

Jack hesitated before responding. “There might be one option. If we can uncover any unethical practices in his acquisitions—anything that could put him in a compromising position—we might have leverage.”

Evelyn’s mind raced. Lucas was meticulous, but no man was infallible. “Then that’s exactly what we’ll do,” she said firmly. “We’ll find his weakness and use it against him.”

---

Across town, Lucas sat in his penthouse office, gazing out at the city that now felt more like a chessboard. Every move he made was calculated, every decision leading him closer to his ultimate goal. His phone buzzed, and he picked it up without looking.

“Sir, Evelyn Smith is already moving,” Liam reported. “She’s gathering intel, likely looking for a way to counter you.”

Lucas smirked. He had anticipated this. “Let her dig,” he said smoothly. “She won’t find anything. But the more she struggles, the more she plays into my hands.”

Liam hesitated. “There’s also talk among the board. Some members are questioning your methods, wondering if a public takeover of Smith Hotels was too aggressive.”

Lucas’s smirk faded. He turned from the window, his gaze sharp. “Then make sure their concerns are silenced. I didn’t come this far to let sentimentality interfere.”

As he ended the call, Lucas leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against the desk. Evelyn was fighting back. That much was expected. But what intrigued him was the fire in her resolve. She wasn’t the same woman from five years ago. And that—if anything—made this game even more interesting.

---

Back at Smith Hotels, Evelyn met with a private investigator she had hired, a sharp-eyed woman named Diana Cruz. The air between them was thick with anticipation as Diana spread out a series of documents and photographs on the desk.

“I need everything you can find on Lucas Martin,” Evelyn told her. “His past deals, his connections, any skeletons in his closet.”

Diana nodded, her gaze unwavering. “Lucas Martin operates like a ghost. He’s careful, calculated. But everyone has a weak spot.” She flipped through a folder and pulled out a black-and-white photograph. “This was taken six years ago at an exclusive investment summit. Notice the man next to him.”

Evelyn leaned in, recognizing the face almost immediately. Vincent Calloway. A notorious investor with a history of ethically dubious dealings. If Lucas had ties to Calloway, it could mean there were cracks in his carefully constructed image.

“That’s interesting,” Evelyn murmured. “Do you have more?”

Diana smirked. “I have a full dossier on their interactions. If there’s a thread to pull, I’ll find it.”

Evelyn exhaled, a renewed sense of purpose fueling her. The battle had begun, and she wasn’t going to lose.

---

Later that night, as Evelyn sat alone in her father’s office, she poured over the documents Diana had left with her. There were mentions of questionable offshore accounts, secret meetings with investors, and whispers of backdoor deals that could potentially be used against Lucas.

Her fingers hovered over her phone. Should she confront him now? Demand answers? No—she needed to be strategic. She needed undeniable proof, something so damning that he wouldn’t be able to maneuver his way out of it.

The thought of facing Lucas again sent a shiver down her spine. It had been five years, but the memory of their last encounter still burned. The intensity in his eyes, the way he had always seemed to be three steps ahead of everyone else—she needed to be ready for him.

A knock on the door startled her. Olivia Smith, her mother, stepped inside, worry etched into her features. “Evelyn, it’s late. You should rest.”

Evelyn gave a small, tired smile. “I can’t, Mom. Not yet.”

Olivia walked over, placing a gentle hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Your father built this company with integrity. Whatever you do, don’t lose yourself in the fight.”

Evelyn nodded. “I won’t. But I will make sure we don’t lose everything he worked for.”

As Olivia left the room, Evelyn turned back to the papers before her. The storm was brewing, and she was ready to face it head-on.

Lucas Martin thought he had won.

He had no idea the storm that was coming for him.