Lena PovThirty minutes later I found myself sitting across from Victor in a private lobby of an exclusive hotel. He slid a thick folder across the table. I opened it and scanned the pages with my eyes.The seemingly immaculate life of Cassidy Graham had a few cracks- cracks not seen until this moment."Her finances are not as clean as she makes them appear," Victor said, a calm note to his voice covering a trace of satisfaction. "There are some shady offshore dealings under one of her shell companies; not illegal yet, but it wouldn't take much to make it look like one."I was tapping my fingers on the table, considering.Victor continued, "Her personal life is the other half. She's been seen with Damien quite often. The media would devour the insinuation of an affair."I raised my brow as I looked up. "An affair?”Victor smirked. "That's how we'll frame it."I inhaled slowly while considering the next steps. The offshore accounts were straightforward; they would definitely harm her r
Lena's POVAriel scoffed. "How generous." I met Sean’s gaze, ignoring Ariel’s comment. "And if I don’t?"The smirk was still there, but now there was a little less shine to it. "Then Cassidy keeps coming. And she won’t stop until you’re drowning." I drummed my fingers against the desk. "Tell me something, Sean/ do you enjoy being her lap dog? Fetching threats and delivering messages like an obedient little servant?"His expression didn’t change, but I knew he was getting annoyed with me."I enjoy working for someone who knows how to win," he replied with a bit of a smile. "And that’s exactly what Cassidy is doing."Finally, I lifted the envelope, ripped it open, and removed the crisp letter. My eyes scanned the words and my jaw tightened.Cassidy wasn’t just playing the media against me; she was making moves in the business world. Pulling strings with my investors, aligning herself with my competitors. If I didn’t act fast, she’d have her hands wrapped around my empire’s throat.I pl
Ariel's POV I navigated the aisles of the upscale grocery store, tossing a few essentials into my cart while my mind replayed the day's events. I was worried about Lena- sickened from worrying about how far she would go. I sighed and rubbed my temples as I walked toward the checkout. Probably a quiet night alone would help me think.After paying, I stepped out on the sidewalk, shifting my bags around in my arms while raising one hand to flag down a taxi.That's when I saw her.Allyson.Lena's assistant.Allyson was a few feet away, standing in the same manner and trying to catch a taxi. My brows twisted downwards. It wasn't strange for Allyson to be out, but there was something about the way she was standing-an urgent, almost anxious-like it's stopping Ariel right in her tracks. Allyson looked behind her as if she were checking for someone before hastily getting into the cab.Clarity came back in a flash. Something was wrong. I moved without thinking and jumped into the next taxi.
Lena's POV I couldn’t stop smiling. This was everything I’d ever dreamed of. The fancy gala, the people, the prestige. My parents were sitting proudly in the front row, watching me like I was the crown jewel. And tonight, I was. The Reynolds family, once modest and humble, was now a top-tier name, thanks to me, Lena Reynolds, soon to be Lena Wells. “Lena, the board is already discussing the upcoming mergers,” my father said, his voice filled with pride. “Grant has done wonders for the company, but now that you're engaged, we’re seeing even bigger deals come through.”I nodded, trying to suppress my grin. “Everything’s falling into place, Dad. This is just the beginning.”My mother, Barbara, chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She'd always been a party lover. “You’ve made us so proud, darling. And that ring,” she said, taking my hand, "it’s stunning.”I smiled and touched the diamond ring on my finger. It sparkled under the lights. Everything was perfect. Until Verena ap
Lena’s POV“Lena, that went incredibly well,” Damien’s voice was full of pride as he walked beside me, matching my pace. I smiled, still riding high from the successful meeting. “It did. The Asian market is tough to break into, but we nailed it.” “You won them over without even trying hard,” Damien said with a grin. “How could they not sign the deal? You were brilliant in there.” I smiled. Damien wasn't economical with his compliments. I shrugged, smiling. “That’s what I’m here for.”His eyes seemed to sparkle as he glanced at me. “Speaking of which… How about we celebrate tonight? Dinner? You know, something to unwind.”I swallowed and paused. “Damien, I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got a lot of unfinished work on my desk to think about something else. ”He chuckled softly, not backing down. “Come on, Lena. You work too hard. You need to let loose sometimes. What harm could a dinner do?”“I’m sorry,” I replied, my voice firm. “I’m not ready for such distractions just yet. We sti
Lena's POV I walked into the office the next morning with a straight face. The kiss with Damien never happened. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. This was business, nothing else. Quietly, I sat at my desk, flipping through the papers from yesterday’s meeting. There was a knock.“Miss. Reynolds?” It was Grant’s secretary, holding a file in her hands and wearing that annoyingly polite smile.I didn’t look up. “What is it?”“Mr. Wells asked me to deliver the final draft of the contract. He’s very eager to hear back from you.”I sighed, finally glancing at her. “Tell Mr. Well, that I’m not interested in the partnership.”Her smile faltered. “But, Ms. Reynolds, this deal is very beneficial—”“I’m not inclined to take any business advice from you, missy,” I cut her off with a stern voice. “Now, unless you have something else, I suggest you leave.”The secretary blinked, taken aback, then she gave a tight nod. “Very well, I’ll let him know.”As she walked out, I sighed. This wa
Lena’s POV The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache. I was on the couch with a blanket over me, pretty warm. I grabbed my phone from the table, a series of missed calls and messages on my phone, most of them from Damien. Why was my phone on silent? “Grant!” I snapped, crossing my arms. “Why did you put my phone on silent? Why didn’t you tell me Damien was trying to reach me last night?”Grant was casually sipping his coffee, scrolling through his phone like everything was normal. “Oh, that? I didn’t think it was important. Besides, you looked too exhausted to take calls.”I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you serious? It wasn’t your decision to make, Grant! I would’ve taken his calls.”“Would you?” he smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Look, Lena, you were half asleep by the time you had that coffee. There was no way you were talking to anyone coherently. I did you a favor.”I clenched my fists. “I don’t need your favors, Grant! Damien’s calls were my business, not
Lena's POV “We knew you'd do the right thing, honey.” Those were my mother's words, and they have haunted me since yesterday.As I stepped into my office, Damien was already there, leaning against my desk, his arms crossed and his expression stiff.Damien rarely looked pissed. Today, he was furious. His gaze was fixed on me. "So, it's true?My heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"Don't play dumb, Lena. I know about the partnership with Grant Wells."I flinched. "Damien, How did you know that?He shrugged, his jaw clenched. "I have my resources. You think you can just agree to something like that and keep me in the dark?"I sighed, my head dropping slightly. "Damien, this is for my family. I didn’t expect you to understand.""Oh, I understand, alright." His voice was sharp, almost accusing. "You’re making a deal with him for your family after refusing to take the deal for Mega Hawke, do you have any idea how that looks?”It’s not like that!" I shot back. "It’s…it’s comp
Ariel's POV I navigated the aisles of the upscale grocery store, tossing a few essentials into my cart while my mind replayed the day's events. I was worried about Lena- sickened from worrying about how far she would go. I sighed and rubbed my temples as I walked toward the checkout. Probably a quiet night alone would help me think.After paying, I stepped out on the sidewalk, shifting my bags around in my arms while raising one hand to flag down a taxi.That's when I saw her.Allyson.Lena's assistant.Allyson was a few feet away, standing in the same manner and trying to catch a taxi. My brows twisted downwards. It wasn't strange for Allyson to be out, but there was something about the way she was standing-an urgent, almost anxious-like it's stopping Ariel right in her tracks. Allyson looked behind her as if she were checking for someone before hastily getting into the cab.Clarity came back in a flash. Something was wrong. I moved without thinking and jumped into the next taxi.
Lena's POVAriel scoffed. "How generous." I met Sean’s gaze, ignoring Ariel’s comment. "And if I don’t?"The smirk was still there, but now there was a little less shine to it. "Then Cassidy keeps coming. And she won’t stop until you’re drowning." I drummed my fingers against the desk. "Tell me something, Sean/ do you enjoy being her lap dog? Fetching threats and delivering messages like an obedient little servant?"His expression didn’t change, but I knew he was getting annoyed with me."I enjoy working for someone who knows how to win," he replied with a bit of a smile. "And that’s exactly what Cassidy is doing."Finally, I lifted the envelope, ripped it open, and removed the crisp letter. My eyes scanned the words and my jaw tightened.Cassidy wasn’t just playing the media against me; she was making moves in the business world. Pulling strings with my investors, aligning herself with my competitors. If I didn’t act fast, she’d have her hands wrapped around my empire’s throat.I pl
Lena PovThirty minutes later I found myself sitting across from Victor in a private lobby of an exclusive hotel. He slid a thick folder across the table. I opened it and scanned the pages with my eyes.The seemingly immaculate life of Cassidy Graham had a few cracks- cracks not seen until this moment."Her finances are not as clean as she makes them appear," Victor said, a calm note to his voice covering a trace of satisfaction. "There are some shady offshore dealings under one of her shell companies; not illegal yet, but it wouldn't take much to make it look like one."I was tapping my fingers on the table, considering.Victor continued, "Her personal life is the other half. She's been seen with Damien quite often. The media would devour the insinuation of an affair."I raised my brow as I looked up. "An affair?”Victor smirked. "That's how we'll frame it."I inhaled slowly while considering the next steps. The offshore accounts were straightforward; they would definitely harm her r
Lena's POVI dropped the call and let silence embrace me as my heart regained its calmness. The anger churning in my gut, however, remained unbridled, scorching beneath my skin. Cassidy had drifted in, taunted me before drifting away like a winner. But she was mistaken. I walked to the window and gazed down at the city below. Streets stretched below with the pull of life, unaware of the war that was rising from the shadows. I had built my empire in this city, made my name untouchable. And Cassidy thought she would take it away from me? No chance. I turned back to my desk, flipping through the reports of the latest damage control efforts. The media had been relentless on me. The headlines cast me as a tyrant, my employees as victims, my business as a decaying empire. Some of my top investors had already withdrawn, and those still holding on were betting on my ability to weather this storm. I would. A knock sounded at my door. I didn't look up. "What?" Marie came in, her steps hes
In the charged air between us, we both stood on our ground, studying each other for a fight. Cassidy had the guts to walk into my space, my office, as if she owned the place. And yet she didn't bat an eye. No hesitation marked her steps, nor was there any flicker of doubt in her gaze.She wanted this confrontation.Fine. I would give her one.I leaned back on the desk, arms crossed, as I met her ice-cold glare. "You've certainly grown bolder," I said flatly. "All that time spent scheming in the shadows must have done wonders for your confidence."A tinkling laugh escaped Cassidy. She sounded light, but the undertone was sharper. "Oh, Lena. You act as though you haven’t been doing the same. The difference is I don’t hide behind boardrooms and PR firms. I fight my battles head-on."I scoffed. "Is that what you call it? Lying? Poisoning the media against me? You are not a warrior, Cassidy. You are a snake, slithering in the cracks while waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike."He
Lena's POVDamien closed the door behind him and leaned against it, crossing his arms. "You are driving straight into a downward spiral, Lena." His voice was low but firm. "And it is pathetic."I shot him a glare. "Excuse me?""You heard me," he said, stepping closer. "Look at you. Scurrying frantically to try and hold on to power, chasing shadows, and lashing out at everyone around you. This is not the Lena I know!""You don't know me," I shot back. "You have no idea what I've been through, what I've had to fight for."Damien's eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched. "I know you've always been ruthless, but this? This is desperation, Lena. And desperation will make you sloppy."A flare of rage shot up through my chest. "If you're here to lecture me, skip it. I've had enough of your advice.""You need something," he said, his voice slicing into my defenses like a knife. "Because right now, Cassidy's winning. And if you don't stop acting like a cornered animal, she's going to run you out.
Lena's POV I hung up without another word, mind a million miles ahead of the present situation. This was going to be the start of a legal spate; I was determined to tell my story and remind them how I am the queen of this industry.I spun around toward my laptop, typed up an emergency statement that had to reach each and every national publication before daybreak: Good-naturedly offering recognition of the challenges, some non-essential regrets for "misunderstandings", and reaffirming my commitment to excellence. This was a standard maneuver, creating an impression that had worked in the past any number of times.But it felt wrong. Cassidy was not only trash talking me; she was actually shredding the very fabric of what I stood for. And deep inside, I knew this was no tale about her being hurt or displaced. It was a simple tale of revenge.Sitting paralyzed before the luminous screen, a thunderbolt hit me: Why shouldn’t I play for both sides? Why must I let Cassidy run this fight?No
Lena's POV Opening the door to my office unceremoniously, there was the loud creak of the hinges shattering the fierce silence. Grant walked in, his usual authoritative self almost hazed with agitation. Clad in his immaculate tailor-suit as ever, the tautness of his jaw and the flickering unease in his eyes gave him away."What do you want, Grant?" I asked as irritation escaped my voice.He shut the door behind him and took slow, steady steps toward my desk. "I'm here to talk about the mess you made, Lena."Leaning back into the chair, I drummed my fingers against the armrest. "The mess I made?" My voice was bitter. "That's something to say coming from you."Grant's expression darkened. "Don't even go there. The tabloids are not exactly kind to you. The Graham family is furious, and now the investors are asking if you are even worth the risk."I sprang from my chair, the heels clacking sharply against the marble as I closed the distance between us. "Don't lecture me about risks, Gran
Lena's POVMy heels clicked sharply against the cobblestones as I exited the sleek black car, approaching the glittering glass facade of my flagship store. It shimmered like a fortress of success, a tangible testament to everything I had built with my sweat, ambition, and many sleepless nights. But today, even its imposing beauty felt diminished, its big façade cracking only visible to me.I had a holiday from the unending chaos inside the Parisian resort, after my disastrous fashion show. It was a happy place, so peaceful between grittiness. I had sat beside tranquil waters and overdosed on luxury, but even there, a weight of failure pressed down on my chest. And it was an illusion; the calm turned to an ache, that as soon as the real world came in, cold and sharps always were waiting, like an old friend.My empire..the one I had built from scratch, brick by painstaking brick-was under attack, and I knew exactly who the enemy was.As I stepped inside, the same humming environment gre