Chapter six

Dahlia's POV

I shrug off my coat, hanging it with calculated precision on the rack beside the door, and stride into my office with measured steps. 

The sharp, deliberate click of my five-inch pumps against the marble floor echoes through the room, a reminder of the control I wield in every space I occupy.

 My gaze sweeps across the spacious office, the glass wall behind me framing a panoramic view of the city skyline. I make my way to the executive chair, my hands brushing over the smooth leather as I settle in. 

The hum of my laptop fills the silence as it powers on. Numbers flash across the screen—revenues, projections, margins—all meticulously aligned, all but one. 

I narrow my eyes, scrutinizing the screen. A line of data is missing. A deliberate omission, or a grave mistake. Either way, whoever is responsible will pay dearly.

I press the intercom button. My voice is clipped, direct. “To my office. Now.” The line goes dead before a response can come through. I have no time for delay or excuses. Seconds later, Caleb appears. 

He knows better than to dawdle. He stands before me in his perfectly pressed shirt, his dark blue trousers tailored to fit his lean frame, a tie knotted with precision around his neck.

I don’t bother with pleasantries. “Some numbers are missing, Caleb. I want you to find out what happened to last month’s PowerPoint. Something doesn’t add up.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, his face taut, voice steady. He knows I don’t tolerate hesitation.

“Get back to me in an hour.” I flick my hand dismissively, already shifting my attention back to the screen as Caleb retreats. 

I open my email, sorting through the sea of messages and pausing when a familiar name catches my eye. Crowe Corporation. 

I’ve kept them in the dark corners of my mind, buried under years of calculated distance, but their name surfaces now, like a ghost. A flicker of irritation runs through me.

Curiosity wins, and I open the email. Crowe Corporation, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy after a series of disastrous investments. It was inevitable; I saw the writing on the wall years ago and liquidated my shares while the market was still kind. 

A wise move. My lips curve into a small, satisfied smile, until I read further. Caine Multinationals is circling like a vulture, poised to swoop in for the kill. Ethan. 

A cold fury settles in my veins. Of course, he’d see this as an opportunity. Ethan Caine has always been relentless, ambitious to a fault. But if he thinks he can waltz in and take what’s mine, he’s in for a surprise. 

I’ve been building my empire far from his gaze, becoming a force to be reckoned with. I haven’t clawed my way to the top to have it all snatched away by a man who once tried to destroy me.

For years, I avoided Caine Multinationals like a plague, maneuvering around his reach, expanding my influence quietly, discreetly. But now, fate has set us on a collision course once more. 

I’ve grown my empire into a global powerhouse, and I’m not about to let some man—least of all him—strip me of my legacy. 

My phone buzzes, pulling me from my thoughts. I glance at the screen, and a genuine smile softens my features. It’s my son, my little Aiden, calling from his nanny’s phone. I allow myself this moment of tenderness, but only here, behind the fogged glass where no one can see. 

“Hello, little bean.” My voice is warm, softer than it ever is in the boardroom. 

“Momma! I miss you already. Nanny doesn’t want to play with me today.” Aiden pouts, his big brown eyes filled with mischief.

I chuckle softly, feigning concern. “Why not, darling?”

Aiden frowns, knowing he’s caught in a small fib. “Homework.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You need to do your homework before you play, sweetheart. Otherwise, you’ll get tired and won’t enjoy it.”

He huffs dramatically but concedes, “Okay, Mommy. Bye-bye.”

“No kiss for Mommy?” I tease, leaning closer to the camera.

He giggles, blowing me a kiss, which I catch with a wide smile. Only he and his nanny ever see this side of me. To the rest of the world, I’m Dahlia Adams, the ruthless, emotionless CEO who clawed her way to the top and stopped caring about anything or anyone. 

I don’t mind the label. Let them think a woman can be as heartless and powerful as the men who tried to break her. I’ve made my peace with that.

A sharp knock at the door returns me to the present. “Come in,” I commanded, the warmth vanishing from my tone.

Caleb reenters, a deep crease etched between his brows. I sit up straighter, my instincts alert. “What is it, Caleb? Something is missing, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he begins, his tone grave. “A significant amount of money was stolen last month, and the new jewelry design you’ve been working on is missing. There’s no trace of who did it, but I’ll keep searching.”

My jaw tightens, rage simmering just beneath the surface. The money was meant for charity, a cause I carefully selected to keep up appearances. And the necklace, my masterpiece, the most ambitious project of my career, was gone. 

I had planned to make it the crown jewel of my collection, a diamond set more valuable than any the world has seen. Now, it’s vanished.

“I want you to find out who did this and bring them to me in less than twenty-four hours. Do you understand me, Caleb?” My voice is sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.

He nods quickly, “Yes, ma’am,” and leaves with urgency.

The door shuts, and the carefully maintained composure slips. I rake my hands through my long, raven-black hair, frustration pouring out in a silent scream. 

I will not let anyone undermine me. I will not allow anyone to think they can steal from me, from my future. My gaze falls on the burner phone in my drawer. I don’t hesitate. I dial the number I rarely use.

“I need you to find out who stole my money and my design,” I say coldly, my voice dripping with menace. “And make sure they understand the consequences. No mercy.”

The person on the other end murmurs assent, and I hang up. I’ve spent years perfecting my reputation as a woman who doesn’t bend, doesn’t break. Now, someone will learn just how deep my resolve goes.

My eyes shift back to the screen, to the email from Crowe Corporation. Ethan Caine has no idea what he’s walking into. A meeting is the perfect opportunity to remind him of just how far I’ve come. I pick up the phone again, dialing George Crowe.

“I want a meeting with Ethan Caine regarding the acquisition. Make it happen immediately,” I demand. 

George stammers out an agreement, and I hang up, a slow smile spreading across my face. Ethan won’t see this coming. He’ll be expecting the same girl he left broken all those years ago. 

He has no idea the woman I’ve become, the one who has rebuilt herself piece by piece, every shard sharper than before. He won’t know what hit him.

“Let the games begin, Ethan,” I whisper to myself. Because this time, I’m not playing to win. I’m playing to destroy.