CHAPTER 72: The Corporate War Heats UpThe words are unambiguous: Alex's firm is negotiating a takeover, using unlawful methods to destroy every business. Simeon exhales softly and reclines back in his chair. Reading the names and the dates, everything exactly matches Alex's plot to harm him, which causes his heart to race in his chest.Though the moment's gravity is apparent, Elizabeth enters the room softly, her footsteps light. Not yet, Simeon looks down. His palm glides across the page, the burn of the truth seeping deeper. "If we play it right, this could finish him; he says quietly, his voice low and dangerously calm."His eyes rise to meet hers, and in that instant, they both realise This is their opportunity.Elizabeth approaches closer, her eyes combing the document in Simeon's palm. She knows what that implies without having to read it. "We need proof," she replies, her voice strong. She will match his. Reaching for his hand, she brushes her fingers against his, a quiet prom
CHAPTER 73: The first Major Blow Watching the numbers on the screen plummet makes Simeon's pulse race. His company's stock is falling faster than he can grasp. Every alert and notification feels like a stab to the heart. Every hour makes the press's position worse; they are having a field day with Alex's charges.Using his newly acquired ally, Alex has started a brutal assault. Everything Simeon and Elizabeth have worked for is at stake, from hostile takeovers, smear campaigns, and underhanded strategies meant to leave little in their wake.Simeon's fists pound on the desk, the quiet room resonating with the harsh sound of his frustration. He flushes with rage and disbelief. He's acting now. Now, he exhales, his voice tense with need. We cannot afford to wait any more.Elizabeth stands beside him, hand on his shoulder, looking at the display. She absorbs the figures, the fast drop, and the media circus surrounding their firm. She understands precisely what this implies.What can we
CHAPTER 74: Elizabeth’s Strategy Elizabeth's office seems different today. There is a purposeful tension in the air, one of action about to happen. Her mind runs like a machine, calculating, analysing, and strategising as she reviews the most recent financials, fingers hovering over the keyboard. Though Elizabeth isn't one to readily break, Alex's assaults have already done considerable harm. She has no plans to let his attack cause her company to fall under the weight of it.She says under her breath, her voice steady but full of intensity, "Time to turn the tables." Slamming a paper on her desk, she finds the bold projections and figures to be a beacon of optimism among the turmoil.Simeon, his forehead creased in concentration, stands opposite her, watching her closely. They have shared this experience of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges; however, this feels different.Elizabeth's strategy is bold. She will change the public's view and return money and support in th
CHAPTER 75: Alex’s Last Betrayal In his last act of desperation, Alex has joined forces with a merciless foe, a corporate mogul linked worldwide. Once a competitor, this guy now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Alex in their common objective: to destroy Simeon's empire. There has never been more at stake.Simeon stops dead, breath quick, hands clenched. "This time, he's gone too far," he grumbles beneath his breath, his words simmering with silent rage. His thoughts speed, looking for an edge, a flaw to use in this perilous new coalition.Elizabeth gazes up at him, her expression icy but resolute. "Simeon, this is the endgame," she adds softly, her voice firm yet harsh, undercutting the peaceful front. His last card is being played. We cannot afford to wait.Simeon considers the consequences of this fresh alliance, his head spinning. Desperate to win at any cost, Alex has crossed a boundary that could destroy them all. Simeon, however, will not be scared. He says emphatically, "We wo
CHAPTER 76: ELIZABETH BECOME A CEOHolding the title in her grasp, Elizabeth's fingers quivered ever so slightly. The weight of the gold-plated plaque stating "Chief Executive Officer" felt unreal. It seemed like an unattainable goal she had battled valiantly to attain but had never intended for. Everything had altered in a few days. Disillusioned with Simeon's management of the situation, the board of directors had observed in Elizabeth the keen intellect and unrelenting will they sorely required to guide the company through the turmoil.She stood alone in the large CEO's office, the whole area resonating with her breath. The view from the top level, with the city sprawling below her, felt like a terrible reminder of how far she had fallen and ascended. Her eyes travelled over the minimalist design, the polished wood of the desk, and the walls decorated with honours, some of which had Simeon's name and others now had hers. The glass window presented a panoramic view of the city, a
CHAPTER 77: FIGHTING BACK TOGETHER Standing beside the floor-to-ceiling windows of her office, Elizabeth stared fixedly at the metropolis underneath. Like a vice, the pressure of her role and the duty of holding the company's destiny in her hands crushed against her chest. Trying to calm the storm inside, her fingers pounded gently on the glass. She had just taken charge days before, yet she had already sensed the fractures starting to show in the foundation.The door snapped open behind her; she didn't have to look back to know who it was. Simeon, Without saying anything, his presence could fill the space. He waited his unflinching gaze on her back without interrupting her thoughts."Talk to me," he murmured, his voice a steady, calm anchor in the turmoil of her life.Elizabeth turned to look at him. She noticed the worry there but also something more: confidence, a determination that reflected her own."I don't know whether I can do this," she said, her voice heavy with annoyance.
CHAPTER 78: ALEX’S LAST BETRAYAL The air in Simeon's office seemed heavy with the knowledge of the discovery. Her thoughts racing with the consequences of what they had only found, Elizabeth stood by the window gazing at the city skyline. It was unbelievable to her. Her ex, the guy she had formerly loved, Alex, had teamed up with a monster.Simeon's worried voice cut through her musings. "He's not just fighting for business anymore," he continued, darkening his gaze. It is now personal.Her palm clutched the windowsill's edge as she turned to face him. A sudden sense of remorse pierced her heart, and her breath caught. Alex's treachery had always hurt, but this? This was different. Simeon was correct. The stakes had increased. They were battling for all they had created, not only playing a game.Simeon moved closer and said, "He's working with Ivan Rogan." His gaze was sharp, calculating. Rogan is risky. He occasionally alters the rules to his benefit rather than following them.A ch
CHAPTER 79: THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN This fight determined their future and maybe the future of all they had toiled for.Simeon's dark eyes carefully studied the area. Accustomed to control, he was a man, yet now everything seemed beyond his control. Conversely, Alex sat like a lion in waiting, his icy, calculating stare fixed on Elizabeth and Simeon. His cocky grin was only the start of his battle; he was prepared for whatever came after.The judge called the court to order; everybody became silent. Slamming shut, the doors sealed everyone within; a fight to the death was now beginning. Trembling only a little, Elizabeth's hand brushed against Simeon's. The delicate link was a lifeline, not just a source of comfort. Now, neither of them could afford to exhibit weakness.Elizabeth said, her voice almost inaudible but full of will.Simeon turned to face her, his expression stony. Though his words were tinged with quiet resolve, his lips parted. "We must prevail." Everything is at risk.
CHAPTER 90: The Peace After the War The world had evolved. Though the fight scars remained, the last few months seemed like a distant recollection. Sitting on the balcony next to Simeon, Elizabeth looked over the city they had battled so hard to safeguard. Their silence was pleasant; there were no more pressing meetings or dangers to confront.Resting softly on her knee, Simeon's hand anchored her as her thoughts returned to the mayhem. The long nights, the unending pressure, and the sense that they were always running out of time returned to her. But now, with Alex gone and the firm safe, there was a sense of comfort.Simeon murmured slowly, his voice gentle with a mix of respect and worry, "You have endured so much." You make me proud.Elizabeth looked at him, her lips curling into a faint, knowing smile. "We've been through this together," she said, her voice calm despite the feelings roiling inside her. Without you, I could not have finished it.For a minute, the city stretched i
CHAPTER 89: The Calm After The Storm Simeon moved to the front, eyes scanning the assembled throng, and the room fell silent. The familiar faces, those who had stood with him through the turmoil, the betrayals, and the long nights of uncertainty, now gazed at him with quiet respect. It was not only his triumph; it was theirs.Her fingers nestled inside his, Elizabeth stood beside him. As he was ready to speak to the individuals who had battled so hard for this moment, her touch was a stabilising presence, the calm confidence he required. Though he could feel the journey's weight in his bones, there was something else now: relief. Though it wasn't finished, this was the turning moment.His voice cut through the quietude, resonating around the space. We stand together now as winners, not as survivors. Against all obstacles, we have triumphed over what Alex sought to annihilate. No longer in the hands of a guy who would lie and manipulate for power, our future is now in our control.The
CHAPTER 88: The Final Betrayal Elizabeth whispered, her voice strained, "He's trying to claim everything." We have to move quickly.Simeon stood beside her, his face unreadable as he scanned the room. "We have to turn this around," he added flatly. He never took his gaze off the table's papers. We cannot let him escape this.He was correct. Though calculated, Alex's plan was foolish. His exploited gap was weak; if they could get ahead, they could permanently free his hold on the business. Though the odds were against them, Elizabeth could find a way ahead. They only had to act quickly.Simeon moved on and assembled their legal team with one nod. A low command, his voice pierced the din. "We have him now," he remarked, his grin more frigid than happy. He will fall soon enough.Elizabeth felt a rush of hope as the squad started getting ready to respond; Alex had underappreciated them, and now it was time to use his pride against him. Though the stakes were greater than ever, now was th
CHAPTER 87: The Fall Of AlexAs she pressed "send," Elizabeth's fingers quivered a little. Alex's reality would soon be known worldwide. The media would go wild, his empire would start to fall apart, and there would be no turning back. She looked at Simeon, whose face was quiet, nearly unreadable. Still, she was aware that, like her, he felt the pressure of this time.For a long beat, the room was quiet; tension hung in the air. A flurry of alerts then inundated their phones. News organisations were already picking up the tale. The headlines shouted Alex's darkest secrets: years of treachery, financial mismanagement, and shady business dealings—enough to destroy him.A sharp phone call shattered the stillness. It was their solicitors.Elizabeth replied, her voice calm. "Yes?""Elizabeth, you have done it," the lawyer's voice crackled. We have sent him into a tailspin. We have to be ready, though. He won't sit back and take this lying down.Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat. She knew th
CHAPTER 86: The Ultimate Showdown The walls seemed to be closing in. Every clock tick reverberated in Elizabeth's ears as she looked at the documents before her. Though Alex had tried all he could to ruin them, this time, they were prepared. The game had evolved, yet the stakes were greater than ever.Simeon sat next to her, steadying her as usual. Though she could see the stress in his jaw and the tightness of his hand grip, his typical calmness remained unaffected. The strain was affecting both of them.Elizabeth said softly, her eyes narrowing, "This is the fight of our lives." Though the last battle was only hours away, the burden of their common goal felt more intense than ever. She was not scared. Not at this time. They would prevail.At first, Simeon remained silent. His eyes were on the papers, his brain already figuring out every conceivable result. His words came with quiet confidence. We have gotten ready for this. We cannot let him succeed.The statements reminded them t
CHAPTER 85 Final Showdown It would either all come together today, or it would all fall apart.Simeon stood next to her, his stance firm and his face blank. But she could sense the storm in him—the same one that had driven every fight they had fought together. The same one that had gotten them thus far."We have all we need," Simeon remarked quietly, his tone final. Our time is now.Elizabeth looked at him, her heart racing in her chest. She had never felt more exposed, never felt the stakes higher. On the line was all she had ever laboured for—her business, her standing, her connection with Simeon. If there is one incorrect move, it will all be finished.The papers in the file were now the key to everything, and she gazed down at them again. They were the last act, the last action to bring Alex down."We make it count," she said softly, a little vow between them, squeezing Simeon's hand firmly.His soft contact grounded her in the tempest of feelings roiling within her as he clasped
CHAPTER 84: The Final Choice In the low light of her office, Elizabeth sat with her fingers lingering above her phone. The screen showed an unanticipated note that caused her heart to stop for a beat. The sender's name was recognised but not welcome: Charles Finch, a top executive from Alex's team.Rereading the note, she attempted to understand what he was providing: private knowledge, a vital component of Alex's plan, sufficient to bring him down finally. Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat. It was too wonderful to be real.Simeon had come in with her head spinning just as she sat back in her chair. One glance at the phone in her palm caused him to frown in worry. What is it?"It's an offer," she answered softly, her voice cautious. Inch had seen him. He says he is sick of Lex and wishes to assist us.Simeon's eyes darted from her to the phone and back, his expression one of bewilderment. Help us? After everything? Elizabeth, we cannot trust him."I know," she said softly, near
CHAPTER 83: The Ultimate Betrayal As Elizabeth read the first headline, the phone buzzed violently on the desk. For a second, the words blended; as they became clear, her heart raced: "Elizabeth Hasting: Corporate Insider with a Dark Past."She choked on her breath. She expected this, but not in this manner. The pictures, the claims, they were personal. The secrets she had laboured so hard to suppress were suddenly on display for the whole world.Her eyes roving the piece, she asked herself, "How?" Every statement meant to kill her made it a brutal assault. At last, Alex had gone for the throat. This was about eradicating her reputation now, not only about business.Simeon walked into the room, his face blank when he saw the quiet. He looked at the screen and didn't have to question."He's out to destroy me," Elizabeth murmured, her voice low but seething with rage. But I will not allow him to prevail.Simeon stood behind her and walked over. A quiet display of support, his hand lay
CHAPTER 82: The Showdown Begins Though papers were strewn over the desk, the last report, hidden in the corner, caught her attention. Finally, the weakness of Alex's empire is exposed. A tiny but significant hole in his financial plan he had missed offered the ideal chance.Though she had been looking at the figures for days, today, something snapped. There it lay—an error in a recent acquisition, an overestimation of assets that, if uncovered, would undermine Alex's standing. This was the gap they had to stab into.Is it sufficient? Low and desperate, Simeon's voice cut through her musings. Standing near the window, he looked tired yet cautiously hopeful.Elizabeth did not respond immediately. Leaning forward, she looked over the paper one more. This was not only about the monetary blunder. It was the sort of error Alex's pride would never allow him to admit. If they played this correctly, it would not only make him withdraw but also destroy his credibility, maybe permanently.We mu