Achilles: The Warlord Emperor

7: Ghost Revenge Mood Activated

Achilles hadn't seen his pumpkin since the accident and needed to discreetly meet with her while plotting his ghost revenge against the Hayden family.

Margaret Julian accompanied him to Liverpool Contemporary Art and Dance Session where Danielle often went for rehearsal on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5PM.

Gabrielle had always had a special thing for dance and art as she enjoyed doing those effortlessly; hence, two years back, Achilles enrolled her in sessions that would nurture and improve her talents and passion.

Margaret assured Achilles to temporarily get Gabrielle out of the center without arousing suspicion from people.

She knew his pumpkin wouldn't resist coming with her if she knew who wanted to see her.

“Daddy!” She screamed, her shoulder flushed in goosebumps.

“I was so scared you'd die. I'm so sorry for the accident.”

Achilles, in deep emotions, held her and flung her in the air as always. She chuckled so hard that glimpses of tears slipped from her beautiful brown eyes.

“My pumpkin. It's alright darling. As long as we have each other, we'll be fine.”

“I would have given you a gift but I wouldn't want your mum suspecting us seeing. They shouldn't know about our secret meetings okay.”

Gabrielle nodded, embracing him wholeheartedly— both could perceive each other's heartbeat. What they shared was beyond mere reproduction.

She understood what Achilles meant after what she experienced on the day of the accident. She didn't need a soothsayer to tell her how schemy and sneaky the Hayden family was.

Margaret sheepishly stared at them and mustered a cheerful smile on her face.

A tinge of jealousy hit her but a harmless one. She had never experienced such a bond with her late father but wouldn't deny he was a good man.

Gabrielle gave a firm gaze. “But why can’t I stay with you?”

Achilles sighed calmly. How could he explain that the woman she called mother was his greatest enemy? That she was living among snakes?

He chimed in, “Soon, pumpkin.”

She nodded with a faint sad smile, then slipped a small bracelet into his palm. “I made this for you in class. It gave me hope that I'd see you again. Thank heavens you're alive Dad.”

Achilles smiled like a baby, he adored the beautiful handmade bracelet from Gabrielle.

So thoughtful of her!

A simple gift, yet it held more value than all the riches the Hayden family tricked him out of.

Margaret’s voice came softly from behind.

“It’s time, sweetheart.”

Gabrielle sighed. “Five more minutes?”

Achilles chuckled. “I promise to always come see you but it must be discreet.”

Gabrielle calmly obeyed and sent a final kiss on Achilles' cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you too, my pumpkin.”

***

A week later, in Margaret’s private office, Achilles leaned against the desk, arms crossed. She pulled up a live feed from the Eastern Comfort Grand Auction Hall.

The Hayden empire— founded by Eunice and Scar, was being sold off, piece by piece.

The Hayden family had been struck with deep financial losses and difficulties which made them incapable of honoring the debt obligations.

Months back, they took a huge loan to build and expand Hayden Empire— a company solely focused on designer footwear and bags production.

The company's defaulting on the loan agreement had given them no other choice but to sell it off in an auction.

Star seated at the back, watched the auction bidding proceed, her face flushed with deep sadness.

Her mother, Eunice, had a sour demeanor, trying so hard to control her emotions— she didn't envisage the Hayden empire being sold after the first storm came striking.

Margaret smirked. “They look like they’re at a funeral.”

Achilles crossed his legs wearing a revengeful scoff. He watched Hayden's facial expression with curved lips.

“They deserved worse. This is just the beginning. My Ghost Revenge is already activated.”

The auctioneer’s voice echoed, “Starting bid, five million pounds.”

Margaret tapped her screen. “They still don’t know who’s behind this.”

Achilles let out a cold smirk before responding, “They won’t know what hit them and where the forces come from. They'll pay for all they did to me.”

A hooded figure in the hall raised his hand. “Fifty million.”

Star’s heart shattered, the reality that the Hayden empire would soon be sold to pay off a huge accumulated debt hit her like a storm.

Margaret chuckled. “Now they'd panic.”

The gavel slammed in the venue, which indicated the highest bidder had been secured.

“By the powers and rules binding the Auction Entity. I hereby declare: the Hayden Empire is successfully sold off. The Hayden Family has no damn business with it anymore!”

Margaret and Achilles giggled sardonically— the ghost's revenge mood had just begun.

“What about the building they pushed you out of?”

Achilles’ lips curled with menace. “A faceless buyer will take care of that. Haha. I already know how it'd all play out.”

Margaret nodded affirmatively, admiring Achilles’ shadowed revenge method against the Hayden Family.

Achilles rolled the bracelet Gabrielle had given him between his fingers with a bold smile etched on his lit-up face.

The once humiliated Vehement WarLord has embarked on an epic showdown.