Empire of the Unexpected Heir

Enemies in Shadows

The next few days were chaotic.

Stanton Industries was trending again, every outlet was covering the downfall of Helix Global. Victor Hayes’ empire was burning, and Alex was the one holding the match. But instead of satisfaction, he felt something colder, a sense that this was just the beginning.

Because men like Hayes didn’t just lose. They came back swinging.

Alex stood by the window of his office, watching the city below. Every honk, every flickering light, every movement on the street, it all felt like part of the same machine. The city never stopped. Neither could he.

Claire walked in, tablet in hand. “Helix’s stock is crashing faster than expected. Investors are pulling out. You just cost Hayes about fifty million.”

Alex didn’t turn. “He’ll want payback.”

“Of course he will,” she said casually. “But that’s good for us. Keeps things interesting.”

He turned then, meeting her eyes. “He’s not coming at me in the open. He’s too smart for that.”

She nodded. “Which means he’ll use someone close. Someone you already trust.”

Alex didn’t need her to say the name.

Jake.

Later that night, Alex sat in the back of his car, staring at his phone screen. Jake hadn’t posted anything in two days. For a guy who loved showing off, that was unusual.

He called one of his new security hires, Leo, a former private investigator with a shady streak.

“Find him,” Alex said flatly.

Jake. Mia. Everyone who’s been near them. I want to know where they sleep, what they eat, who they talk to.”

“You got it, boss,” Leo replied. “But just a heads up, if Jake’s working with someone like Hayes, this might get messy.”

Alex smirked. “Messy’s fine. Just don’t get caught.”

By morning, Leo delivered.

Jake had been meeting regularly with someone from Helix’s New York office. Transfers were happening, money sent to Jake’s name from a Helix-linked account. And Mia? She’d been spotted too. Same man, same place.

Claire reviewed the photos on Alex’s laptop. “They’re both in it now.”

“Figures,” Alex muttered. “They were always good at selling out.”

“You want me to handle it?” Claire asked.

“No,” he said. “I’ll deal with them myself.”

That afternoon, Alex called Mia. She didn’t answer the first two times. The third time, she picked up, voice trembling.

“Alex… please don’t call me again.”

“Too late for that,” he said coldly. “I know about Hayes.”

A long pause. Then, “You don’t understand. He’s dangerous. Jake got in over his head”.

“Save it,” Alex cut in. “You made your choice. Now you’ll live with it.”

“Alex, please! He…”

He hung up.

Claire looked at him from across the desk. “You’re playing with fire.”

“I’m counting on it,” Alex said.

That night, the board gathered for a late emergency meeting. Rumors were spreading about “internal instability,” and several senior members demanded to see proof that Alex was capable of leading.

Old money vultures with smug smiles and fake sympathy.

One of them, a silver-haired snake named Raymond Cole, leaned forward. “Mr. Stanton, we’ve tolerated a lot of sudden changes lately. But your handling of Helix’s scandal was reckless. It might expose us to unnecessary retaliation.”

Alex’s eyes were calm, cold. “You mean your connections to Helix.”

The room went silent.

Raymond froze. “Excuse me?”

“I know about your offshore transfers,” Alex continued evenly. “Hayes has been feeding money through your shell accounts for months. You were leaking to him. You wanted me out.”

Raymond went pale.

Before he could respond, Claire placed a folder on the table. “Proof,” she said simply. “Would you like me to show the board or the SEC first?”

The room erupted.

“Enough!” Raymond barked, slamming the table. “You have no idea what you’re doing, boy. You think you can run this company without fear?”

Alex stood. “No. On respect. But fear works faster.”

He turned to leave, but stopped by the door. “Raymond, pack your things. You’re done here.”

No one moved. Not a single word.

That was the moment Alex realized, they feared him now. And that was exactly how he wanted it.

Hours later, back in his penthouse, he sat alone in the dark, staring out at the rain-soaked skyline.

Every victory came with more enemies.

Claire joined him quietly. “You did good today,” she said softly.

He didn’t look at her. “Good doesn’t win wars.”

She smiled faintly. “No, but it keeps you alive long enough to fight them.”

They sat in silence for a while, the only sound the rain tapping against the glass.

Then Alex’s phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: You really thought you could take down Hayes and walk away? Check your doorstep.

He frowned, walked to the door, and froze.

A small package sat outside, soaked from the rain. No name, no return label.

He opened it. Inside was a USB drive. Nothing else.

Claire’s expression hardened. “Don’t plug it in.”

But Alex was already moving. He connected it to his laptop. A single video file appeared: “CONFESSION.MP4.”

He clicked it.

The video was old, grainy footage of Alex, in his old apartment, yelling, drunk, and throwing things. Mia’s voice screamed in the background. Then Jake appeared, holding the camera, laughing.

Jake’s voice filled the room: “Look at him! The loser who thinks he’s gonna change the world! Hey, Alex, tell us again how you’re gonna be rich one day”.

The younger Alex lunged at the camera. The screen went black.

Then another clip loaded, Jake again, this time sitting across from a man whose face was half-hidden. The voice was clear though. Victor Hayes.

“Keep the video safe,” Hayes said. “When the time’s right, we’ll use it. The world loves tearing down fake heroes.”

The video ended.

Claire exhaled. “Well. That’s our smoking gun.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. “Then it’s time to pull the trigger.”

The next morning, Claire arranged for a quiet meeting with one of her contacts at a major media network, a favor owed. If Hayes wanted to play dirty, Alex would go lower.

But just as they were about to send the footage to the network, Leo burst into the office.

“Boss, you need to see this.”

He handed Alex a tablet. On the screen was a live feed, Jake, tied to a chair, blood on his face, sitting in some kind of warehouse.

A voice off-camera said, “Consider this a warning. Back off Stanton Industries, or next time it won’t just be your little friend.”

The feed was cut off.

Alex froze.

Claire looked at him. “Hayes.”

He nodded slowly. “He’s making it personal.”

She sighed. “Then so will we.”

That night, Alex drove alone to the docks, the rain slicing through the dark like knives. He found the warehouse from the video, empty now, except for a chair and dried blood.

He stood there for a long time, fists clenched, the cold seeping into his skin.

“Fine,” he whispered. “You want a war? You’ve got one.”

He took out his phone, called Claire. “No more subtlety. I want everything. Dig into Helix, their accounts, their people. I want Hayes stripped bare.”

Claire’s voice on the other end was calm. “Already ahead of you.”

By morning, Stanton Industries’ private servers were alive with data pulls, background checks, and covert transfers. Claire worked her contacts, and Leo tracked Hayes’ movements through a web of shell corporations.

What they found stunned even Alex, Hayes wasn’t just a rival businessman. He was connected to people deep in the city’s political and financial system. Senators, bankers, CEOs. Taking him down meant declaring war on half the elite.

Alex didn’t care.

Because Jake’s blood on that chair wasn’t going to go unanswered.

Days passed. Hayes stayed quiet, too quiet. No press, no leaks, no calls. The calm before the storm.

One night, Claire called Alex to her office. “You need to see this.”

On her screen was an encrypted message.

Sender: Unknown

Subject: “We have something you want.”

Attached was a short video.

Jake, alive, bruised, scared, sitting in a dark room.

He looked into the camera. “Alex… I’m sorry man, I didn’t know what I was getting into. Hayes, he’s gonna kill me if”.

The feed glitched and ended.

Alex stared at the blank screen for a long time. Then he said quietly, “Get me Hayes.”

Claire didn’t ask questions. Within hours, they found a meeting spot.

A rooftop restaurant downtown, private, overlooking the city lights. Hayes was already there when Alex arrived, looking perfectly calm, glass of wine in hand.

“Alex Stanton,” Hayes said smoothly. “The prodigal heir. I’ve been waiting for this.”

Alex sat down, his expression unreadable. “Where’s Jake?”

Hayes smiled. “Alive. For now. Depends on how cooperative you are.”

“Cut the games,” Alex said coldly. “You’re not getting Stanton Industries.”

Hayes chuckled. “You think this is about your company? No, son. This is about power. And you? You just got in my way.”

He leaned closer. “But I like you. You remind me of me twenty years ago. Angry, ambitious, reckless. So here’s my offer, walk away. Take a payout, disappear, live like a king. Or stay, and I’ll bury you.”

Alex stared at him for a long moment, then smiled faintly. “You should’ve made that offer before you touched my people.”

He stood up. “Enjoy your dinner, Hayes. You won’t be able to afford many more.”

That night, as Alex left the rooftop, he knew there was no turning back.

This wasn’t about revenge anymore. It was survival.

And if Hayes thought he could scare him, he was about to learn just how dangerous a man becomes when he’s got nothing left to lose.