REVENGE OF THE ILLEGITIMATE HEIR

A rude Awakening.

“You’ve got that look again,” Klaw said, leaning against the bars of Dimitri’s cell, a sly grin spreading across his scarred face. “The one that says you’re about to burn the whole world down.”

Dimitri, sitting cross-legged on the cot, didn’t look up. His hands toyed with a crumpled piece of paper, the remnants of Marcelo’s latest findings. “Not the world,” he muttered. “Just theirs.”

Klaw’s grin widened. “That’s the spirit. Seven years, huh? Feels like we’ve been waiting a lifetime for this.”

Dimitri finally glanced up, his sharp green eyes meeting Klaw’s piercing gaze. “You think they’ve forgotten about me?”

“They haven’t forgotten,” Klaw said, pushing off the bars. “They’re just hoping you did.”

Dimitri chuckled darkly. “They’re in for a rude awakening.”

---

Apollo Empire Headquarters – Boardroom

“I’m not asking for miracles, Quinn!” an older board member shouted, his fists slamming the polished oak table. “I’m asking for leadership, which this company clearly lacks!”

Quinn Apollo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, an amused expression on his face. “Leadership, huh? Is that what you call whining every quarter? Maybe you should try running a lemonade stand first.”

The room erupted with angry voices.

“This is unacceptable!”

“You’re playing with our futures!”

“If this continues, the company will collapse!”

Ava raised a hand, silencing the chaos. Her icy blue eyes scanned the room, her expression unflinching. “Enough,” she said sharply. “The company is under control. Your dramatics aren’t helping.”

“Under control?” a woman scoffed, waving a report in the air. “These losses say otherwise. If you don’t do something, Ava, there won’t be a company left to control.”

Quinn smirked. “Then leave. Nobody’s forcing you to stay.”

The woman glared at him, her cheeks flushing with anger. “You arrogant little….”

“Ashley,” Ava interrupted, her tone calm but lethal. “This meeting is over. I suggest you all cool down before we meet again.”

The board members exchanged furious glances before gathering their papers and filing out of the room.

As the boardroom door closed, a new figure entered. Tobias, dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, walked in with an air of authority. His shoes clicked against the marble floor as he approached Ava and Quinn.

“Interesting meeting,” Tobias remarked, his voice smooth as silk.

Ava leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. “What do you want, Tobias?”

Tobias smiled faintly, his dark eyes gleaming. “Just a reminder. Dimitri gets out soon.”

Quinn scoffed, rolling his eyes. “And? He’s a nobody now. An ex-con. What’s he going to do? Lecture us about morality?”

Tobias’s gaze shifted to Quinn, his smile fading. “Underestimating him would be a mistake.”

Ava tapped her perfectly manicured nails against the table. “I have the key, Tobias. Without it, that will is meaningless. Dimitri can scream all he wants, but no one will listen to a criminal.”

Tobias studied her for a moment, his jaw tightening. “I hope you’re right. Because if you’re wrong…” He let the sentence hang, his meaning clear.

Ava waved him off dismissively. “We’re done here. Quinn, double the security at the house. I won’t take any chances.”

Quinn frowned, leaning back against the table. “You think he’d actually try something?”

Ava’s expression hardened. “Just do it.”

Quinn sighed and nodded, though his smirk betrayed his confidence.

—--------

Back in Prison

The cellblock was quiet, the dim lights casting long shadows on the concrete walls. Marcelo appeared at Dimitri’s cell, holding his tablet.

“Got some news for you,” he said, sliding the device through the bars.

Dimitri took it, his jaw tightening as he read. Marcelo leaned against the wall, watching his reaction.

“So,” Marcelo began, “your dear stepmother’s been busy. Looks like she’s holding onto a little something your father left behind. A key, right? Funny thing is, she has no idea we know.”

Dimitri’s eyes remained on the screen. “She will.”

Marcelo smirked. “You’ve got a plan, don’t you?”

“Always.”

Klaw entered the cell, his heavy boots echoing against the floor. “What’s the word?”

“Final piece of the puzzle,” Dimitri said, handing the tablet back to Marcelo. “We know where the key is. Now we just need to get it.”

Klaw grinned, his scar stretching ominously. “When do we start?”

Dimitri stood, his expression steely. “The moment we’re out of here.”

Klaw’s laughter filled the cellblock. “Good. Because I’m ready to burn it all down.”

--

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the city as Dimitri stared out through the bars of his cell. The echoes of the past seven years played in his mind like a haunting melody, each note fueling his resolve.

As the prison gates loomed in the distance, Dimitri clenched his fists, a storm brewing in his chest. Seven years of planning, waiting, and surviving were about to culminate in a single moment.

But little did Ava and Quinn know, the ex-convict they dismissed as powerless had spent those years building something far more dangerous….an alliance.

And he was coming for them.

—-------------

As the conversation in the boardroom ended and Tobias exited, Quinn leaned back in his chair with a smug grin.

“Guess I’ll have to keep Celeste busy tonight,” he said casually, glancing at Ava. “She’s always good at helping me unwind after these tedious meetings.”

Ava gave him a sharp look. “Keep your focus, Quinn. Celeste may be your plaything, but don’t let her distract you from the bigger picture.”

Quinn chuckled, tapping his fingers on the table. “Relax, Mother. Celeste is completely loyal to us. She’s been here for years, and she’s proven herself more than once. Besides, she knows who holds the power.”

---

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office, Celeste glanced at her phone, her fingers hovering over a series of encrypted messages she’d sent earlier that day. A faint smile played on her lips as she read Dimitri’s latest reply.

“Keep feeding me information. They won’t see it coming.”

Her heart raced, knowing the dangerous line she was walking. For seven years, she had played the part of Quinn’s devoted partner, feeding his ego and infiltrating their world. But her allegiance had never wavered. It had always been Dimitri. She had been the company's lawyer for the past 10 years now and had served Levan Apollo for tree years before his passing but she knew her way around the empire, although they was one thing she knew about but didn't know the whereabouts of it—--The Key.

She deleted the messages quickly and slipped the phone back into her pocket just as Quinn entered the room.

“There you are,” he said, sauntering toward her. “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing,” she replied smoothly, her expression unreadable. “Just going over some files for tomorrow’s meeting.”

Quinn smirked, pulling her into his arms. “That’s what I like about you, Celeste. Always thinking ahead.”

She forced a smile, letting him believe his charm was working. “Someone has to keep you on your toes.”

As he kissed her neck, Celeste’s mind drifted to Dimitri’s words. The key, the empire, the revenge…..it was all coming together.

Just a little longer, she thought. They’ll never see it coming.