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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 119
119Dylan didn’t turn around, but his jaw clenched so tightly it could have cracked. Olivia, however, exhaled slowly, gathering herself before pivoting on her heel.She met Jane’s gaze head-on, her expression unreadable. “You’re right,” she said smoothly.Jane blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”Olivia tilted her head slightly. “You’re right. Dylan will never love me the way he loved you.” Her lips curled into something dangerously close to a smirk. “Because love isn’t supposed to leave scars.”Dylan exhaled sharply, something shifting in his stance.Jane scoffed, but the slight tightening of her grip on the glass betrayed her. “Oh, please. Don’t act like some martyr, Olivia. You think you’re better than me just because you stuck around?”“No,” Olivia said simply. “I think I’m better than you because I care.”Jane’s eyes narrowed. “How noble.”“You wouldn’t understand,” Olivia said with a small shrug. “Because it takes actual strength to love someone unconditionally. And you? You
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 120
120The slap hung in the air, its sting echoing through the restaurant like a thunderclap. Olivia’s hand slowly lowered, her fingers trembling from the force of her action, as she stood there, chest heaving. Jane, stunned, pressed a hand to her reddened cheek, her eyes wide with shock and fury.The entire restaurant had gone silent, the clinking of cutlery and murmurs dying as every gaze in the room shifted to the scene unfolding at the table. A few patrons whispered in disbelief, while others exchanged shocked glances, unsure if they’d just witnessed the kind of moment that would become a whispered story for years to come.“Did you just…?” Jane’s voice was a dangerous hiss, her anger building like a storm. Her gaze burned into Olivia, her lips curled in a snarl. “You slapped me?”Olivia didn’t flinch. She stepped forward, her eyes never leaving Jane’s. “I won’t let you insult Dylan anymore,” she said, her voice cold but steady. “And I sure as hell won’t let you insult Molly. You’ve d
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 121
121The tension in the restaurant was thick, the air heavy with judgmental murmurs and scandalized whispers. Jane, still clutching her burning cheek, let out a sharp laugh, though there was nothing humorous about it. Her eyes, gleaming with fury, locked onto Olivia’s with an almost predatory glare.“You really think you’ve won something here, Olivia?” she hissed, voice dripping with venom. “You’re pathetic. A desperate little fool playing the hero in a story where no one even asked for you.”Olivia’s expression didn’t waver. If anything, she looked even more determined. “I’d rather be a fool than a coward who hides behind insults and manipulation.”Jane’s nostrils flared. “You don’t know anything about me.”“I know enough,” Olivia shot back. “I know you’ve spent years treating people like toys, like they’re disposable. You push and push until they break, just so you can feel powerful. But you’re done, Jane. People see through you now.”Bobby, who had been standing off to the side, vis
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 122
122The weight of Bobby’s declaration settled over the restaurant, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Jane, still fuming, tilted her chin up, her expression a mixture of smug satisfaction and brewing vengeance.Dylan exhaled slowly, his patience wearing thin. He wasn’t one for pointless drama, but this? This was spiraling.“Bobby,” he said evenly, “you’re making a fool of yourself.”Bobby’s head snapped toward him, eyes burning. “Excuse me?”“You heard me.” Dylan leaned back slightly, as if unfazed by Bobby’s outburst. “You’re standing here, throwing threats like you have the power to actually do something. What exactly are you going to file a complaint about? That Jane got called out for her behavior?”Jane scoffed. “Oh, please. You think you’re so above it all, don’t you?” She stepped forward, closing the space between them. “Dylan, you sit there acting all high and mighty, but don’t pretend like you’re not part of this circus. You’ve been quiet all this time—why? Because
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 123
123Olivia’s jaw clenched as Jane suddenly let out a shaky sob, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. The entire restaurant seemed to hold its breath as Jane’s voice quivered, a perfect mixture of heartbreak and outrage.“I can’t believe this,” Jane whispered, her fingers brushing over her reddened cheek as if the pain was unbearable. “I gave everything to this man. I clothed him, I fed him, I built him up when he was nothing! And now—now he has his girlfriend slap me?” Her voice cracked dramatically, and a gasp rippled through the crowd.A woman at a nearby table placed a hand over her chest, shaking her head in dismay. “Oh my God. He cheated on her?”Another patron, a man in a crisp business suit, turned toward his companion, his voice dripping with disdain. “Absolutely despicable. The woman devoted her life to him, and this is how he repays her?”Dylan’s brows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about, Jane?” he demanded, his voice edged with frustration. “You and I both know
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 124
Just as the murmurs reached a fever pitch, the restaurant manager, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a crisp suit, stormed toward their table. Bobby’s eyes widened the moment he spotted him, and a sly grin spread across his face.“Tony!” Bobby called out, waving him over.Tony’s expression softened as he recognized Bobby, a friendly smile pulling at the corners of his lips. “Bobby! I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said warmly, clasping Bobby’s shoulder in a brief, friendly greeting.“Yeah, well, just came to enjoy a nice dinner,” Bobby replied, his voice dripping with feigned casualness. “But looks like we have a bit of a situation here, don’t we?”Tony’s gaze flickered around the room, taking in the tense atmosphere, the eyes of every patron glued to the unfolding drama. He raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on? It’s a bit… lively in here.”Bobby didn’t hesitate, stepping forward with an exaggerated sigh. “Tony, you won’t believe this. These two,” he said, pointing at Dylan a
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 125
125Olivia let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. “This is ridiculous. You’re just going to take his word for it? Without even asking us what happened?”Tony scoffed. “I don’t need to. I trust Bobby.”Dylan’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “That’s convenient,” he muttered. “You’re siding with the guy whose father practically owns this place. Real fair, Tony.”Bobby smirked, stepping forward with an air of triumph. “Oh, come on, Dylan. It’s not my fault you’re out of your league here. Maybe next time, pick a place that actually welcomes people like you.”Olivia’s eyes blazed with fury. “People like us?” she repeated, incredulous. “What does that even mean?”Bobby feigned innocence, shrugging dramatically. “Oh, you know. People who don’t belong in places like this. People who can’t even afford a decent meal without scrounging for change.”A murmur ran through the watching crowd, and Olivia could feel the weight of their judgment pressing d
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 126
126Bobby let out a bark of laughter, nudging Jane as if Dylan’s words were the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “Oh, this is rich. You really expect us to believe you have that kind of power?”Tony scoffed, arms still crossed over his chest. “Yeah, sure, Dylan. Let me guess—you’ve got a billionaire uncle who just happens to own half the city?”Dylan didn’t respond. He simply slipped his phone back into his pocket and leaned against the nearest chair, unbothered. Olivia, who had been seething moments ago, now studied him with cautious curiosity.The room filled with murmurs, the onlookers exchanging amused glances.“Man, this guy is delusional,” one patron muttered.Another chuckled. “Probably just bluffing to save face.”Even Jane, who had been playing the victim flawlessly a moment ago, relaxed, letting out a small, breathy laugh. “Dylan, sweetie, it’s okay to admit you lost. No need to embarrass yourself further.” She gave him a condescending smile, as if pitying his supposed desper
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204Dylan Grenville’s eyes flicked to the vibrating phone on the edge of his glass desk. The screen lit up with an unfamiliar number—no caller ID, just an empty sequence of digits that seemed to hum with menace.He hesitated.The air in his office felt heavier now, as if it were thickening with some unseen pressure. Outside the bulletproof glass windows of the high-rise, the city of Eridale glistened under the midnight rain, the skyline cut with static lightning. His pulse quickened, jaw tightening. Then—he hit accept.“Yeah?” he said, voice flat, cautious.For a moment, there was nothing—just static. A hiss, like radio silence stretched too thin. And then it came.A voice.Low. Gravelly. Mechanically distorted, as if dragged through sand and soaked in tar. Filtered, twisted—inhuman.“Mr. Grenville.”Dylan sat upright, every vertebrae snapping to attention as his spine stiffened. His fingers twitched toward the panic button under the desk, but he held off. His voice came out sharper,
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203“I am right,” Lisa replied, sounding pleased with herself. “You need to stop second-guessing everything. You’re not Helen from twenty years ago, struggling to prove herself. You’re Jane White. CEO. Boss. And Bobby? He’s not just your business partner. He’s your partner, period. In every sense.”Jane exhaled through her nose, gripping her phone a little tighter as she leaned against the elevator’s mirrored wall. The ride up to the penthouse was smooth, soundless, too quiet for her thoughts. Lisa’s voice echoed even after she hung up, bouncing around the corners of her mind like a song on repeat.She stepped out onto the twelfth floor of the luxurious Westside tower and moved down the hallway, heels clicking sharply against polished marble. Her steps slowed as she reached her door—unit 12A. The keypad glowed soft blue under her fingertips as she punched in her code. With a soft hiss, the door unlocked.Inside, the apartment was dim, bathed in the amber hues of city lights filtering
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202Back at Jane’s ApartmentThe hallway outside her apartment was quiet, but Jane’s heart wasn’t. It thudded like a warning drum inside her chest as she reached her door and fumbled for her keys. Her fingers, usually so precise, felt clumsy against the cool metal. She finally slid the key into the lock and twisted, pushing the door open with a soft creak.The moment she stepped inside, she exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her heels clicked on the hardwood as she moved forward, slowly closing the door behind her with a quiet click, then rested her forehead against the wood. It was cold, smooth, and grounding.The silence inside her apartment was eerie—thick, like a pause before something broke. The familiar lavender scent of the reed diffuser in the corner greeted her, but even that felt distant tonight. She slipped off her heels by the door, nudging them aside with the edge of her foot. The relief was immediate. Her toes ached, but her mind hurt more.She glanced
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201Back to HelenHelen sat still, frozen in the middle of the conference room. The emptiness of the space around her seemed to echo her growing realization.Everything she had worked for. Everything she thought she knew.Had it all been a lie?The sinking feeling in her stomach spread like cold fire. She couldn’t ignore the dread anymore. It was a feeling that would stay with her—forever.The door clicked shut behind her, but the sound of the finality echoed in her mind.“God, what have I done?” she whispered to herself, the weight of her decisions pressing down on her chest. “How could I have been so blind?”She stared at the documents on the table. The ink seemed to mock her, the signatures binding her to something she didn’t fully understand. The deal had seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime—until it wasn’t. Now it was a trap, and she was the prey.Her phone buzzed on the table in front of her, but she didn’t pick it up immediately. Her hands were shaking too much. When she f
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200Helen tried to return the smile, but it came out more strained than she intended. Her stomach churned, and her skin prickled with an ominous sense of foreboding that she couldn’t shake.Something was wrong. Her instincts, always so sharp when it came to business, were screaming at her. This wasn’t right.She glanced at the man who had spoken, trying to find some sign of warmth or sincerity. But there was none. Just cold professionalism. He didn’t seem to care that she’d just signed away a chunk of her life.The words echoed in her mind: “It’s a done deal. Congratulations.”Her hand trembled as she reached for the pen, signing the contract without hesitation. Was it a mistake? She couldn’t tell. She’d been briefed, she’d weighed the pros and cons, but now that it was done—now that the deal was final—she wasn’t sure she could even trust her own judgment anymore.“Thank you,” she said, her voice coming out softer than she had intended. Her eyes were on the paper in front of her, but
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199 Pages and pages of dense legal language. Terms like “full legal responsibility,” “personal liability,” “unlimited financial exposure.” Helen’s stomach twisted. “This is…” she trailed off. “Standard,” the thickset man said shortly. Helen looked up sharply. “It doesn’t look standard.” The man with the scar leaned forward, voice low and threatening. “You want in or not?” Helen tried to laugh, but it came out thin and shaky. “I’m just… not used to moving this fast, I guess. Big deals usually involve—” “Lawyers?” the young man sneered. “Mediators? Delays?” He leaned forward, eyes cold. “That’s why most people never make it, sweetheart. They hesitate. They waste time. Opportunities vanish.” Helen’s heart hammered painfully against her ribs. “But—” “Bobby said you were serious,” the man with the scar interrupted, his voice like gravel. “That you had guts. Were we wrong?” Helen’s cheeks flamed. “No,” she snapped. The man shoved the pen across the table toward her. “The
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198The Next Morning,Helen stood in front of the mirror in her luxury apartment, smoothing the front of her navy sheath dress for the fifth time. Her heels clicked restlessly against the marble floor as she checked her appearance from every angle.She looked perfect. Sharp. Professional. Unstoppable.Today was the day.She had barely slept, tossing and turning with excitement, replaying Bobby’s words over and over in her head:“Big money, Helen. Billions.”“You’re going to crush them all.”Lisa had practically screamed when Helen called her after midnight.“You’re going to OWN this city!” Lisa had cried. “They won’t even know what hit them!”Helen had laughed, giddy and breathless.Finally.Finally she would be more than the woman they whispered about behind champagne glasses. She would be a force.She stared at her reflection, brushing an imaginary speck off her dress.“No mistakes,” she whispered to herself. “You’re ready.”Her phone buzzed. A text from Bobby:Car’s waiting downsta
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197 Bobby clapped his hands together, almost giddy. “That’s what I’m talking about.” “But,” Helen said, cutting him off again, “if you even think about crossing me—” He held up his hands. “Scout’s honor.” Helen laughed humorlessly. “You were never a scout, Bobby.” “No,” he admitted, “but I was always good at surviving.” Helen smirked. “Survival’s not enough anymore.” Bobby lifted his coffee in a mock toast. “To the queen of the city.” Helen hesitated, just for a second, before clinking her mug against his. She could almost taste the victory already—sweet, rich, and long overdue. ⸻ Last night, she had told Lisa everything, practically bouncing on her designer heels. Lisa had squealed and shrieked, “YES! This is it! You’re finally going to crush them all!” Helen had believed it. She had seen herself rising—higher than the Nelsons, higher than all those self-important bastards who had sneered at her. But what Helen didn’t know—what Lisa didn’t know—was that Bobby had never
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196“How soon do they want to move?” Helen asked, swirling the spoon idly around her coffee.“Fast,” Bobby said, leaning forward, lowering his voice like it was some great secret. “Two weeks, tops. They want to announce before the next fiscal quarter.”Helen tapped her manicured nails against the mug, deep in thought, her sunglasses slipping slightly down her nose. She pushed them back up with one finger. Her mind was already working angles, risks, escape routes.“And what’s your cut in all this?” she asked, her tone sharp, suspicious.Bobby chuckled, an easy, practiced sound. “Straight to business. I like that about you.”Helen didn’t crack a smile. “Answer the question.”He took a slow sip of his coffee, deliberately dragging out the moment. Helen’s foot started tapping under the table, a tell she couldn’t help.Finally, he said, “Finder’s fee. Minor stake. I’ll be consulting behind the scenes. You’ll be the face.”Helen narrowed her eyes. “Consulting,” she repeated. “Meaning you ge
