Strike Back Of The Secret Billionaire

001

The elevator doors opened to the 47th floor of Chen Industries' headquarters, and Brent could already hear Sarah's voice echoing down the marble hallway.

"Where is that useless excuse for an assistant? Does he think running my company is a part-time job?"

Brent adjusted his tie, the weight of the resignation letter in his pocket suddenly feeling lighter. After two years of calculated submission, today would change everything.

"Well, well," Sarah's lips curled into a sneer as he entered the conference room. "Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence. Did you get lost between the coffee shop and here? Or were you too busy daydreaming about being something more than my charity case boyfriend?"

The boardroom fell silent. Twelve executives in suits worth more than most cars shifted uncomfortably in their leather chairs.

They'd witnessed Sarah's treatment of Brent deteriorate over the past two years, but none dared speak up against the CEO of Chen Industries – or at least, the person they thought was running the company.

"The Liu contract needed revision," Brent said quietly, placing the stack of documents on the table.

Sarah's laugh was sharp enough to cut glass. "Oh, my boyfriend and personal janitor thinks he understands business now?" She turned to the board members, her Cartier bracelet catching the morning light. "This is what happens when you give the help too much leeway. First, they think they can date the CEO, and then they actually believe they understand how to run a multi-billion dollar company."

She stood up, her Louboutins clicking against the floor as she circled him like a predator. "Should we tell them our little story, darling? How I found you in that pathetic accounting firm, drowning in spreadsheets and wearing off-the-rack suits?" She ran a manicured finger down his chest. "How I gave you a chance because I felt sorry for you? Though I must admit, having a pet project did make me look good in the society pages."

The executives winced. Even for Sarah, this was cruel.

"You know what the society pages called us?" She continued, her voice dripping with venom. " 'Beauty and the Budget Manager.' Even though I’d have preferred Beauty and the Broke Loser… Isn't that precious? I suppose any publicity is good publicity, even if I had to drag you through every gala like a trained poodle."

Brent remained still. "Are you done?"

"Done?" Sarah's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Oh, baby, I'm just getting started. Did you really think this little power play of being late to my meeting would work? That it would somehow make you more than what you are?" She leaned in close, her expensive perfume suffocating. "Let me spell it out for you: You. Are. Nothing. Just a charity case I picked up because I was bored. And get this into your senseless head, I never loved you and I don't think I ever will. I just needed you to warm my bed… and nothing else.”

“Yes…Sarah. You never loved me even though I did with all my heart. All you loved to do was reduce me to nothing and go around sleeping with other men.”

“Shut. Up. You ungrateful fool! Your entire life in this building, in this city, exists because I allow it."

"Interesting perspective,” Brent said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the velvet box and placed it on the table with deliberate slowness.

Sarah's eyes lit up with malicious glee. "Oh my god, is this what I think it is? Did my little charity case actually save up enough pennies to buy a ring?" She picked up the box, her laughter echoing off the windows. "Let me guess – cubic zirconia? Or did you have to sell that sad little Honda of yours to afford real diamonds?"

"Open it," Brent suggested quietly.

Sarah flipped the box open, her smirk freezing on her face as she found not a ring, but a single USB drive.

"What is this supposed to be?"

"Everything you've been too arrogant to notice for the past two years." Brent straightened his Charvet tie – the one Sarah had never realized cost more than her monthly shoe allowance. "Every deal you've taken credit for. Every strategy you've claimed as your own. Every single way you've been playing checkers while thinking you're the queen of chess."

"Are you threatening me?" Sarah's voice rose an octave. "You think you can blackmail me? I made you!"

"No, Sarah." Brent's smile was cold. "You didn't make me. You were just too narcissistic to realize who you were really dating." He pulled out his phone, displaying a series of emails. "Remember the mysterious angel investor who saved Chen Industries last year when your father's mistakes nearly bankrupted it? The silent partner who orchestrated the merger with Liu Corp that you're so proud of?"

The color drained from Sarah's face.

"I've spent two years watching you take credit for my work. Two years listening to you mock me in front of our peers. Two years letting you believe you were the master of this game." He turned to the board members. "Check your emails, ladies and gentlemen. You'll find some interesting documents about who really owns the controlling shares of this company."

"You're lying," Sarah whispered, but her hands were shaking.

"The Liu contract you haven't bothered to read? It's worthless. I made sure of that." Brent walked to the door, then turned back one final time. "You spent so much time looking down on me, you never bothered to look up and see the sword hanging over your head."

"You can't leave!" Sarah's composure shattered completely. "You're nothing without me! Nothing!"

"Wrong again." Brent's voice was soft but carried to every corner of the room. "I'm Brent Walker, majority shareholder of the Walker Group. We own controlling interests in half the companies on this street. And as of five minutes ago, we're initiating a hostile takeover of Chen Industries."

The stunned silence was broken only by the sound of phones buzzing as notifications flooded in.

"Check your stock prices, Sarah. They should be dropping right about... now." He checked his watch – a Patek Philippe that cost more than her car. "Consider it my parting gift. A reminder that karma, like revenge, is best served with style."

The last thing he heard as the door closed behind him was Sarah's scream of rage, followed by the chaos of board members scrambling to save their investments. But it didn't matter anymore. The game was over, and she'd never even known she was playing.

In the elevator, Brent loosened his tie and smiled. Phase one was complete. Now it was time to show Sarah Chen exactly what it felt like to lose everything.

And he'd make sure she remembered exactly who had taken it all away.