2026-01-01 03:35:48
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CHAPTER 20
BLOOD DEBT“I need to see Don Rafael." Blood pooled down his knuckles and his chest rose and fell as he breathed heavily. The man under him groaned as the other guards rushed to help him up. His face was a mess–missing teeth and a bloodied face. Every air he took sounded like a wet gurgle. Sebastian, hands still raised, looked up at the corners of the ruins where the red lights were coming from. Three shooters at the top left and five scattered across the pillars. Any sudden movement and he'd be dropped dead. There was no fighting his way out of this one. “I just want to talk," he shouted as he calmly dropped down to his knees. “It's Sebastian." At first, there was silence. Then slow clapping echoed from inside the structure. “Well, well, well," a deep voice drawled from within followed by the sound of heavy, steady footsteps. “If it isn't the prodigal son." A tall man stepped into the light–lean, sharp-eyed, dressed completely in black. He had a long scar that ran from his lef
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 19BLOOD ON CONCRETE Sebastian closed the door and started the engine. It roared to life and he quickly pulled out of the parking lot, merging with the traffic. Vanessa sat in the passenger seat, face red, arms crossed. And Margaret leaned forward from the backseat as though she wanted to crawl straight into the front. For a moment, there was silence. But the old woman didn't let it last. “Can you believe it?" Margaret began, scoffing and shaking her head. “That bitch, Anna, had the audacity to… brag about her good-for-nothing son, knowing exactly what happened to me. And Theresa has been backing her ever since that girl–that demon–took your position.”Vanessa said nothing and Margaret somehow took that as encouragement to keep going. “No one could compare to me, Sebastian,” she continued bitterly. “I was at the top. Everyone adored–hell, they feared me. And that fucking Damien Hale waltzed in with his new fuck mate and they're suddenly handed our position like it belonged
CHAPTER 18
CAUGHT IN THE OPENSebastian tossed Vanessa's things into the car–her purse on the passenger seat, her tablet into the compartment, her jacket thrown across the back. One hand shoved into his pocket, he slammed the door and rested against the car. As he waited for her to finish up, his mind replayed everything that had happened in the meeting. He could still see the way the directors had looked at him and the way Vanessa hadn't. She’d dismissed his idea like his words were mere dust on her sleeve. “A waste of time and resources," he muttered under his breath. The words burned. He had stood beside her all this while. Had her trust with him–and now, she was slipping away. Footsteps echoed across the lot and he looked up. Vanessa, phone pressed to her ear, emerged from the elevator lobby. Laughter spilled from her lips in a way that felt warm. Familiar. Too familiar. He straightened unconsciously, eyes narrowing as she drew closer. “... don't say that," Vanessa said into the pho
CHAPTER 17
FRACTURESVanessa did her best to arrange her messy hair, button her shirt and clean off the excess lipstick smeared across her cheeks as she walked across the lobby. Her heels struck the marble floor with sharp clicks, announcing her presence to whoever was nearby. “Oh, hold… hold on,” Sebastian muttered as he hurried after her, one step behind. “Vanessa, please… whoa.” He did his best juggling her purse, tablet and everything she hadn't realized she was dropping into his arms. “Ms. Reeds," someone from the reception desk greeted, standing up as Vanessa walked past. “Good morning." Vanessa didn't respond. Didn't slow down. Didn't even give her as much as a glance. “Ms. Reeds, I have some reports—” another voice tried from the side corridor but her reply was the same as the first. Ignored.She pulled out her phone, jaws tight and shoulders squared as she watched another call from the directors go to voicemail. Sighing, she stuffed it into the pocket of her jacket and made her way
CHAPTER 16
SHE TEMPTSDamien plopped the last bite of steak into his mouth, chewing deliberately, slowly as he stared at Elara. She had been silent and had refused to look at him since he came in. The silver fork clinked against the ceramic plate as he set it down. Elara's eyes dropped to his empty plate then returned back to hers without a word. He noticed it. Swallowing, Damien grabbed the napkin from before him and wiped his mouth. With a low grunt, he finally rose from the stool. Her eyes never leaving her plate, she leaned back into her seat and exhaled. “Um… where are you going?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Damien didn't answer immediately. He just lifted his hands and began adjusting the cufflinks of his sleeves. “I need to meet with Ryan, my subordinate," he said as he straightened the color of his shirt. “We need to discuss some matters regarding one of my other companies." “One… of…" Elara whispered. Damien, raising a brow and glancing down at her shocked express
CHAPTER 15
TARGETS AND FEELINGS Elara dropped onto the couch, her eyes fixated on the television in front of her. Her fingers tapped the remote as she scrolled through the channels. Every single one carried news of her company’s sudden listing. Videos of her slamming the ceremonial bell played on every channel, yet a different feeling stirred within her as she watched.The sudden listing had the entire world watching her now, and the attention filled her with a mix of joy and anxiety. “Looks like you're popular now," a calm voice came from behind her. Elara jerked, snapping toward the sound of clinking glass. Damien stood by the bar, an empty glass in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. She had been so focused on the news that she had forgotten he had followed her home. His soft eyes looked up to meet hers as he arched a brow. “Care for some?" he asked, lifting the glass. Flashing a weak smile, she gave him a short nod before turning back to the TV. She picked up her scrolling,
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