The Legion Commander Strikes Back

• Sterling Enterprise

Elizabeth cracked her eyes open and she found herself lying in a cozy apartment, from the corner of her eyes she could see a masculine figure in the room.

She stirred on the bed and she got up. “You're finally awake,” he said. 

That voice, it sounded familiar. Though much deeper and gravelly than she remembered it. She looked up at his face.

“Ethan?” She called in a shaky voice. “I must be in heaven,” she whispered, causing Ethan to smile.

He grabbed her hands and gave her a gentle squeeze, “You're still very much alive mother.”

She didn't even realize when tears pricked the corner of her eyes. “I failed Ethan, I failed to take care for your sister, to defend her…” she trailed off breaking into soft sobs. 

“Shhh, it's okay mother, imagine here now, we're together again.”

“I thought you died when they sent you off to war, they said you died in an explosion,” she whispered. 

“I'm here mom, right here with you.”

Elizabeth suddenly sat upright, “Skyler, where is she? Is she-” she stopped herself before the words spilled from her mouth. 

Ethan shook his head, “She’s still alive, luckily someone got there in time before I arrived, Valerie.” 

Elizabeth raised her head. “Why would she out of all people help us?” She asked in a bitter tone. 

Ethan didn't understand why his mother was so bitter. “Immediately you left, that evil man they called a father along side Desmond took over everything. Clifford is now the mayor of Newcrest, he's the most powerful man in this city and he has his daughter Renée, who's basically his political shadow, following in his every footsteps, she's a senator.”

Ethan began to understand the dynamics at play, not only did Desmond pull some strings to have him shipped to war, but the father of his fiancée Clifford, who was Howard's friend backstabbed Howard immediately after his death. 

It all made sense now, they wanted to get him out of the picture so they could swoop in like the hungry vultures that they were and take everything.

“I will make them pay, each an every one of them, for everything they've done to you and Skyler,” Ethan promised. 

“Your fiancee, Renée, she was nothing to write home about. It's almost as if she was delighted about your departure. I can't believe that once upon a time you two were about to get married.”

Ethan cleared his throat and stared into space. Renée and I never really kicked off, we hardly saw eye to eye and she was older than me so she never took a liking to me. It was Valerie, she's the one that I bounded with the most, even if it was just for five days.”

“I never really thought that you and Valerie had a good relationship, I always thought she was just like the rest of the Sterlings.”

Ethan shook his head, “she’s different, it's the only reason she would decide to save Skyler's life by paying the bill just in time. I have to go see her.”

***

Valerie Sterling walked into her office the next morning, her lustrous black hair bouncing against her shoulders as she made her way to the elevator. 

She waved at the gaurd as she pushed the button, she pushed back the strands of hair that were obstructing her vision.

The elevator arrived and she stepped in, heading to the floor where her company was located. She only owned one floor of this building, which was a sign of growth compared to the half floor she owned four months ago. 

Sterling enterprise was a path she had carved for herself outside of the dirty politics her father and sister were deeply affiliated with. She wanted none of it. 

Some of her staff greeted her as she walked passed them, she furrowed her brows when she noticed some men dressed in black suits surrounding her office. 

“What's going on here?” She asked Claudia, her assistant. Claudia who also just seemed to arrive was equally as stunned as her

“Hello, may I help you?” She said to one of the men but he didn't respond. 

She entered her office and found her sister seated in her seat, legs stretched and crossed atop the mahogany desk. 

Valerie was almost immediately infuriated. “What the hell are you doing here Renée?!” She uttered furiously. 

Her older sister sat there, unfazed. She swept her gaze across the room. “Cute little office space you got here,” she remarked sarcastically. 

“What do you want?” Valerie snapped, growing impatient. 

“Trust me, I'd rather be anyway but here, but dad couldn't come do this himself because he's haviya meeting with some important people later today, so he sent me. Dad wants you to wrap this charade you e got going on, close it down.”

Valarie folded her arms across her chest. “And just why would I do that?”

Sterling Enterprise was new, but it was fast rising and was quickly posing as a threat to other preexisting companies, Including Vanguard group, who her father, Clifford helped by monopolizing the market and making it harder for other competitors to thrive.

He did so selfishly, because he had huge shares in Vanguard group, but now his very own daughters start up was posing as a threat to Vanguard group.

Desmond's lack of business acumen wasn't helping matters at all either. 

“You have not choice little sister, father is mayor, he can crumble your business like this!” She dramatised by snapping her fingers.

“Are you threatening me?” Valarie asked, standing her ground. 

Renée shock her head, “It's more of a warning that a threat sis.” 

“Well, keep your warning to yourself because I don't plan on closing down my business just because father feels insecure or because he’s not confident in the ability of his business partner to face a little competition from a start up.”

Renee's face dropped, “You've always been so stubborn, and I can't wait for the day that dad will finally clip those wings of yours,” she said and then walked passed her, Intentionally brushing against her shoulders as she left the office.