2025-07-07 03:52:36
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Chapter 10: The First Blow
The Gordonis Corporation boardroom, once an untouchable symbol of opulence and control, now felt like a battlefield. Walls lined with glass refracted sunlight onto polished mahogany and cold marble, but none of it could hide the tremor running through Tom Gordonis's hand as he read the report splayed across the table.“What the hell is this?” Tom barked, slamming the document down.Don Alaric leaned back in his chair, unbothered, the ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “That, Mr. Gordonis, is the beginning.”Tom’s eyes flared. “You went behind my back and bought out Vanguard Mercantile? That’s one of our top revenue streams!”“Correction,” Don Alaric said smoothly. “Was one of your top revenue streams.”He folded his hands on the table like a man delivering a eulogy, not a business update. “You signed over veto rights. Full asset control. I simply exercised what you were so desperate to give.”Tom’s face went red. “You son of a….”“Ah, ah.” Don Alaric raised a finger
Chapter 9: Cracks in the Mask
The hotel ballroom pulsed with the low hum of conversation, clinking glasses, and the occasional flash of camera lights bouncing off crystal chandeliers. World leaders in tech, trade, and finance mingled beneath golden sconces, their laughter as polished as their cufflinks.Hermosa adjusted the sleek navy dress hugging her body, its high slit revealing just enough leg to draw stares, and conceal the tremble beneath her skin. She hated these events. Even more, she hated the man who had just placed his hand on the small of her back with familiar, possessive ease.“Smile, Hermosa,” Don Alaric murmured, his lips barely brushing her ear. “You’re supposed to be enjoying yourself.”Her jaw clenched.“Do all your business partners require this level of… proximity?” she asked through her teeth, forcing a smile for the cameras as another executive approached.“Only the ones I trust,” he said, with a gleam in his eye that felt far too personal.They made their rounds, shaking hands, exchanging p
Chapter 8: Bella Makes a Move
Bella Ray wasn’t the kind of woman who ignored her instincts, especially not when they screamed in her ear like sirens on Bourbon Street.She adjusted her glasses, eyes narrowed as she stared at the glossy investor dossier spread across her apartment table. Don Alaric’s rise had been too perfect, too surgical. Within weeks of appearing on the Gordonis Corp radar, he had injected capital, demanded control, and silenced anyone who raised objections, including Tom Gordonis himself, who now walked like a man being led on a leash.Bella didn’t believe in ghosts. But something about this “Don Alaric” had that lingering chill of a man who rose from the grave.She tucked her curly auburn hair into a bun, snapped shut the file, and pulled on her coat. Time to do what she did best…. dig.---Bella’s first stop was the Gordonis Corp public records office. Her credentials as a private security analyst, and a little charm, got her into the lesser-known files. She combed through purchase ledgers, b
Chapter 7: Shadows of the Past
The low rumble of the engine echoed through the glossy floors of the private terminal. Hermosa stood stiffly near the glass wall, arms crossed, suitcase beside her like a silent companion. Outside, the sleek black jet gleamed under the morning sun, cold and distant, just like the man who had summoned her.Don Alaric arrived without announcement. No entourage this time, just him in a dark tailored coat, sunglasses shielding his eyes. He didn’t look at her. He walked straight past her and toward the waiting staircase of the plane, a silent storm wrapped in expensive fabric.Hermosa followed, cheeks flushed with unease and resentment.Inside, the jet was as lavish as expected, cream leather seats, polished mahogany, chilled champagne waiting in a silver bucket. But the air felt too still, too heavy, like walking into a trap wrapped in silk.Don Alaric took the window seat in the rear cabin and pulled out a tablet. “We’ll review Zurich’s merger conditions mid-flight,” he said without look
Chapter 6: The Conditions of Control
The Gordonis boardroom was silent, save for the low hum of the air conditioner. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the glittering New Orleans skyline, but inside, the tension was thick enough to choke on. At the head of the long obsidian table sat Tom Gordonis, rigid in his seat. Around him, the board members exchanged nervous glances. Angela White stood to one side, her arms folded, watching.The glass doors opened without fanfare. Don Alaric entered, flanked by two silent aides. His footsteps were measured, echoing softly on the polished marble floor. He wore the same dark suit. The scars on his face caught the light, a stark reminder that he was as dangerous as he was wealthy.Tom rose, forcing a polite smile he could not sustain. “Mr. Alaric, thank you for coming.”Don Alaric inclined his head once. “Let’s dispense with pleasantries, shall we?” His voice was smooth, each word precise. “I have reviewed the company’s books. The numbers paint a clear picture: Gordonis Corp is bleeding
Chapter 5: A Haunting Familiarity
Hermosa stood outside the glossy doors of the private investor suite on the thirty-second floor of Gordonis Corp, her palms damp against the folder she clutched to her chest. The air around her was colder than usual, like the building itself sensed the tension rising within its steel bones.Tom’s words echoed in her ears: “You’re assigned to our new investor. Don’t screw this up.”She took a deep breath and opened the door.Inside, the room was dimly lit, all chrome and glass, with city lights bleeding in through floor-to-ceiling windows. At the far end, seated in a black leather chair, was the man who had quietly shaken the financial world in recent months — Don Alaric.He stood when she entered. Tall. Imposing. Masked.His face was hidden behind a smooth, matte-black mask that covered everything but his sharp mouth and jawline. He wore a dark tailored suit, perfectly fitted, a single silver pin gleaming on his lapel. But it wasn’t his attire that sent a chill through her.It was som
