CHAPTER 13: VICTORIA'S LAST MOVE
1213 Words
84 days left.
Victoria said this wasn't over.
She was right.
---
It started with a headline.
*VOSS CEO'S WIFE: FAKE MARRIAGE, REAL SCANDAL. EX-BOYFRIEND SPEAKS OUT.*
My phone exploded at 5 AM.
Damian was already awake. In the kitchen. Face like stone.
"What is it?" I asked.
He turned his laptop to me.
There was a photo of me and Daniel. From 2 years ago.
Holding hands. At a cafe.
Under it: An interview.
*Daniel Reyes: "Maya used me. Then she used a billionaire. She's always been like that."*
My stomach dropped. "That's not."
"I know." Damian closed the laptop. "Don't read the comments."
Too late.
"Gold digger."
"Knew it."
"Poor Damian."
Aira came out in pajamas. Saw the TV. "What the hell?"
---
By 9 AM, Voss Group stock dropped 4%.
Victoria was on the news. Looking sad.
*"I just want what's best for the company. And for my cousin. I don't think this marriage is healthy for him."*
Rina slammed her tablet down. "She paid him. Daniel. I checked the transfers."
Damian nodded slowly. "Of course she did."
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
"No." He looked at me. "Because they used you to hurt me. And I'm sorry."
"Don't be." I took his hand. "We’ll fix this."
---
The board called an emergency meeting.
Victoria was already there. Sitting in Damian's chair.
"Damian," she said. "So good of you to come. And Maya."
The board stared at me.
Mr. Tan spoke first. "The shareholders are concerned. About the stability of your leadership. Given... the personal issues."
Damian stood. "There are no personal issues. There is my wife. And there is a smear campaign run by my cousin."
Victoria gasped. "How dare you?"
"I dare." Damian's voice was ice. "You paid Daniel Reyes to lie. You leaked the contract. You tried to have me removed."
The room went silent.
"Do you have proof?" Mr. Tan asked.
Damian looked at Rina. She pulled up documents on the screen.
Bank transfers. Emails. Texts from Victoria to Daniel.
*Make it hurt. Make her look bad.*
Victoria went pale. "Those are fake."
"They're not," Rina said. "Forensic verified."
Victoria stood up. "This is ridiculous. I'm protecting this company!"
"No," Damian said. "You're protecting yourself."
The vote took 2 minutes.
Unanimous. Remove Victoria from the board. Effective immediately.
Security escorted her out.
Before the doors closed, she looked at me. "You haven't won. Not yet."
---
Back at the penthouse, we were all tense.
Aira made popcorn. "Comfort food. For trauma."
Damian laughed for the first time all day. "Thank you."
We sat on the floor. Eating popcorn. Watching bad romcoms.
At 11 PM, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
*If you want this to stop, meet me. Alone. Midnight. Lily's Strawberry Field.*
It was from Victoria.
I showed Damian.
"No," he said immediately. "Absolutely not."
"Damian--"
"No, Maya. It's a trap."
"I know." I looked at him. "But if I don't go, she'll keep doing this. To you. To the company. To Aira."
Damian was quiet for a long time. "Then I’m coming with you."
---
Midnight.
Lily's field.
It was raining. Again.
Victoria was there. Under an umbrella. Alone.
"You came," she said. "Both of you."
"Get to the point," Damian said.
Victoria smiled. "Fine. Here's the deal. You sign over 10% of Voss Group to me. And I make all of this go away. The articles. Daniel. Everything."
Damian laughed. "No."
"Then I release more." Victoria pulled out her phone. "Photos. Of you two. Private ones. From your house."
My blood went cold. "How--"
"I have people." She shrugged. "Last chance."
Damian stepped in front of me. "No."
"Damian, don't," I whispered.
But he was already talking. "You want to play dirty? Fine. Let's play."
He took out his own phone. Pressed play.
It was audio. Of Victoria.
*"I don't care if it ruins him. I want his company. I'll do anything."*
Victoria's face fell. "Where did you--"
"Rina has been recording you for weeks," Damian said. "Ever since the first leak."
Victoria looked cornered. Like an animal.
"You can't do this," she whispered.
"I can." Damian's voice was soft but final. "And I will. Unless you leave. Now. And never come back."
Victoria stared at us. At me. At him.
Then she laughed. Bitter. "You love her, don't you?"
"Yes," Damian said without hesitation.
Victoria nodded. "Fine. You win."
She walked away. Into the rain.
---
We didn't talk on the way home.
At the penthouse, Damian poured two glasses of whiskey.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"No," I admitted. "But I will be."
He handed me a glass. "I'm proud of you. For being brave."
"I'm proud of you. For choosing me. Again."
We clinked glasses.
---
The next morning, the news was different.
*VOSS BOARD MEMBER REMOVED AFTER FAILED EXTORTION ATTEMPT.*
*CEO DAMIAN VOSS DEFENDS WIFE IN PUBLIC STATEMENT.*
There was a video. Of Damian.
*"My wife is the strongest person I know. Anyone who comes after her, comes after me."*
Comments flipped.
"#Damaya"
"He's whipped and I love it"
"Protect them"
Aira screamed. "YOU'RE FAMOUS!"
---
Saturday.
No press. No Victoria. No drama.
Just us.
Damian took us to the beach. Lily's favorite place.
We built sandcastles. Aira won.
At sunset, Damian pulled me aside.
"84 days left," he said.
"Of what?"
"Of me wondering if you're staying."
I looked at him. At the ocean. At Aira making a sand angel.
"I'm staying," I said. "After 84 days. After 90. After forever."
Damian's eyes got wet. "Say it again."
"I'm staying. With you."
He kissed me.
Deep. Desperate. Like the world was ending.
When we pulled apart, Aira was yelling. "GET A ROOM!"
We laughed.
---
Sunday.
Legal finalized it. Victoria was banned from all Voss properties. Permanently.
Rina sent flowers. "To celebrate."
Damian put them on the table. "Finally. Peace."
That night, we were in bed.
No nightmares. No fear.
Just quiet.
"Damian?" I whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Do you regret it? Any of it?"
He pulled me closer. "No. Not one second."
"What about 84 days from now?"
"Same answer." He kissed my hair. "I don't regret you."
I fell asleep smiling.
---
Monday.
Voss Group stock went up 6%.
The board sent a letter. *Thank you for your leadership.*
Everything was calm.
Too calm.
At dinner, Aira said, "So. About this real wedding..."
Damian and I looked at each other.
"Yeah," Damian said. "About that."
He stood up. Went to his study. Came back with a box.
Not a ring box. A small velvet box.
He got down on one knee.
My heart stopped.
"Maya," he said. "I asked you to sign a contract once. To be my wife for 90 days."
I nodded. Crying already.
"This isn't a contract." He opened the box. Inside was a ring. Simple. Gold. With a tiny strawberry engraved inside.
"This is a promise." His voice shook. "Will you marry me? For real? For always? No end date."
Aira was sobbing. "SAY YES!"
I looked at him. At my sister. At my life.
"Yes," I whispered. "Yes. A thousand times yes."
He put the ring on my finger.
And kissed me.
84 days left.
But we weren't counting down anymore.
We were counting up. To a wedding. To a life. To us.
- Writer
