The War Begins
974 Words
Victoria led Brenda toward Lucian's office, but before they reached the door, she stopped.
"Something isn't right".
Brenda frowned.
"What do you mean"?
Victoria looked down the corridor.
The executive floor was never noisy.
It was designed that way. Thick walls. Private offices. Soft carpets that swallowed footsteps.
Yet today, raised voices cut through the silence.Someone was arguing. Not just arguing. Shouting.
Brenda could hear a man's angry voice even from several metres away.
"This marriage is madness"!
Another voice answered immediately.
You're putting the entire Marco family at risk!
Victoria's calm expression changed for the first time.
The board meeting... It started earlier than expected.
Brenda looked at the large double doors at the end of the corridor.
Is Mr. Marco in there?
Victoria nodded.
He hasn't come out since the meeting began.
The shouting grew louder.
"You're choosing a nobody over this family"!
Another voice joined in.
"The media will destroy us"!
Brenda felt a strange knot tighten inside her stomach. They were talking about her.People she had never met...
People who didn't even know her name Had already decided who she was.
Victoria took a slow breath.
"Please wait here".
She had barely taken two steps before the boardroom doors burst open . One director stormed out, his face red with anger . Another followed, still speaking loudly.
"This is the worst decision you've ever made "!
More executives poured into the corridor.Some looked furious. Others looked worried.
Then one of them noticed Brenda.He stopped walking . The conversation around him died away. Every eye slowly turned toward her . The silence that followed felt heavier than the shouting.
The grey-haired director looked Brenda up and down without trying to hide his disgust.
So...you're the famous wife.
Brenda straightened her shoulders.
"I'm Brenda Michael".
He gave a cold laugh.
A schoolteacher. Twenty-three years old , No family status , No business experience , No social standing.
Tell me...
what exactly did you use to trap Lucian?
Brenda's face grew warm.
I didn't trap anyone.
Didn't you?
He took two slow steps closer.
Then explain why the heir of the Marco family suddenly wants to marry a complete stranger.
Brenda opened her mouth , No words came Because she didn't know the answer herself.
The director smiled as though he had already won.
I thought so.
He noticed the black folder in her hands.
Is that the marriage contract?
Brenda instinctively tightened her grip.
The man reached for it.
She stepped back.
Please don't—
Too late.
He snatched the folder from her hands. Several pages slipped onto the polished floor.
Brenda gasped and bent to gather them, but before she could, the director lifted the final page.
The page waiting for two signatures. He looked at it.
Then slowly... He tore it straight down the middle.
The ripping sound echoed through the silent corridor.
One piece , Then another. Until the paper fell around Brenda's feet like white leaves.
He dusted off his hands.
Problem solved.
Brenda stared at the torn pages.
For a moment...She couldn't move. The contract wasn't just paper , It was her mother's operation.
Her last chance , Her promise.
The director looked at her with cruel satisfaction.
Go back to wherever you came from.
People like you don't belong to part of this family.
Not while I'm alive.
No one spoke.Not Victoria , Not the executives , not even Brenda.
Then a calm voice broke the silence.
"You're very confident for someone who has just destroyed company property".
The director's smile disappeared.
Every person in the corridor turned toward the boardroom doors.
Lucian Marco walked out. His expression hadn't changed.
He wasn't angry nor shouting.
He simply walked forward with the same calm confidence he carried into every room.
His eyes fell briefly on the torn papers scattered across the floor. Then he looked at the director.
Mr. Harrison.
The older man folded his arms.
I did what someone had to do.
Lucian nodded once.
"I agree".
The director looked surprised.
For a brief second, he thought he had won.
Lucian turned to Victoria.
Print another contract.
"Yes, sir".
Then Lucian looked back at the director.
"And prepare his dismissal letter".
The corridor fell silent again.
Mr. Harrison frowned.
What?
"Effective immediately, your position as a director of Marco Holdings has been terminated".
The colour drained from the man's face. You can't remove me over a piece of paper!
Lucian's voice remained steady. Not because of the paper.
Because you ignored corporate procedure, interfered with a confidential legal agreement, and publicly insulted my guest.
He glanced toward the security officers standing at the far end of the corridor.
Please escort Mr. Harrison from the building.
The two guards immediately stepped forward.
Mr. Harrison laughed in disbelief.
You're making a mistake!
Lucian didn't answer.
He simply waited.
The guards stopped beside the director.
Sir...Please come with us.
Mr. Harrison looked around, expecting someone to defend him. No one did. One by one, the other board members lowered their eyes. His shoulders slumped.
Without another word, he turned and walked away between the guards.
The sound of his footsteps faded into the distance.
Only then did Lucian bend down. He picked up one torn piece of the contract.
His fingers brushed away the dust before he looked at Brenda.
His voice was quiet.
"Are you hurt"?
Brenda blinked.
Of all the questions she expected ,That wasn't one of them.
She slowly shook her head.
No.
Lucian gave a small nod.
Good.
He handed the torn page to Victoria.
"We'll sign the new copy instead".
Then he looked directly into Brenda's eyes.
Some battles begin long before the first shot is fired.
If you still wish to walk away ,no one will stop you. But if you stay ,understand this. Today wasn't an exception.
It was a welcome .
- Writer
