Chapter 03
843 Words
Alessandra's POV
How long has it been? Oh yeah, five years.
Five years since I last saw him.
Damian Sterling.
The name alone brought a bitter taste to my mouth.
Five years ago, I was nothing but a pawn in their world, a disposable piece in their games.
But now?
Now, I had returned…. not as the same woman they abandoned, but as the one who would bring them all down.
I could hear the whispers as I stepped into the ballroom.
People turned, eyes wide, mouths slightly agape. I could see it in their faces…. the disbelief, the unease. They thought I was gone for good.
Fools.
I ignored their stares and walked further into the party. I would have loved to spend time enjoying their disbelief but I had other business that needed my attention.
My gaze locked onto him.
Damian stood near the center. He looked the same like he always did, only that he looked more dangerous.
But for the first time, he was no longer the most dangerous person here.
Then he saw me. His eyes widened.
Good. He recognized me.
I moved to the bar and ordered a whiskey. I looked at my watch. Any time now…….
Within minutes, the host stepped onto the stage, his voice carrying through the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special guest tonight, someone we all believed was lost to time. Please welcome the CEO of Hayes & Co., Alessandra Hayes.”
All eyes turned to me. Some filled with shock, others with dread. I took my time, walking toward the stage with steady, unshaken steps.
Taking the microphone, I scanned the crowd. My gaze lingered on Damian.
"Good evening," I said, voice smooth. "I must say, it's fascinating to see how well you've all been doing in my absence.”
The tension in their faces increased.
"You look comfortable. Secure. Almost… untouchable." A slow smirk curled my lips. "But I wonder, how secure do you really feel?"
The whispers started again. Some gave uneasy glances.
"Five years ago, I trusted the wrong people," I continued, my tone sharp. "I was betrayed. Left for dead."
Damian’s expression darkened.
"But I didn’t die." I leaned forward slightly. "And I didn’t forget.”
A beat of silence. Then, I delivered the final blow.
"I’m not here to celebrate with you. I’m here to bury you all.”
I stepped back, watching the cracks spread through their carefully built facades.
Let them panic.
By the time I was done, every last one of them would fall.
Damian’s POV
The room had never been this silent.
Alessandra’s words still hung in the air, poisoning the once-celebratory atmosphere.
"I’m not here to celebrate with you. I’m here to bury you all."
My grip tightened around my glass. Every eye in the ballroom flickered between her and me, waiting, anticipating.
She stepped down from the stage, moving with a calm, unhurried confidence.
She was here to make a statement, and she had done just that.
I took a step forward.
A firm hand landed on my shoulder.
“Not now,” Ethan muttered under his breath.
I turned to glare at him. “Move.”
“She wanted this reaction,” he warned. “Everyone’s watching.”
I exhaled sharply. He wasn’t wrong.
Alessandra had chosen this moment for a reason. She knew exactly how to manipulate the game, and she was already ahead.
Across the room, she met my gaze.
She didn’t give any reaction
She simply watched, waiting to see what I’d do next.
I forced my grip to loosen around my glass, keeping my expression unreadable.
Alessandra had done what she came here to do… she had shaken the ground beneath their feet.
And mine.
I turned on my heel. “I’m leaving.”
Ethan tensed beside me. “Damian, wait.”
I didn’t. I moved swiftly through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances and the subtle shifting of people making way.
Ethan caught up quickly. “You can’t just walk out. The clients are still here. Business deals…..”
“I don’t care.”
“Are you insane? This night was important. Walking away now makes you look weak.”
I stopped abruptly, causing him to nearly crash into me.
“Weak?” My voice was dangerously low. “She just declared war in front of the entire city, and you want me to sit there pretending it’s business as usual?”
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “I’m saying be smart about this.”
“I am.”
I continued walking.
Ethan muttered a curse under his breath before following. “At least don’t speed this time. I’m not dragging your wrecked body out of a ditch.”
I didn’t answer.
I reached my car, sliding in behind the wheel. Ethan hesitated before getting into the passenger seat, watching me carefully.
I smirked as the engine roared to life.
I was supposed to be furious.
But all I could think was….
I could finally meet her again.
- Writer
