The Counter Attack
1085 Words
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
Celine stepped into the executive floor of Fallon Tower, her heels striking against the marble with measured grace. She radiated calmness, but her mind was already racing.
The moment her assistant had whispered about the stock surge, she had known.
Only one man would be so bold, so ruthless, so fast.
Liams Chen.
She moved straight into the boardroom, where Fallon’s senior directors had gathered in a panic.
Screens displayed the live stock market feed—Fallon Group’s shares flashing red, trading volume spiking abnormally.
“Miss Fallon, this is hostile!” one director blurted, sweat on his brow. “If it continues, we’ll lose control in a matter of days!”
Another slammed his hand against the table. “It must be Chen Group. Who else would move with such force? We can’t fight him. His capital dwarfs ours!”
Celine took her seat at the head of the table, her crimson nails drumming once, twice, against the armrest.
Panic swirled in the room. But her expression remained calm.
“How much has he acquired?” she asked.
“Nearly ten percent in less than twenty-four hours,” the CFO replied shakily. “At this rate—”
“At this rate,” Celine interrupted softly, “he’ll have controlling interest within a week.”
The words fell like a blade, silencing the room.
Her gaze swept over them—these men who had underestimated her before. In her past life, she had stood powerless as Fallon Group was gutted piece by piece, her family’s legacy stolen.
Not this time.
This time, she would not watch history repeat.
“This isn’t a war of money,” she said finally. “It’s a war of timing, leverage, and alliances.”
The directors looked at her uncertainly. But her confidence was unshakable.
“Prepare a shareholder meeting within three days,” she ordered. “And freeze any suspicious trading accounts you can identify. Stall him.”
“But—” the CFO hesitated.
Her eyes narrowed, a glint of steel flashing through. “Do you doubt me?”
He swallowed. “N-no, Miss Fallon.”
Celine rose, her voice calm but commanding. “Then do as I say. Fallon Group will not fall today.”
Later, in her private office, Celine shut the door and leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly.
So. Liams wanted to play the stock market game.
She almost laughed.
In her past life, she had watched him use this exact method to destroy smaller companies—quietly buying, bleeding them dry, then swallowing them whole.
But he had made one mistake this time.
He had forgotten that she had already seen this move once before.
Her phone buzzed. She picked it up, her lips curving slightly at the caller ID.
“Miss Fallon,” the voice drawled on the other end. Smooth, amused. “I hear Chen Group is hunting you.”
“Derek Zhou,” she greeted. The second son of the Zhou conglomerate—wealthy, influential, and dangerously ambitious. “Word travels fast.”
“You’ve made headlines, sweetheart. Everyone’s watching. Chen Group vs. Fallon Group—it’s like David and Goliath.” His chuckle was dark. “And I like betting on David.”
Celine’s smile was cool. In her past life, she had dismissed Derek as a playboy.
But in truth, he was a wolf hidden behind charm, one who enjoyed snatching opportunities others overlooked.
And right now, she needed exactly that kind of wolf.
“Are you offering help?” she asked.
“Offering?” His tone turned silkier. “No, darling. I’m investing. There’s a difference.”
She considered it. Aligning with the Zhou family wasn’t without risk—they were unpredictable allies at best. But Derek’s connections in overseas markets were unmatched. With his help, Liams’ acquisition attempt could be blocked before it reached the threshold.
Her decision was swift. “Then let’s discuss terms.”
That night, Celine met Derek at an exclusive rooftop lounge overlooking the glittering skyline.
The man lounged lazily in his chair, whiskey glass in hand, his eyes lingering on her with amusement.
“I must admit, you’re far more interesting this time around, Miss Fallon. I thought you’d beg for help. Instead, you bargain.”
Celine crossed her legs elegantly, her gaze unwavering.
“I don’t beg, Mr. Zhou. I negotiate. You help me stabilize Fallon Group, and in return, you’ll gain priority rights in our upcoming projects.”
“Upcoming projects?” He arched a brow. “You mean the ones you haven’t even announced yet?”
Her lips curved faintly. “Exactly.”
For a moment, Derek simply studied her. Then he burst into laughter, genuine and delighted.
“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.” He leaned forward, clinking his glass against hers. “Deal, Miss Fallon. You’ve got yourself an ally.”
——
The following morning, trading screens lit up again. But this time, the tide shifted.
Fallon Group shares, instead of slipping into Liams’ grasp, were quietly being scooped up by offshore accounts—controlled by Derek’s network.
Within forty-eight hours, Liams’ attempt to corner the market had slowed. He had underestimated how quickly Celine would find backup.
Celine watched the live feed in silence, satisfaction flickering in her eyes.
Checkmate, Liams.
Or so she thought.
Because when her phone rang that evening, and she saw his name flash across the screen, a chill ran down her spine.
Against her better judgment, she answered.
“Enjoying your little counterattack?” His voice was low, amused, dangerous.
Her grip tightened. “Business is business. You started this.”
He chuckled darkly. “True. But you’ve made one mistake, Celine.”
Her heart skipped, but she forced her tone calm. “And what mistake is that?”
Silence stretched on the line for a beat too long. Then his voice dropped, intimate and cold all at once.
“You think this is just business. It isn’t.”
Her breath caught.
He continued softly, like a predator whispering in the dark. “You can build allies. You can win contracts. You can block my every move. But none of it matters—because I want you, Celine. And when I want something… I always get it.”
Her blood ran cold.
For the first time since her rebirth, she realized this was no longer only a corporate war.
It was personal.
And Liams Chen had just declared it so.
- Writer
