The Empire Strikes Back
1454 Words
At Bella Amore’s headquarters, Howard Taylor watched the industry unfold from his private office.
He leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers against the desk. The decision for the next brand ambassador was still in his hands, and both women had made strong cases.
But now, the scandal had complicated things.
A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. His assistant stepped inside.
“Sir, Emma Claire has requested a meeting with you.”
Howard’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Has she now?”
“Yes,” the assistant confirmed. “She wants to address the situation personally.”
Howard smiled slightly. That was interesting.
“Schedule it,” he said. “Let’s see what she has to say.”
Emma arrived at Bella Amore’s headquarters that afternoon, her expression composed as she walked into Howard Taylor’s office.
He stood to greet her, shaking her hand. “Emma, I was wondering when I would hear from you.”
Emma smiled politely. “I thought it was best to speak face to face.”
Howard gestured for her to sit. “You have had quite the week.”
Emma’s lips twitched. “So have you.”
Howard chuckled. “True. This decision has not been easy.”
Emma met his gaze. “Then let me make it easier for you.”
Howard leaned forward. “I am listening.”
Emma’s voice was calm but firm. “You have seen the media’s reaction. You know how easily narratives can be controlled. But let me ask you—do you want your brand associated with a scandal-driven model trying to hold onto relevance, or with someone who has proven they can survive anything?”
Howard studied her carefully. “You make a compelling argument.”
Emma leaned forward. “I am not here to beg for this campaign. I am here because I know I am the right choice. But if you choose Sophia, be ready for more scandals, more desperation, and a brand that looks weak for backing someone who has to tear others down to stay in the game.”
Howard exhaled slowly. “You are bold, Emma.”
Emma smiled. “That is why people are talking about me.”
Howard was silent for a moment before finally nodding.
“I will see you at the press event.”
Emma smirked. “I look forward to it.”
As she walked out of his office, she already knew.
Sophia had lost.
“You should see her face right now.”
Isabel’s voice was laced with amusement as she spoke through the phone. Emma sat in the back of Aiden’s sleek black Rolls-Royce, the city lights flashing past as they drove away from Bella Amore’s headquarters.
Emma smirked, adjusting the diamond bracelet on her wrist. “Sophia?”
“Who else?” Isabel chuckled. “The moment she heard you had a private meeting with Howard Taylor, she lost it. Eden has been running around trying to calm her down.”
Emma leaned back against the plush leather seat, satisfied. “She should be worried.”
Aiden, seated beside her, swirled the whiskey in his glass, his expression unreadable. He had barely spoken since they left the meeting, but Emma could feel his presence filling the space around them.
“You enjoyed that,” he finally said.
Emma tilted her head, studying him. “Which part?”
Aiden smirked. “All of it.”
Emma chuckled softly. “Howard Taylor is a businessman. He was always going to choose the stronger candidate.”
Aiden sipped his drink. “And you made sure he knew who that was.”
Emma glanced at him. “Are you impressed?”
Aiden’s dark eyes gleamed. “I expected nothing less.”
Bryce, seated in the front, turned slightly. “Sir, the media is already speculating. They believe Bella Amore will announce Emma as their new brand ambassador at the press event.”
Emma smirked. “Let them talk. It makes the victory sweeter.”
Aiden placed his glass down. “It is not over yet.”
Emma arched a brow. “You think Sophia still has a chance?”
Aiden leaned back, his gaze sharp. “No. But desperate people do reckless things.”
Emma exhaled slowly, tapping her nails against the window. “Then let’s make sure she does not get the chance.”
Aiden smirked. “Now you are thinking like me.
Across the city, Sophia paced in her penthouse, her hands clenched into fists.
Eden stood by the window, his phone buzzing with updates. “The press believes Emma has won.”
Sophia’s jaw tightened. “Howard Taylor has not announced anything yet.”
Eden sighed. “That does not mean anything. If he was still considering you, he would not have met with Emma alone.”
Sophia turned sharply. “I refuse to accept that.”
Eden hesitated before speaking. “Maybe it is time to step back. If you keep pushing, Aiden Brooks will—”
Sophia cut him off. “I do not care about Aiden Brooks!”
Eden stared at her. “Then you are a fool.”
Sophia’s nostrils flared. “Excuse me?”
Eden exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You do not win against Aiden Brooks. No one does. You went after Emma thinking she was alone, but you forgot who stands beside her now.”
Sophia’s hands trembled. “I have worked too hard for this. I will not let her take everything from me.”
Eden hesitated before lowering his voice. “Then you need a different approach.”
Sophia’s eyes darkened. “Then give me one.”
Eden exhaled. “We need leverage. Something that makes Howard Taylor reconsider. If we cannot destroy Emma, we need to make her too risky to work with.”
Sophia’s lips curled into a slow smirk. “Then let’s find something he cannot ignore.”
The next morning, Emma stood on the balcony of Aiden’s mansion, sipping her coffee as the city stretched before her.
Bryce approached from behind, his expression composed. “We have a problem.”
Emma turned. “What now?”
Bryce handed her a tablet. “A new rumor is circulating. Anonymous sources are claiming you used Aiden’s influence to sabotage Sophia’s career.”
Emma scanned the article, irritation flickering across her face. “Of course. When she cannot win, she plays the victim.”
Bryce nodded. “It is gaining traction. Some media houses are hesitating to take sides.”
Emma scoffed. “No one hesitated when I was blacklisted.”
Bryce’s lips twitched slightly. “That was before you became Mrs. Brooks.”
Emma exhaled. “And Sophia knows that.”
Bryce hesitated before adding, “There is something else. Someone leaked a personal file about your past—before you became a model.”
Emma’s fingers tightened around the tablet. “What file?”
Bryce hesitated. “Details about your childhood. Your struggles before you entered the industry. It is framed to make you look… weak.”
Emma clenched her jaw. “Sophia is digging into my past now?”
Bryce nodded. “And she is making sure the world sees it.”
Emma exhaled sharply. “Where is Aiden?”
Bryce’s expression darkened. “Handling it.”
At Darius Entertainment, Aiden sat in his office, his posture relaxed but his aura deadly.
A senior editor from one of the leading media outlets sat across from him, visibly nervous.
Aiden tapped his fingers against the desk. “You ran a story without verifying the source.”
The editor swallowed. “We— we received the information from a trusted contact.”
Aiden’s smirk was cold. “And yet, you did not think to verify it before publishing lies about my wife?”
The editor’s hands trembled. “Mr. Brooks, we— we can retract it—”
Aiden’s dark eyes bore into him. “You will do more than retract it.”
The editor nodded quickly. “Anything you want, sir.”
Aiden leaned forward, his voice smooth as silk. “You will issue a formal apology. You will expose the source of the leak. And you will make sure that no one in your industry dares to publish unverified claims about Emma Claire ever again.”
The editor nodded frantically. “Yes, of course.”
Aiden’s smirk deepened. “Good. Now get out.”
The man practically ran out of the office.
Bryce stepped inside as the door closed. “Handled?”
Aiden picked up his whiskey glass. “Destroyed.”
Bryce nodded. “Emma wants to see you.”
Aiden exhaled slowly. “Let’s go.”
- Writer
