Chapter 12:"Eliana Fights"
935 Words
The penthouse air felt thick enough to choke on.
Rachelle stood in the middle of the living room like she owned it, file clutched to her chest, smirk firmly in place. Damien had stepped between her and Eliana the moment the elevator doors opened, but Eliana wasn’t having it.
She pushed past him, eyes locked on Rachelle.
“Stop it!!” Eliana’s voice cracked through the room, sharp and loud enough to make Damien turn.
“Stop this nonsense, Rachelle. I know exactly what people like you are up to.”
Rachelle arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And what exactly am I up to, Mrs. Vance? Saving your husband from your lies?”
Eliana’s jaw clenched. “Lies? You’re the one who’s been feeding this company poison since day one. You didn’t care about Vance Corp. You cared about Damien’s bed.”
The color drained from Rachelle’s face. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Eliana shot back, stepping closer until they were inches apart. “Five years you’ve been watching him. Five years you’ve been waiting for his wife to fail so you could step in. Well, I’m not failing. And I’m not stepping aside.”
Sophia, who had been leaning against the balcony railing watching like it was a movie, let out a low whistle. “Oh, this is better than the boardroom.”
Rachelle’s smile returned, colder this time. “You think screaming makes you powerful, Eliana? You’re just a desperate girl playing house with a man who’s way out of your league.”
She glanced at Damien. “He’ll realize it soon enough. When the police come for your brother, and your name is dragged through every newspaper in Lagos.”
That was the last straw.
Eliana’s hand moved before her brain could catch up.
*SLAP.*
The sound echoed through the penthouse.
Rachelle’s head snapped to the side, her cheek already turning red.
The room went dead silent.
Sophia’s whistle died in her throat.
Damien went still, watching.
Rachelle touched her cheek, eyes blazing. “You just hit me.”
Eliana’s chest was heaving, but she didn’t back down. “And I’ll do it again if you open your mouth about my brother one more time.”
*SLAP.*
The second one landed harder. Rachelle stumbled back a step, her carefully styled hair falling out of place, her designer blazer crooked. Her mask of control shattered completely.
“You—! You—!” Rachelle sputtered, humiliation flashing across her face as her perfect composure cracked.
Eliana stepped forward, pointing a finger at her. “You want a war, Rachelle? Fine. The war starts now. But you picked the wrong woman to play with.”
Damien finally moved, grabbing Eliana’s wrist before she could throw a third slap. Not to stop her — to pull her back before security got involved. His voice was low, right by her ear. “Eliana. Enough.”
Eliana yanked her hand free but didn’t look at him. Her eyes never left Rachelle’s. “No. Not enough. Not until she apologizes to my brother’s name.”
Rachelle straightened her jacket with trembling hands, trying to regain dignity. “You’ll regret this, Eliana. Damien won’t protect you when the evidence comes out.”
Damien’s expression hardened. “The only evidence I care about is the one that proves you hacked Vance Corp’s system, Rachelle. And Charles is already tracing your IP.”
Rachelle’s eyes widened. For the first time, fear flickered there.
Sophia pushed off the railing, sensing the tide had turned. “Well… this got messy.” She turned to Damien. “I’ll leave you two to your marital drama. But remember, Damien — the board meeting is in 12 hours. And they’ll want answers about Geneva.”
With that, Sophia walked out, throwing one last amused glance at Rachelle’s disheveled state.
Rachelle stood there for another second, humiliated and furious, then grabbed her file and stormed toward the elevator. The doors slid open.
Before she stepped in, she turned back and hissed at Eliana: “You think you won? You haven’t even seen me angry.”
Eliana smiled — cold, sharp, nothing like her usual soft expression. “Good. I hope you’re angry. Angry people make mistakes.”
The doors closed with a final *ding*.
Silence again.
Damien exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You could’ve gotten arrested for that.”
Eliana turned to him, tears of anger still shining in her eyes. “And you could’ve defended me instead of grabbing my wrist like I’m a child.”
Damien flinched. “I was protecting you from—”
“From what?” Eliana cut him off. “From me? From fighting my own battles?”
Damien stared at her, and for the first time since this started, he looked unsure.
Eliana wiped her eyes and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, arms crossed. The Lagos skyline glittered below her, but she didn’t see it.
“I don’t care if anyone doesn’t believe me,” she said quietly. “I don’t care if the board thinks I’m guilty. I don’t care if your father thinks I’m a gold digger.”
Damien frowned. “What are you saying, Eliana?”
Eliana turned around, eyes burning with determination.
“What I’m about to do will leave everyone shocked.”
Damien opened his mouth to ask, but Eliana was already walking toward the bedroom, her back straight, her steps deliberate.
The penthouse door clicked shut behind her.
Damien stood there alone, .
But he had a feeling that whatever it was… it would change everything.
- Writer
