UNMASKED: The Heiress' Cold Revenge

The Takeover

Chapter 4:

"You are yet to answer my question, Mr. Sterling. How long have you been tracking my family? And don't lie to me, I have had enough of that to last a lifetime. I'd appreciate the truth from now on."

The interior of the limousine was a world of hushed luxury, the city lights sliding across Theo’s sharp features like a silent film. He sat across from me, his long legs crossed, a glass of amber liquid in one hand and a tablet in the other. On the screen, the Thorne Group’s stock ticker was a bloodbath of jagged red lines.

"I didn't have to track you, Elena. I just had to wait for the perfect time, for you to realize who you were and show yourself to the world," Theo said, his eyes never leaving mine. There was an honesty in his gaze that was terrifying.

"You really are something else." I commented, in am inaudible tone.

"I knew a girl with your bloodline wouldn't just vanish into the background forever. I knew that you were somewhere closer than every other person expected. I watched you marry that arrogant i***t. I watched you play the submissive, doting wife for years despite his insecurities and flaws, while you slowly, meticulously funneled his offshore interest into your own private trust."

Shocked, I asked. "How did you know about that? Only a few trusted people know that. Which of my workers is feeding you private information?"

"You should know that in our part of the world, nothing can be buried as a secret, not for long and honestly, your move was a masterpiece of financial sabotage. Most people saw a victim. But I saw a determined, ferocious hunter."

"I did what I had to do to survive," I snapped, the fire in my eyes returning. "I had to make sure that when I left, he would have nothing to chase me with. Safe to say I was cutting all loose ends."

"Ohh, come on!" He countered, leaning forward until his face was inches from mine. "I am not judging you. I am admiring the craft skills. You did a great job in the backend."

"Thank you." I said, trying not to show my satisfaction from his acknowledgment.

"But Julian has a backup plan. He’s meeting with your Uncle, Arthur tomorrow morning to sign an emergency bridge loan. He thinks Arthur still has the Vance Global liquid assets. He doesn't know that I bought the primary debt on the very building he calls home two hours ago."

" How do you know that?" He handed me the tablet. It wasn't just a stock report; it was a deed. He hadn't just sabotaged Julian; he had paved the way for a total decapitation of the Thorne Group.

"You sure know too much for someone who has a face as yours." I muttered to myself, scrolling through the report.

"See it as something that needed to be done." Theo replied, smiling weakly.

"So tell me, what do you want in exchange for this, Theo?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "Men like you don't give away leverage for free. You always want something in return, later in the future or in the present."

"What I want is very simple and easy to do, Elena. I just want a front-row seat to the boardroom meeting tomorrow at 10:00 AM," Theo said, his thumb brushing the rim of his glass.

"And why would I offer you a seat at my boardroom meeting? Non-board members aren't allowed, the place is out of bounds to non-members." I said, taunting him.

"I want to watch the moment Julian realizes that the so-called charity case he publicly discarded is now his landlord, his lifeline and benefactor. I know getting me a seat in that room is not going to be an issue for you. And after you’ve taken his chair, his company, his last cent and his pride... I want you to consider a merger of a different kind. One that has nothing to do with contracts or boardrooms."

My phone buzzed in my lap. I have Theo a long stare, making it about a minute before I picked it up.

It was a text from Julian, the first of many I knew were coming:

'I don't know what stunt you pulled at the gala, but you are dead in this city. I will personally see to it that you die in the most terrifying manner. Don't bother coming back to the penthouse, you have no business there anymore. Your clothes and every other thing you had in your possession are currently being burned in the courtyard. You have nothing more to hold onto, Elena. You are nothing either."

I looked at the message, a cold, determined calm washing over me. He still thought he was the one in control. He still thought he could hurt me with a few bags of clothes and a locked door.

"What is that? Let me guess, it's Julian, right?" Theo asked.

"He thinks he has thrown me out," I said, looking up at Theo. "He thinks he is still in charge here. I wonder how dumb and clueless humans can be when they are trying so hard to step out of their delusions. He hasn't even realized that he is the one who is homeless. And it is taking so much time, or don't you think so?"

Theo chuckled. " I really can't wait to see the shock on his face when he eventually comes to his senses and realizes that he is homeless and has nothing to his name."

"Theo, you should tell your legal team to finalize the emergency eviction notice for Thorne Tower. I want to be sitting in his chair by the time he arrives for his meeting tomorrow. And I want the locks changed on the penthouse before he even gets home."

Theo’s lips curved into a dark, satisfied smile. "Consider it done, Chairperson. But be careful. A cornered animal like Julian tends to bite. Luckily for you, I have always been a fan of the hunt."