Chapter 8: The Shadow of the Past
1330 Words
Seraphina’s POV
The rain was streaking against the window of the law office as I waited for the final documents to be printed, and as I watched the water droplets race down the glass, my mind slipped back to a Tuesday afternoon three years ago when I was shivering under three blankets in the Valerius villa with a fever of 103 degrees. I remembered Julian standing in the doorway with his suitcase packed and his watch gleaming under the hallway lights, and when I had asked him to stay just one night because the doctor was worried about pneumonia, he had simply checked his reflection in the mirror and told me that his business trip to the coast was far more important than a common flu.
"You have the staff to bring you soup and tea, Seraphina, so there is really no reason for me to sit here and watch you sleep when there are millions of dollars on the line," Julian had said back then, and I found out later through a leaked credit card statement that his 'business trip' had actually been a four-day getaway at a luxury spa with Elena.
The sound of the door opening snapped me back to the present, and my lawyer, Mr. Aris, walked in with a thick folder and a pen that felt much heavier than the one I had used to sign my marriage certificate all those years ago.
"The debt-to-equity swap is complete, and as of five minutes ago, your ownership of the Valerius parent company has been updated to seventy percent, which means Julian is effectively working for you even if he hasn't fully grasped the reality of his situation yet," Mr. Aris said as he slid the papers across the mahogany desk for me to sign.
"He won't grasp it until the locks are changed on his office door, but I want to make sure the transition is legally airtight so he can't claim any spousal rights to the Apex assets," I replied, and I felt a cold sense of satisfaction as I watched my signature finalize the takeover of the empire I had built for a man who wouldn't even buy me medicine when I was dying.
As I walked out of the office, Marcus was waiting by the car with his brow furrowed, and he didn't even wait for me to get inside before he handed me a printout of a private bank ledger that he had been tracking since the board meeting.
"Julian is getting desperate, Seraphina, because I just tracked a series of inquiries he made to a high-interest lending firm that is known for dealing with people who have been blacklisted by the major banks," Marcus told me, and he looked genuinely concerned as he opened the car door for me.
"He’s trying to take out a private loan to cover the company's operating costs so he doesn't have to ask me for an injection of capital, isn't he?" I asked, and Marcus nodded as we pulled into the street.
"He’s looking for fifty million dollars at a twenty percent interest rate, and if he signs that contract, he will be personally liable for the debt even if the company goes under, which means he is basically betting his entire future on a miracle," Marcus explained, and I just leaned back against the leather seat and watched the city lights go by.
"Let him talk to them, but make sure the lenders know that his primary assets are already tied up in my equity swap, and then tell the driver to stop at the boutique on 5th Avenue because I need to pick up a gift for Gabriel’s sister," I said, and Marcus made a quick note on his tablet as he coordinated the next move.
When we arrived at 'The Velvet Room,' the atmosphere was quiet and expensive, but the peace was shattered by the sound of Elena’s voice as she shouted at a young sales clerk who was holding a pair of silk heels.
"I don't care if the card was declined, you should know who I am and you should know that my husband is Julian Valerius, so you will wrap these shoes and send the bill to his office immediately!" Elena screamed, and she looked up and saw me standing near the entrance with Marcus.
"Oh, look who it is, the woman who thinks she can buy her way back into high society just because she’s clinging to Gabriel’s coat-sleeves," Elena said, walking over to me with a smug look on her face despite the fact that she was clearly struggling to pay for her shopping.
"You seem to be having some trouble with your transaction, Elena, and it's quite embarrassing to hear you shouting in a*****e that prides itself on discretion," I said, and I didn't even look at the shoes she was trying to take.
"Julian is just having some technical issues with his business accounts because of all the legal mess you’ve created, but he’ll have it sorted by tonight, and then I’ll be back to buy this entire rack just to show you that you’re still nothing compared to me," she sneered, crossing her arms.
The manager of the store came rushing out of the back office and looked between us with a panicked expression, and before he could speak, I looked him in the eye and said, "Mr. Davies, please inform Miss Vance about the new ownership policy regarding blocked clients."
"Miss Vance, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave the premises, because as of last month, this boutique and the entire block of retail space was purchased by the Thorne Holding Group," the manager said, and his voice was firm as he signaled for security.
"What does that have to do with me?" Elena asked, her voice cracking as she realized what was happening.
"It means I own this store, Elena, and I don't allow people with bad credit or bad manners to shop here, so you are banned from this location and every other subsidiary of Apex Retail for life," I told her, and the look of pure shock on her face was better than any apology she could have given me.
"You can't do this! Julian will hear about this!" she yelled as the security guard took her by the elbow and began to lead her toward the glass doors.
"Tell him whatever you like, but make sure to tell him that his penthouse lease is also held by my holding group, and I expect the keys on my desk by noon tomorrow," I called out after her, and the room went silent as she was escorted out onto the sidewalk.
I finished my shopping in silence and walked back to the car, but as I was about to step inside, a delivery man in a plain grey uniform approached Marcus and handed him a large bouquet of black roses that were wrapped in heavy, expensive paper.
"There’s no name on the tag, just a note for you, Seraphina," Marcus said, handing me a small, cream-colored envelope that felt strangely cold in my hand.
I opened the note and my blood turned to ice as I read the words written in a sharp, familiar handwriting that didn't belong to Julian or Gabriel, and it said: 'The stairs were only the beginning, and I’ve been waiting seven years to see you finally stand up so I can watch you fall again.'
I looked up at the dark windows of the building across the street and saw a flicker of movement behind a curtain, and I knew in that moment that the war I was fighting wasn't just against the Valerius family, but against a ghost from my past that I thought was long gone.
- Writer
