CHAPTER 17
1533 Words
As soon as I arrived at the office, I was ambushed.
A swarm of reporters blocked my path, shoving microphones toward me, cameras flashing in my face.
I knew something was off.
My brows furrowed in frustration as I caught sight of a familiar logo on one of the microphones—Montague Publications.
I let out an exasperated sigh.
"God, Rex," I muttered under my breath.
Of course, it had to be him.
Rex Montague, the arrogant, spoiled brat of the Montague family—the same family that had been at war with mine for years. His presence alone was enough to make my blood boil, but this? This was low, even for him.
I could still remember his offer from last night.
“Why don’t we become business partners, Fabian?” he had said, “You let me invest in MCC, and I promise to keep quiet about your little... scandal.”
It was blackmail, plain and simple.
But I had refused.
And now, here he was, using his family’s media empire to drag my company’s name through the mud.
I clenched my fists, ignoring the reporters as I pushed past them, my steps quick and sharp.
The last thing I needed was to give them a soundbite they could twist into another damning headline.
The moment I stepped into my office, Beatrice, my ever-loyal secretary, practically collapsed in relief.
"Sir, thank God you're here," she said, her voice tight with stress.
She barely gave me a second to breathe before rushing out of the room, leaving me alone with the man sitting across my desk.
A representative from Mr. Darious.
I swallowed hard.
This was it.
This conversation could make or break one of our biggest projects of the year.
I took a deep breath, pushing aside my irritation over Rex, and sat down.
"So," I started, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Let’s get straight to the point. What did you want to discuss?"
The man in front of me sighed, adjusting his tie before speaking.
"Mr. Isidore, I’ll be frank with you." His expression was stern, unreadable. "Mr. Darious is considering withdrawing from your commercial housing project."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
"Given the current controversy surrounding your company," he continued, "Triple B is now looking like a more viable alternative for the project."
My mind went blank.
Triple B.
The Build Build Build Corporation. One of our biggest competitors.
If Mr. Darious pulled out of our deal and went with them instead, MCC would lose a project worth millions.
I gripped the armrests of my chair, trying to keep my frustration from boiling over.
"No... No..." I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.
This couldn't be happening.
I had worked too hard for this project. The blueprints were nearly complete, my team had already poured countless hours into making Mr. Darious’s vision a reality.
We couldn’t lose it now.
"Let me talk to Mr. Darious," I said, my voice firm. "I know he would give us another chance. Besides, the blueprints are already finished. We just need—"
I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself.
"Just give us another chance."
The representative gave me a sympathetic but unmoved look.
"I’m afraid the decision is nearly final," he said as he stood up. "I’ll be reporting this conversation back to Mr. Darious, but as it stands, your chances aren’t looking good."
I felt helpless as I watched him walk toward the door.
I needed a miracle.
Then—
His phone rang.
I watched as he pulled it out, answering with a sharp, professional tone.
He listened.
For several long, agonizing seconds, he just listened.
I couldn’t hear the voice on the other end, but something changed in his expression.
His eyes flickered toward me, observing me more closely now.
Then, he finally hung up.
And turned to face me.
"Alright," he said, adjusting his cuffs. "It’s decided."
A pause.
"You have one week to fix everything, Mr. Isidore."
As soon as the door closed behind him, I slumped back in my chair, exhaling deeply.
One week.
That was all the time I had to repair my company’s reputation, secure the project, and make sure Triple B didn’t snatch it from under my nose.
I rubbed my temples, the weight of everything crashing down on me.
The scandal, the press, the Montague family, Maurice Miranda, my father’s threats—
It was too much.
But I didn’t have the luxury of breaking down.
I needed a plan.
I pulled out my phone, scrolling to Leland’s name.
“Update me. Did you find her?”
His response came almost immediately.
“Almost. I have a lead.”
My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
I hated the idea of relying on Maurice Miranda for anything, but if bringing her back was the only way to fix this, then I had no choice.
“Good. Find her. We don’t have time.”
I put my phone down, staring at the ceiling.
I had one week.
And I would not let this company crumble.
Not now.
Not ever.
I called my secretary to call Mr. Darious. I wanted to give thanks to him for giving me a week to fix everything. That was all I needed right now.
But after what I heard from him, I was stunned.
I exhaled deeply as I set my phone down on the desk, staring blankly at the polished wood surface.
The Elwood family.
Of all people, of all powerful figures in the business world, they were the ones who had stepped in for me.
And I didn’t know if that was a blessing—or another problem waiting to explode.
Beatrice, ever the loyal secretary, stood in front of me, waiting for my next instruction. She was visibly relieved that Mr. Darious had given us another chance, but she had no idea about the real reason why.
"It wasn’t Mr. Darious," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "It was the Elwood family who pulled the strings."
Beatrice’s lips parted in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. "That’s… unexpected."
Unexpected was an understatement.
I had no business with the Elwood family, aside from the fact that my father was trying to force me into an arranged marriage with their only daughter—Violet Elwood.
I could already hear my father’s voice in my head, “Power, Fabian. That’s what matters most. If you marry Violet, we will be untouchable.”
I gritted my teeth, irritation flaring in my chest.
The last thing I wanted was to be tied down to some business transaction disguised as marriage.
But right now, I didn’t have the luxury of rejecting their help.
I ran a hand through my hair, pushing my thoughts aside. "Tell the guards to dismantle the press outside," I instructed Beatrice. "Immediately. I don’t want a single reporter near this building by the time I step out."
She nodded quickly. "Understood, sir."
As she left the office, I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers against the armrest.
What does the Elwood family want from me?
They wouldn’t just interfere for free. People like them never did anything without expecting something in return.
And I had a terrible feeling that I already knew what it was.
My phone buzzed again, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I picked it up, my jaw tightening when I saw the caller ID.
Father.
Of course.
I considered ignoring it. Pretending I was too busy.
But I knew that wouldn’t stop him from calling again.
With a deep sigh, I answered.
"Fabian," my father’s voice was sharp and authoritative. "I assume you’ve already heard the good news."
I clenched my fist. "I know the Elwood family interfered."
"You should be grateful," he said coldly. "Without them, our company would have lost everything."
"I didn’t ask for their help."
"No," he agreed, "but you needed it. And it just so happens that your engagement to Violet is what convinced them to step in."
There it was.
My entire future, being bought and sold like a business deal.
"You’re really doing this," I muttered, my voice dangerously low.
"You’ll thank me one day," he replied. "Once you realize that love means nothing in this world, and power means everything."
I almost laughed. Of course, he’d say that.
He had never believed in love. Never married for anything other than money and influence.
And now, he expected me to do the same.
But I wasn’t like him.
And I never would be.
"I have work to do," I said, cutting the conversation short. "If this deal was truly for my benefit, then let me handle my company the way I see fit."
Before he could respond, I ended the call.
I tossed my phone onto the desk, exhaling harshly.
Everything was spiraling.
First, the scandal with Maurice Miranda.
Now, this forced engagement with Violet Elwood.
I was losing control of my own life, and I hated it.
But I wasn’t going to sit back and let my father dictate my future.
If the Elwood family thought they could own me, they were in for a surprise.
Because Fabian Isidore doesn’t bow to anyone.
- Writer
