THE POWER AND WEALTH
848 Words
Four Years Ago
Far from the reach of his empire, deep in enemy territory, Nick Phoenix had been left for dead, his body broken, his face wrapped in thick bandages, his enemies believing he'd never recover.
But someone had stayed. A woman.
She was nameless to him, her voice the only light in his world of pain. Day after day, night after night, she sat by his bedside, tending to his wounds, feeding him, talking to him as if he were more than a ghost of the powerful man he used to be.
Nick lay still, his eyes covered with bandages, but his fingers curled tightly around her hand. Her skin was soft, warm, his only comfort.
“You know,” Nick rasped weakly, “when… this is all over and I get out of here… I’m going to propose to you.”
He heard her breath hitch in surprise. “You don’t even know what I look like,” she said with a soft laugh, trying to deflect the weight of his words.
“I don’t care.” His voice was faint but sure. “I’ll give you anything, wealth, power, fame. You name it.”
“Alright,” she said gently, brushing his hair away from his forehead. “Enough with the grand promises. Wealth and power mean nothing if you're not alive to enjoy them. Just focus on getting better.”
Nick smiled weakly. “What if… what if I take off the bandages, and I’m really ugly?”
She laughed again. “Then I guess I’ll have to tell my family I fell for a heart, not a face.”
Four Months Later
Nick was on his feet again, scars healing, mind sharper than ever. Dressed in black, ready to return to the world, he took one last look at the clinic. Then his phone rang.
He answered. “Hello?”
“Nick,it’s Shaun. They’re planning to start the war early.”
Nick’s body tensed. “I’ll head back immediately.”
Time was not on his side. He scribbled a short note, folded it tightly, and left it on the bedside table with half of the metal piece they’d once found together.
Later Nick tracked her down through the metal and he married her.
PRESENT DAY
Now is time to give her everything Nick promised. To make her the happiest, most powerful woman in the world.
Nick said, "Shaun, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way. We’re celebrating tonight."
Shaun raised an eyebrow. “Does Mrs. Phoenix still have no idea that you’re the Supreme Leader?”
Nick’s expression shifted into something unreadable. “I may be the most powerful man in the world, but that also makes me one of the biggest targets. Even within the Holy Parliament, not everyone knows my true identity. No… she’s safer not knowing. I’ll tell her myself when the time comes, at her inauguration banquet.”
Meanwhile, Bella sat quietly in the back of the luxury car, her fingers wrapped around the half-piece of metal. She stared at it in silence, lost in thought.
From behind, Emma leaned in excitedly. “Ma’am, big news! Word just came out, the Supreme Leader is planning to have the Phoenix family take over the Gordon family’s seat in the Holy Parliament.”
Elena, in the driver’s seat, gasped. “Wow, congratulations, Bella!”
Bella blinked, her grip tightening slightly. “Really?”
Emma nodded with a gleam in her eyes. “If the Phoenix family joins the Holy Parliament, you’ll have access to all the wealth, power, and influence in the world.”
Bella tilted her head, puzzled. “But I’ve never even met the Supreme Leader. Why would he choose me?”
“Because you’re amazing at everything you do,” Emma said quickly. “And let’s not forget, you’re the most beautiful woman in America.”
Bella gave a faint, amused smile.
Emma leaned closer. “Maybe he’s taken a liking to you. I mean, who could blame him?”
Bella’s smile faded. “But he must know Nick is my husband…”
Emma scoffed. “Nick? He’s just some exile from the Price family. He’s nothing compared to the Supreme Leader.”
Bella looked out the window, her voice growing colder. “You’re right. If my family joins the Holy Parliament, I deserve a better husband.”
Emma’s eyes lit up. “Are you serious?”
“I’m going to divorce Nick. Tonight,” Bella said without hesitation.
Emma’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I just found out the Supreme Leader expelled Gordon from the nightclub. Tonight. He’ll be there. Let’s go meet him.”
Bella smirked. “Alright. While we’re at it… let’s see if he’s really interested in me.”
The bodyguard opened the car door for Nick to enter. Nick stepped in quietly, still holding the box that carried the chocolate cake he had personally chosen for Bella. As he leaned back into the leather seat, ready to close the door, a man suddenly called out through the open car window.
- Writer
