Chapter 3

Abigail pointed at the name. "The controlling shareholder behind Verdant Capital... is Sofia."

So that was how it was.

He'd been planning this for a while.

Using my shares to curry favor with his dream girl, paving the way for her capital.

And me? The fool who helped him start from scratch, I was kept in the dark, still patting myself on the back for the company's success.

"How dare he!" I was shaking with rage, nails digging deep into my palms.

"He bet you wouldn't check. Or that even if you did, there was nothing you could do about it," Abigail said, her tone icy. "Because the addendum for the equity dilution... has your signature on it."

My head snapped up. "Impossible. I never signed anything."

Abigail sighed, zooming in on another document on her screen.

"Look. This signature. It's a good forgery, but see the hesitation at the end of the stroke? That's not your usual smooth flow," she said.

"It's fake." My voice was flat, cold. "Elijah, you're really something."

I needed to calm down. I asked Abigail to start gathering evidence for a lawsuit.

Then, I dialed another number. "Mr. Wilson. It's Isabella."

His voice was as cool as ever on the other end. "What is it?"

"I want to make a deal." I got straight to the point. "I want all the internal financial data and project vulnerabilities for AeroPulse Technologies. In exchange, I'll transfer my remaining 5% stake to you."

AeroPulse and Wilson Group were sworn rivals in the industry. The enemy of my enemy...

There was a brief silence on the line.

"Miss Carter," he said, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "Are you proposing to destroy what you and Elijah spent ten years building?"

I laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. "You're mistaken, Mr. Wilson. That was his life's work."

I paused. "Right now, I'm just taking back what's mine. And collecting a little interest."

"Why should I trust you?" he asked.

"Because I'm a co-founder of AeroPulse. I know its weak points better than anyone."

I watched the traffic flow outside the window. "And Mr. Wilson, you know perfectly well what taking down AeroPulse would mean for Wilson Group."

A huge market. A major obstacle cleared. The deal was a guaranteed win for him.

"Interesting," Henry's voice held a new note. "My office. Nine tomorrow morning."

The next day, I was on the top floor of Wilson Group right on time.

He skipped the small talk, sliding a document across his desk. "A cooperation agreement drafted by my legal team. Review it."

I skimmed it quickly. The terms were clear, responsibilities defined, and overwhelmingly in my favor.

Not only did he agree to my terms, but he also promised to assemble an independent team for me to target AeroPulse's weak projects.

And he would buy my 5% stake at the highest market price.

"Mr. Wilson," I said, puzzled. "Are you running a charity here?"

What was in it for him?

Henry leaned back in his chair, long fingers tapping the desk lightly, his gaze sharp. "I'm not a philanthropist. I'm a businessman."

His thin lips curved slightly. "What I'm interested in... is you."

"Me?"

"Correct." He stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city. "A woman who can help a man build an empire from nothing...

"Her capability, her resilience, her business sense... are far more valuable than any 5% stake."

He turned around. His eyes held a light I couldn't decipher.

He said, "Isabella, I'm investing in you. I believe you'll bring me a return far greater than just toppling AeroPulse."

It was the first time I'd ever seen a man's eyes acknowledge the value of me.

Not as "Elijah's supportive partner." But as "Isabella."

Something in my heart twisted sharply at that moment.

I picked up the pen and signed my name at the end of the agreement.

"A pleasure doing business," I said, extending my hand.

He took it. His palm was warm and firm. "The pleasure is mine."

News of my alliance with Henry sent shockwaves through the industry.

Elijah called almost immediately.