Chapter 4

The board meeting was a disaster.

Scarlett sat at the head of the conference table, wearing a charcoal pantsuit that made her look like a warrior queen, and watched her own board turn against her.

Richard Sunad, the oldest member, tapped his pen against the table with a rhythm that made Scarlett want to scream. "Twenty million is a generous offer, Scarlett. And considering the European fallout..."

"The European fallout was manufactured by Adrian King."

"Maybe. But the investors don't know that. They see instability. They see risk. And King Industries is offering them an exit."

"We don't need an exit. We need time."

"Time costs money." This from Helena Yu, the financial officer. "And right now, our cash flow is drying up faster than a desert puddle. Three more investors pulled out this morning. We're looking at a liquidity crisis within the month."

Scarlett gripped the edge of the table. "So what are you saying? That we should just roll over? That we should let Adrian King walk in here and take everything I've built because he snapped his fingers?"

"We're saying," Richard said carefully, "that we should consider the offer. Negotiate the terms. Ensure our shareholders are protected."

"I am the majority shareholder."

"You own forty percent. King already has three board members voting in his favor. If he gets one more, he doesn't need your approval."

Scarlett stood. Her chair scraped against the floor with a sound like tearing metal.

"I built this company from nothing. I worked eighteen-hour days for five years. I sacrificed relationships, sleep, and sanity to get here. And I will not let Adrian King take it because he decided to play God."

"Scarlett..."

"The answer is no. The answer will always be no. And if any of you want to vote with him, you can resign today and never set foot in this building again."

The room fell silent.

Richard set his pen down. "You're making an enemy of the only people who can help you."

"I'm making allies of the people who matter." Scarlett walked to the door. She paused with her hand on the handle. "The emergency meeting is adjourned. I'll expect revised loyalty by end of day."

She walked out.

The hallway felt longer than usual. Her heels clicked against the marble with a sound that echoed in the emptiness. She passed employees who looked at her with pity and fear, and she hated both expressions equally.

She reached her office. She closed the door. She leaned against it and let herself breathe.

Five years ago, her father had lost everything in a room not unlike this one. He had sat at a table while Adrian King dismantled his empire piece by piece, and he had not fought. He had surrendered. He had signed the papers. He had gone home and drunk himself into a depression that lasted two years.

Scarlett was not her father.

But she was also not invincible. And the walls were closing in faster than she could push them back.

Her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

I told you this would happen. Accept my offer, or watch your company die. - A.K.

Scarlett stared at the message. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.

She typed: I would rather burn it to the ground than let you touch it.

The reply came in seconds: Then light the match. I'll watch you dance in the flames.

Scarlett threw her phone across the room. It bounced off the couch and landed on the carpet, screen-up, mocking her with its undamaged glow.

She would not cry. She would not break. She would find a way to destroy him.