The following morning was thick with a sense of unease, the kind that creeps into your bones and lingers there, refusing to be shaken. William had spent the night at the hospital, but he was restless, determined to get back into the fight despite his injuries. He was still pale, and the bruise on his temple seemed darker today, but his eyes were sharp, focused.
"I'm coming with you to the office," William announced as soon as Ethan and I entered the room.
I shot him a look, shaking my head. "You're still recovering, William. You need rest."
"I can rest when this is over," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "If Castellano is planning to make his move on the company, I need to be there. We need to show strength."
Ethan folded his arms, clearly agreeing with William, though he glanced at me to gauge my reaction. "William's right. If Castellano is working with board members on the inside, we need to know who they are. Sitting back isn't an option anymore."
My chest tightened with anxiety. I knew they were both right—this wasn't the time to hesitate—but the thought of walking into the lion's den, with enemies on all sides, made my stomach churn.
"I don't like it," I admitted, my voice quieter now. "We don't know who we can trust. What if they're waiting for us to make a move?"
"Then we make our move first," William said, pushing himself up from the bed, wincing slightly but forcing himself to stand. "We go in, assess the situation, and start making changes. Castellano wants control? We'll show him we're not backing down."
His words were fierce, but I could see the strain in his posture. He was determined, yes, but I wasn't sure if he was ready. Still, I knew we couldn't afford to wait. Every second we hesitated gave Castellano the upper hand.
I nodded reluctantly. "Alright. We'll go."
William reached for his jacket, his movements slower than usual, but I didn't argue. Ethan stood at the door, his eyes scanning the hallway like a sentinel. "I've arranged for extra security at the office," he said. "I don't want us walking in there blind. If Castellano's people are inside, we'll be ready."
I was grateful for Ethan's foresight, but the tension in my chest refused to loosen. This wasn't just a battle for the company anymore—this was a war for survival. And the enemies were no longer just on the outside; they were sitting at the same tables, working in the same halls. The thought of betrayal from within made the ground feel unstable beneath my feet.
The drive to the office was quiet, the three of us lost in our thoughts as the city blurred past. I could feel William's determination radiating beside me, and Ethan's ever-watchful presence was a comfort, but the knot of anxiety in my stomach only grew tighter with every passing second.
As we pulled up to the towering building that housed my father's company, a chill ran down my spine. It looked the same as always—grand, imposing, a symbol of power—but today it felt different. Today, it felt like a battleground.
William led the way inside, his posture straight and commanding, despite the fact that I knew he was still in pain. Ethan and I followed closely, and as we stepped into the polished lobby, I could feel the eyes on us—watchful, calculating. I couldn't tell who was loyal and who was already on Castellano's payroll, but the tension in the air was unmistakable.
We made our way to the executive floor, passing rows of offices where employees worked in silence, their gazes flicking up as we passed. My heart pounded as we reached the boardroom, the place where decisions about my father's empire had been made for years. Now, it felt like enemy territory.
As we entered the room, I immediately noticed the faces at the table. Some were familiar—trusted allies of my father who had been there for years. But others... others were new, men and women I didn't recognize, their expressions guarded. My stomach churned with unease. *How many of these people had already turned on us?*
William took his seat at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the room, and I saw the flicker of recognition in his gaze. He knew, just as I did, that not everyone in this room could be trusted. But he remained calm, his presence commanding.
"Good morning," William said, his voice steady but cold. "I understand we have important matters to discuss today."
There was a murmur of agreement, but I could see the tension in the room. These people were on edge, waiting for something. Waiting for a sign that the power struggle had begun.
One of the board members, a man named Porter, cleared his throat, leaning forward in his seat. "We've received several proposals for restructuring the company," he began, his voice overly smooth. "There's been some... concern about the direction we're headed in."
I stiffened, sensing the trap being laid. Porter had always been one of the more vocal members of the board, but today there was something more calculated in his tone, as though he was testing the waters.
William's gaze sharpened. "Concern?"
Porter smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Well, given recent developments, some of us feel that a change in leadership might be necessary."
My heart skipped a beat, and I felt Ethan shift slightly beside me, his body tensing. This was it. This was Castellano's move.
"And who, exactly, do you have in mind for this change in leadership?" William asked, his voice icy.
Porter's smile widened. "Several candidates have been discussed. But of course, we'd want someone who has the company's best interests at heart. Someone who can take us in a new direction."
I clenched my fists beneath the table, my mind racing. This wasn't just about a shift in power—this was a coup. Porter and the others who were in Castellano's pocket were making their move, trying to oust us before we even had a chance to fight back.
But before I could speak, another voice cut through the tension. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to stop you right there."
I turned, my heart pounding, as Lucas Bennett walked into the room, his expression unreadable. He strode to the front of the room, his eyes scanning the faces at the table before landing on Porter.
"You see, there's been a slight misunderstanding," Lucas continued, his voice smooth but carrying a razor-sharp edge. "This company is not up for grabs. And any talk of restructuring is going to be shut down before it goes any further."
Porter's smile faltered, and I could see the confusion on his face as Lucas's words sank in. "Mr. Bennett, I wasn't aware you were involved in—"
"Oh, I'm involved," Lucas said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And let me make this clear—anyone who sides with Castellano will find themselves without a job, or worse. I'm sure none of you want that."
The room fell into a stunned silence, the tension hanging heavy in the air. I could feel my pulse racing as I processed what had just happened. Lucas Bennett had just declared war on Castellano's forces within the company. But the question was, whose side was he really on?
Porter's expression had shifted from smug confidence to barely contained panic. He glanced around the table, his eyes flicking to the other board members, but no one spoke. They were all waiting, watching to see how this power struggle would play out.
William leaned forward, his gaze cold. "I think we're done here, Porter. Unless you have something else to add?"
Porter opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He stood, his face pale, and without another word, he hurried from the room, the door slamming shut behind him.
As soon as he was gone, the tension broke, and the remaining board members quickly followed suit, filing out of the room without looking back. Within minutes, the boardroom was empty, leaving only the three of us—William, Ethan, and Lucas.
I turned to Lucas, my mind spinning with questions. "What was that?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Lucas gave me a slow, calculating smile. "That was me making sure Castellano knows he's not the only one with power around here."
"You're siding with us now?" William asked, his tone skeptical.
Lucas's smile widened. "I'm siding with whoever wins, William. And right now, it looks like you're still in the game."
I didn't trust his words, but I knew we needed him. Lucas Bennett was playing his own game, but for now, it seemed like he was on our side.
"How long before Castellano makes his next move?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Lucas's eyes darkened. "Not long. He's coming for you, Alice. And when he does, you'd better be ready."
The warning sent a chill down my spine. Castellano's attack on the company wasn't just the beginning—it was a sign of something much bigger, something darker. And now, we were standing on the edge of a war we couldn't afford to lose.
But as I looked at William and Ethan, their determination clear, I knew one thing for sure:
We weren't going down without a fight.