The next day, Rivana woke up, barely able to sleep last night due to sheer excitement. But her pleasant mood was ruined when Callum showed her the press note released from her company's official account. They both sat grimly in the hall, watching the news filled with comments about her.
[Haven't you heard how she spoke in that audio? It serves her right for her trashy behavior.]
[She was merely leeching off his hard work. Whatever Shadow Inc. is today, it's because of our Viktor.]
[Glad that evil wench was kicked out! I am waiting for her new husband to dump her too!]
[Yes! Mr. Dynar should divorce her immediately!]
Rivana sneered at the online comments. Shadow Inc. would survive on that moron's brain? She doubted if he could run it even for a day. Many didn't know he was able to graduate just because of her, and she regretted helping him out.
"Don't worry, Azrael has a big surprise for him. Viktor will only be enjoying that position for a few hours," Callum tried to assure Rivana, but the anger on her face clearly said she was pissed off.
"Don't waste your time on him," Rivana replied, causing even Azrael, who had just entered, to frown in confusion. He settled beside Callum on the sofa, both staring at her.
"He will come back crawling to me, begging to take back my position. I will make sure of it," Rivana declared, a fire glinting in her eyes.
Azrael's lips curled into a smirk, relieved that she seemed ready to fight her own battles. As long as she was willing to try, he would make sure she never failed them.
Callum, intrigued about her counterattack, asked, "What are you going to do?"
Rivana simply smiled in response. "You will have to wait and watch," she replied, making Azrael smirk proudly.
Callum pouted and slumped back on the couch. For a fleeting moment, he felt like he was seeing the dragon's wife, crazy and dangerous, bringing a smile to his lips. So she wasn't entirely a pushover, he mused in his mind. And he couldn't wait to see her slap that idiot Viktor!
------
As per Azrael's request, George had transformed one of the rooms on the ground floor into a fully equipped study room for their madam. When Rivana entered, she gasped in surprise.
A sleek desk with multiple monitors stood at the center, flanked by an ergonomic chair. A full-body massage chair and even a large sofa nestled in the corner for her to rest during long hours of work.
"This… this was all unnecessary," Rivana stammered, clearly overwhelmed. She'd only asked to retrieve her phone from Faye mansion and also for a new computer system, but the space was nothing short of a personal tech haven, better than even her office in Shadow Inc.
Callum's smile widened. "Blame your husband. He was very specific about making sure you had everything you needed—and more."
Rivana blushed faintly at his words. The way he called him "your husband" made her heart flutter for a strange reason.
"Is there anything else you need?" Callum asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Rivana shook her head, a grateful smile tugging at her lips.
"Alright. I will leave then." Callum added with a grin, "I'll be waiting with my popcorn. Hope it will be a good show."
Rivana chuckled softly and nodded in approval. As Callum left, she entered her new office, determination shining brighter than ever in her eyes.
Shadow Vaults, had been Rivana's brainchild, born out of sleepless nights, years of ambition, and months of struggle. It started as a software company specializing in cybersecurity solutions, but now it is a household name. Individual users, small businesses, and even multinational companies used their flagship product, Shadowshield, which had earned them a spot in the Top 10 Global Cybersecurity Innovations in just a year.
Rivana had been blinded by love and let Viktor take the CEO position, believing it didn't matter as long as they succeeded. While Rivana worked behind the scenes, Viktor played in the front, charming clients and building a public image. Now, watching him take all the credit, she felt like slapping herself for all the sacrifices.
"Enjoy your little parade, Viktor," Rivana sneered, settling into the plush chair. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she glanced at her phone. "I'll make sure to snatch away what's mine," she muttered before diving into action.
The hum of the computer filled the room as her screens lit up with lines of code, graphs, and diagnostic tools. Shadow Inc. was her creation, her fortress, and she knew every single line of code, every security panel, and every intricate algorithm as if it were etched into her soul.
Her hands moved with practiced precision, her eyes scanning the screens, her mind already ten steps ahead. One by one, she navigated the company's layers of protection. If she could create them, she could destroy them too, through a backdoor for emergencies, one even Viktor didn't know about.
"Ma'am, it's lunchtime," George knocked on the door after a few hours. Rivana glanced at him and noticed he was carrying a tray.
"You didn't have to, George," Rivana replied with a small smile. She got up, deciding to take a little rest while George placed the tray on the table before the sofa.
"Master specifically ordered that you didn't skip meals, Madam," George replied with a small smile, having been constantly reminded by Callum through texts.
"Oh?" Rivana murmured, her heart fluttering at Azrael's consideration. She didn't know how to respond and dug into her lunch. With a smile, George walked out.
A couple of hours passed as Rivana worked relentlessly, her focus unwavering. Every keystroke was deliberate, every click bringing her closer to her goal. Rivana didn't even glance up, her concentration unbroken even when George returned to take the tray. But when he returned later with a steaming cup of coffee, she finally leaned back, rubbing her temples.
"Thank you, George," she said softly, accepting the mug.
As the warm aroma of the coffee enveloped her senses, her gaze shifted to the window. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold. She took a deep breath, savoring the moment, before turning back to her screen and checking the progress.
One of the monitors suddenly blinked, and a bold message flashed across in red: SYSTEM BREACHED
A victorious smile spread across Rivana's lips. She leaned back in her chair, swirling it lazily, and took a long sip of her coffee. Her gaze shifted to her phone beside her, gleaming with excitement.
She started counting softly. "One… two… three…"
Right on cue, her phone buzzed. Viktor's name lit up the screen. When she didn't pick up, the phone rang again.
Rivana smirked, taking another sip of her coffee, relishing the first step toward her victory. Viktor would be pacing, sweating, and barking orders at his clueless team. She imagined his frantic freakout, a snicker leaving her mouth.
The phone continued to ring, and Rivana let it buzz, her satisfaction growing with each passing second. When it finally stopped, a messag popped up right after Viktor.
[Pick up the calls, Riv!]
She chuckled, her smirk widening as she left it on read. Another message followed almost immediately.
[Please! I need your help!]