Rivana looked at the message, her heart swelling with satisfaction. When the phone rang again, she finally picked up and heard Viktor going haywire on the other end.
"Someone has breached our systems, Riv! They planted a virus, and our team can't remove it."
"Oh, really?" Rivana mused, innocently gasping in surprise.
"Yes! Come to the company now, Riv." Viktor added, his blood pressure rising by the second.
"But didn't you kick me out last night?" Rivana asked, barely hiding her snicker and trying to sound cold. "I am no longer a part of the company, and its problems are none of my concern."
Viktor gritted his teeth on the other end, glaring at his assistant who had forced him to take this step. He had heard the audio released last night, and Rivana's words still swirled in his mind. His guilt for playing with Rubina's spiked drink story had completely washed away, replaced with pure rage that he had instantly kicked her out. But now he was coaxing the same brat who had trash-talked him? It fueled his fury!
"Come to the company, Riv. We will talk about it in person," Viktor uttered, knowing exactly how to tame her. He had always done it for the last decade or more, and he was confident about succeeding now too. A little bit of affection and sweet words, and Rivana would instantly forgive him like the simp she had always been.
Rivana sneered on the other side, aware of what must be running through his mind. "Alright. I will be there," she replied, ready to tear him down.
---
[Shadow Inc.]
Despite it being nearly the end of the workday, no one had left their desks. It had become a hive of chaos, frantic shouts, hurried footsteps, and the persistent ringing of phones echoing in every corner.
Technicians and department heads were scattered across the floor, some furiously typing, some staring blankly at screens as error messages blinked incessantly, interspersed with ominous pop-ups declaring: SYSTEM BREACHED. The virus was embedded so deeply into their core system that even their most experienced cybersecurity experts were at a loss.
Worse still, the breach wasn't contained. Clients were experiencing the same onslaught of alerts, with multinational corporations and high-profile firms demanding explanations. Individual users were throwing backlash on the internet, with Shadow Inc.'s reputation hanging by a thread.
Rivana walked into the chaos, her heels clicking rhythmically on the marble floors as she made her way inside. Employees turned to look at her, their fear faltering to hesitant relief.
At just 22, Rivana had made a reputation that people twice her age still struggled to reach. Though Viktor pretended to be the mastermind, he was just a showpiece in their company, with Rivana being the sole reason for its breakthrough. And seeing her walk back with the same confidence and aura, looking every bit the prodigy she was, many were relieved.
"Ma'am!" Viktor's assistant hurriedly greeted her, his voice tinged with desperation. "Thank goodness you're here! Boss—he—he needs you urgently."
Rivana frowned in confusion, but as soon as they entered Viktor's office, her eyes widened in shock.
"You bastard! How dare you kick her out? She built this company herself!" Leonora Ronvy, Rivana's best friend, was screaming at the top of her lungs, her hands locked firmly in Viktor's hair.
"Let go of me, you lunatic!" Viktor growled, attempting to free himself, but Leonora's grip tightened, pulling his hair harder.
"Not until you reverse your decision!" Leonora shouted, twisting harder. Viktor yelped, his face was red, his polished image crumbling as he swatted at her hands like a desperate fly.
Rivana couldn't stop the snort that escaped her mouth. The sight was funny and far too satisfying to watch.
The sound of her laughter made everyone turn around. Leonora's anger subdued, a pout forming on her face. "Anna!" she cried, leaving Viktor and rushing over to hug Rivana.
"Nora." Rivana hugged her back, feeling a warmth seep into her chest. She hadn't expected Leonora to be here, especially after the fight they had a few months ago.
Leonora pulled back, shooting Viktor a venomous glare. She had seen what had happened at their wedding and had rushed, leaving her fashion week midway.
Viktor rubbed his scalp and straightened up. "Riv!" he exclaimed, plastering a gentle expression as if everything was still great between them. He stepped forward, attempting to grab Rivana's hand, but Leonora intercepted, slapping his wrist.
"Don't touch her, you spineless worm!"
Viktor shot Leonora a glare but composed himself quickly. He looked at Rivana and added, "The shareholders will be here soon for an emergency meeting. Our clients are enraged. Only you can save our company, Riv!"
"Our?" Rivana scoffed out loud. Crossing her arms, she questioned, "But didn't you kick me out just last night?"
"I was enraged hearing your recording audio, Riv. Anyone would have done it from the way you spoke ill about me," Viktor growled, defending himself.
"But that wasn't us, you dumbass!" Leonora barked back.
Viktor's eyes widened, and he looked at Rivana. "It wasn't you?" he asked in confusion.
Rivana simply stared at him, bitterness settling in her heart. They had literally spent their entire lifetime together, and yet he couldn't recognize her voice. Her mind reeled, thinking how it didn't take Azrael even a minute to dismiss it as fake. And here, the man she had loved believed it without so much as confronting her first.
Viktor's jaw tightened at her silence, guilt flickering in his eyes. "It isn't important now! Let's talk about it later. First, we should remove that virus!" Viktor dismissed it, making Rivana grit her teeth.
"What would I get from helping you, Viktor?" she asked coldly.
Her question surprised Viktor, and even Leonora looked at her best friend, a little surprised. The Rivana she knew would easily give in and help this asshole. But there was a new glow in her eyes, and she loved it.
"I will let you work here again, Riv," Viktor said quickly with a smile that he thought was still charming. "You will be reinstated as the director and have full control of all the projects again." He added as if bestowing her with a grand favor.
Leonora scoffed at his audacity, hoping to shred his thick skin into pieces and feed them to pigs.
Rivana simply smiled, her eyes glistening with strange amusement. "I need something else, Viktor," she stated, intriguing even the assistants.
"What is it? Tell me, Riv!" Viktor replied with a warm smile. "You know I can do anything for you—"
"Hand over the company to me." Rivana cut him short, her words shocking everyone.
"What?" Viktor frowned, assuming he had heard wrong.
"Make me the CEO of Shadow Inc., Viktor," Rivana replied, making him narrow his eyes. With a sly smirk, she added, "Hand over all the rights to me, and I will remove the virus. After all, you can do anything for me, right?"