Melanie stood in front of the office building, her eyes scanning the city around her. The glass skyscrapers seemed like giants in the distance, each one reflecting the midday sun. It had been a long, grueling week filled with meetings and strategies, but today felt different. Today, she felt like she was on the verge of something monumental. Something that could break her or make her.
Her mind kept racing back to the confrontation with Rhys, the anger and resentment that boiled beneath her skin. The way he had looked at her—cold, calculating, yet so damn confident. He had made it clear that he was in control. It was the first time in years that someone had managed to unnerve her like that. And it made her feel vulnerable.
She took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and entered the building. She was here for one purpose: to regain control of the situation. She had her sights set on becoming the top dog in the industry, and no one—especially not a man like Rhys—was going to stand in her way.
Inside, the buzz of the office was familiar, but today it felt oppressive. As she walked past her assistant's desk, Dana looked up from her computer, her face pale. Melanie raised an eyebrow.
"Everything alright?" she asked, her voice calm but laced with curiosity.
Dana hesitated for a moment, glancing over her shoulder as though making sure no one could overhear. "I… I don't know if this is something you need to know," Dana whispered, leaning in. "But there's something strange going on with the board members. They've been meeting behind your back."
Melanie's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? Behind my back? What's happening?"
Dana quickly glanced around again, then slid a confidential document across the desk. Melanie's eyes widened as she scanned the contents. It was a proposal, a merger with Rhys Edwards' company. Without a doubt, someone was trying to push her out of the picture. A familiar feeling of fury began to creep up inside her.
"Who authorized this?" Melanie asked through gritted teeth, her fingers curling around the edge of the desk. "Who else knows about this?"
Dana looked guilty, as if caught between loyalty and fear. "The board members, ma'am. They're in on it. I overheard them discussing it this morning. They… they're trying to merge with Edwards' company behind your back."
Melanie's mind whirred. Rhys was already making moves against her, trying to take over her empire with the same cold, ruthless precision she knew all too well. But this time, she wasn't going to let it slide.
She stood up abruptly, slamming her palms onto the desk. "Get me a meeting with the board. Now," she ordered. "And I want the head of the department to be in there. If anyone's trying to betray me, I'll make sure they regret it."
Dana quickly scrambled to comply, her eyes wide with anxiety. "I'll set it up right away," she said, her voice trembling.
Melanie walked out of the office with purpose, a storm of thoughts swirling in her head. Rhys had clearly underestimated her. But that was the mistake he would regret. He had his hands in too many pots, and if he thought he could outsmart her, he was wrong.
As she entered the elevator, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, and her heart skipped when she saw the text message.
Rhys Edwards wants to meet with you at 2 p.m. today. He says it's urgent.
A mix of anger and curiosity flooded through her. What did he want now? Was he trying to gloat or offer some sort of truce? Either way, it didn't matter. She wasn't going to let him have the upper hand anymore. If he wanted a war, he was about to get one.
At 2 p.m., Melanie arrived at the sleek, modern conference room that Rhys had booked for their meeting. He was already sitting at the head of the table, his back straight, eyes cold as ever. There was something almost predatory in his gaze as he watched her approach.
"You're late," Rhys said, his tone flat, like he couldn't care less.
Melanie didn't flinch. Instead, she walked straight to the seat across from him and sat down with deliberate slowness, making sure every move oozed with confidence.
"I don't have time for games, Rhys," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "What do you want?"
He leaned back in his chair, the smirk on his lips never faltering. "I'm not the one playing games, Melanie. I think you'll find the tables have turned."
Melanie's blood began to boil. "What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. She was done with the vague threats. She wanted answers.
Rhys leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers. "You know exactly what I mean. You're smart. You've built an empire, sure. But what happens when someone comes along who's bigger, better, and more connected? I'm offering you an out. A way to save face."
Melanie stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the polished floor. "Save face? You're trying to take me down. You've been trying to manipulate the board behind my back. Don't pretend this is anything but a power play."
For a moment, Rhys's eyes flashed with something that resembled respect—before it quickly disappeared, replaced by the cold indifference she was used to.
"You're wrong," he said simply, standing up as well. "I'm not here to destroy you. But I will be the one to come out on top in the end. That's just the way the world works."
Melanie's heart raced, her hands clenched into fists by her sides. She could feel the heat of the moment, the raw emotion between them. It was more than just business—it was personal now.
"Is that all you wanted to say?" she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "I'm not scared of you, Rhys. You don't intimidate me."
Rhys gave her a long, assessing look before speaking again. "You're stronger than I thought, Melanie. I'll give you that. But you're still playing a game you don't fully understand. And in the end, I'll win. You'll see."
Melanie turned to leave, but Rhys's voice stopped her.
"I hope you're ready for the consequences, Melanie," he said in a low, dangerous tone.
She didn't answer. She didn't need to. As she walked out of the room, her mind was racing with thoughts of how she was going to win this war—how she would destroy Rhys's plans and come out on top.
But deep inside, she knew one thing was certain: this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.