Quinn and Michael sat in the backseat of the car, their expressions tense and unreadable. The earlier meeting with Richard Fletcher had been nothing short of humiliating. Despite Quinn's flawless presentation and the clear benefits of partnering with her company, Richard had politely declined their proposal, citing his new partnership with Langston Group.
Quinn clenched her jaw, staring out of the window as the streets of Sydney blurred past. Michael sat beside her, his fists clenched on his lap. Mia and Darren were in the car behind them, while their bodyguards followed in another vehicle.
Michael broke the silence first. "That bastard," he muttered, his voice low but laced with anger.
Quinn turned to him, her own frustration mirrored in his face. "Leo," she said quietly. It wasn't a question—it was a certainty.
Michael scoffed bitterly. "Of course, it's him. Who else would swoop in at the last second just to make sure we lose the deal?"
Quinn let out a sharp breath. "This isn't about business anymore, Michael. This is personal. Leo's trying to punish us for working together. He's trying to assert control."
Michael nodded, his jaw tight. "Well, he won't get away with it. I'll—"
Before he could finish, Michael's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his irritation evident. When he saw the caller ID, his frown deepened.
"Xavier?" he said, answering the call. "What's going on?"
"Michael," Xavier's voice came through the line, tense and hurried. "Where are you right now?"
"I'm in Sydney," Michael replied, his brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"
Xavier hesitated for a moment, and Michael could hear the sound of papers shuffling in the background. "You need to come back to New York. The company is in trouble."
Michael stiffened. "What do you mean, 'in trouble'?"
"Contracts are being pulled left and right," Xavier explained. "Our biggest clients are backing out of deals, citing vague 'external pressures.' And on top of that, two of our accounts have been frozen. Michael, we're hemorrhaging money."
Michael's grip on the phone tightened. "That doesn't make any sense. We've been stable—profitable even. Who's behind this?"
Xavier hesitated again before speaking. "It feels... coordinated. Like someone is deliberately trying to destabilize us."
Michael's mind raced as the pieces began to fall into place. "It's Leo," he said flatly.
"Leo Langston?" Xavier asked, surprised.
"Yes," Michael growled. "It has to be him. He's trying to destroy me."
"Michael, you need to get back here," Xavier said urgently. "We can't fight this without you."
"I'm on my way," Michael said before ending the call.
As soon as the call ended, Michael slammed his phone down onto his lap, his frustration boiling over.
Quinn turned to him, her brows knitted in concern. "Michael, what's wrong?"
Michael let out a bitter laugh. "What's wrong? Leo's trying to destroy me. That's what's wrong."
Quinn's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Michael leaned back against the seat, running a hand through his hair. "Xavier just called. Contracts are being canceled, accounts are frozen—my company is falling apart, Quinn."
Quinn's stomach sank. "Leo," she whispered, her voice filled with conviction.
"Exactly," Michael said, his tone sharp. "He's not just going after you anymore. He's coming after me, too. And I'll be damned if I let him win."
Quinn placed a hand on his arm, her grip firm. "Then we fight back. But first, we need to get back to New York. We can't fight him from here."
Michael nodded, his jaw clenched. "Let's go. The sooner we leave, the better."
Quinn pulled out her phone and called Mia, who answered almost immediately.
"Yes, ma'am?" Mia said, her tone professional.
"Mia, we're leaving for U.S. Book us the next available flight," Quinn instructed.
"Understood, ma'am. I'll arrange it right away," Mia replied before ending the call.
Mia and Darren quickly began organizing their departure. Back at the hotel, Quinn and Michael packed their belongings in silence, the weight of the situation hanging over them.
As they checked out of the Ritz-Carlton, their bodyguards loaded their luggage into the cars. Quinn and Michael shared one vehicle, while Mia, Darren, and the rest of the team took another.
The flight back to U.S was tense and silent. Michael stared out of the window, his fists clenched as his mind raced. Quinn, seated beside him, occasionally glanced his way, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
After a while, she spoke softly. "Michael, we'll figure this out. Leo's not invincible."
Michael turned to her, his jaw tight. "It's not just about Leo, Quinn. It's about everything I've built. He's trying to take it all away."
"And he won't succeed," Quinn said firmly. "You're not alone in this, Michael. We'll fight him together."
Michael let out a small sigh, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Thanks, Quinn. That means a lot."
The plane touched down at JFK Airport late at night. Exhausted but determined, the group disembarked and quickly headed for their cars.
Michael and Darren went straight to the headquarters of Lennox Industries to assess the damage, while Quinn instructed Mia to head home and rest.
"You've done enough for today, Mia," Quinn said gently. "We'll regroup in the morning."
"Yes, ma'am," Mia replied with a nod before leaving with one of the bodyguards.
Quinn arrived at the Langston mansion to find it dark and quiet. Maria, the head maid, greeted her at the door.
"Welcome home, ma'am," Maria said softly.
"Thank you," Quinn replied. "Is Leo home?"
"No, ma'am. He hasn't returned yet," Maria said.
Quinn nodded curtly. "Alright. Goodnight, Maria."
Once in her room, Quinn wasted no time. She took a quick shower, changed into comfortable loungewear, and opened her laptop.
Quinn dialed Mia's number. Despite the late hour, her secretary answered quickly.
"Yes, ma'am?" Mia said.
"Mia, schedule a meeting with the team tomorrow morning," Quinn instructed. "We need to strategize on how to counter Leo's interference."
"Understood, ma'am. I'll send out the invitations right away," Mia replied.
"Thank you," Quinn said before ending the call.
Quinn's next call was to Michael. He answered on the second ring, his voice tense but alert.
"Quinn," he said.
"How bad is it?" she asked.
Michael sighed heavily. "It's bad. Darren's running the numbers now, but we're losing millions. Contracts are dropping like flies."
Quinn frowned, her determination hardening. "Michael, I have an idea. It's risky, but it might be our only shot."
Michael's tone shifted, a hint of hope creeping in. "What's the idea?"
"Let's meet tomorrow morning," Quinn said. "I'll explain everything then."
"Alright," Michael replied. "Thanks, Quinn. For everything."
"Goodnight, Michael," she said before hanging up.
As she closed her laptop, Quinn leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. Leo wanted to play dirty, but she wasn't about to let him win.