Soren Blackwood's POV
The boardroom was shrouded in an unsettling quiet. Everyone gathered around the table was focused on the latest numbers, absorbed in the technicalities of business. But for me, the figures seemed distant, as my mind couldn't shake the sense of something amiss, something unspoken hanging in the air.
Just as I was about to ask a question about the projections, the door slammed open with startling force. My personal assistant stumbled in, looking disheveled and panicked. His shirt was untucked, his usually pristine hair now in a disarray, giving off the unmistakable sign of a struggle.
The sudden intrusion froze everyone in their tracks. I could feel the annoyance surge within me, threatening to break through the professional facade I maintained. My voice, sharp and controlled, cut through the stillness. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Sir... I'm sorry," he gasped, trying to catch his breath. "I tried to stop her, but she... she pushed me out of the way."
Before he could even finish explaining, a voice rang out, shrill and furious. Leona Blake appeared, storming into the room with her face flushed from what seemed to be a mix of anger and humiliation. Her eyes were wide, bloodshot, and filled with a wild fury. Her cheeks were marked by several distinct handprints, evidence of a violent altercation. She was beyond enraged, practically seething with venom.
"I've never been so humiliated in my entire life!" Leona's voice cracked as she screamed, her words almost a guttural growl.
The men around the table shifted uncomfortably in their seats, visibly unsettled by her outburst. It was impossible to ignore the chaotic energy she carried into the room. My irritation flared once again, but I was also conscious of the growing tension in the atmosphere. I could feel the eyes of everyone on me, waiting for a response.
Trying to maintain control, I stood up, raising my hand to signal for quiet. "Gentlemen, if you'd give me a moment, I'll be right back," I said calmly, even though inside I was anything but.
Leona didn't stop. Her voice reached a high-pitched screech that rattled the walls. "I'm out for blood!" she screamed, her words vibrating through the air.
I kept my focus, standing, moving toward her and placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "Leona," I said through gritted teeth, "calm down."
She shoved my hand off with an unexpected burst of strength. "You don't get it! I have been... humiliated, Soren!"
With that, I began to lead her away from the conference room. Her tirade grew louder as I pulled her toward my office. I could feel the weight of her anger, a pressure that would break if I didn't somehow get her under control.
Once the door shut behind us, her screams continued, though somewhat muffled. The harsh sounds of her rage were hard to ignore, but I did my best to gather myself. The situation was out of hand, but there was still a way to regain control.
I motioned for her to sit. She collapsed onto the plush leather couch, her sobs now mixed with bursts of rage. Her makeup, once perfectly applied, was streaked across her face from the tears. She trembled as she spoke between sobs, her words tumbling out in a rush.
"I went to the boutique today," she said, almost gasping for air between words. "I wanted to buy the most expensive dress. It was supposed to be mine. I had everything arranged... but she just walked in—this woman, she came out of nowhere. She snatched the dress from right under me, and then..." Her voice cracked, and she began to sob again.
I took a deep breath, sensing the depth of her fury. "Who was she?" I asked quietly. I couldn't afford to let my temper get the better of me. I needed information, clarity.
Leona wiped her eyes furiously, trying to regain some composure. "I don't know who she is. But she... she humiliated me. She... she attacked my bodyguards. They're huge, Soren! Big men! But she—she took them down. And then—then she stole my car!" Her voice reached a crescendo, panic clawing at her throat. "She took my car, Soren! Can you believe it?!"
A cold fury swept through me at the thought of anyone daring to challenge my authority—especially in such a blatant manner. My hands clenched into fists, the anger rising like a storm in my chest.
"Do you know who this woman is?" I asked, my voice low and dangerously calm.
Leona shook her head, eyes wide with both fear and rage. "No. I don't. But she... she punched her number into my phone. Told me to call her when I wanted to get my car back."
I didn't respond immediately. I took her phone, noticing the contact saved in her recent calls. The number stared back at me as though it was mocking me. I dialed the number into my own phone, cold and calculating. Whoever this woman was, I wasn't going to let her get away with this. She had crossed a line, and now it was my turn to play.
"Relax, Leona," I said, though I barely recognized my own voice. It was a low whisper, dripping with the promise of consequences. "I'll handle this."
I pressed the intercom button on my desk. "Get in here," I barked. The moment I hung up, two of my most trusted bodyguards appeared in the doorway. They had been with me for years, and I trusted them implicitly. "Take my fiancée to the hospital," I ordered. "Make sure she gets the best care. Don't let anyone get in your way."
As they escorted Leona out of the office, I stood frozen, staring at the number on the screen. The woman responsible for this—whoever she was—had no idea what she had just triggered. No one humiliated Leona Blake and walked away unscathed. Not on my watch.
I could feel my mind racing. How was it even possible that a single woman had taken down my men? These were not ordinary guards; they were the best, trained to withstand anything. The idea that one woman had not only defeated them but humiliated Leona so thoroughly without even breaking a sweat—was unfathomable.
The thought lingered in my mind, unanswered. But I knew I needed someone who could give me answers, someone ruthless enough to deal with this situation.
I picked up the phone and dialed a number I knew all too well. Alexander Kane. He was the one man I could trust to handle situations like this.
When he picked up, his voice was calm, confident, and steady, as usual. "Soren," he greeted me.
"Alexander, I need you to deal with something," I said, my voice hard as steel. "There's a woman. She attacked Leona, took down my bodyguards, and then stole her car. I want her found, and I want her to pay for what she's done."
Alexander didn't hesitate, as I knew he wouldn't.
"Consider it done," he said. "I'll make sure she's found and dealt with."
"Good, I just sent you her digit" I said, a grim satisfaction flooding my veins. "Keep me posted."
As I hung up, I felt a rush of cold certainty. Alexander Kane was the one man who could fix this. The woman responsible for this absurd act had no idea what she had just unleashed, I Soren Blackwood, a billionaire, a man of honor, power, and dominance, who could get away with anything, this woman was about to learn that cross me was her biggest mistake.