My uncle sits across from me at the long oak table, his steely gaze unwavering. “So?” he asks, leaning back with a smug grin. “What’s it going to be, Alyssa?”
I clasp my hands tightly in my lap to stop them from shaking. This is the moment. I either step into the role I’ve spent my life avoiding, or I let him take everything-and end me in the process. I can feel the weight of the choice bearing down on my chest like a vice.
“I’ll do it,” I say slowly, forcing the words out. “I’ll take control of the business.”
He doesn’t even blink, just nods like he knew this moment would come all along. “Smart girl.”
If only he knew.
We shake hands, his grip firm and cold. It feels like a deal with the devil-because it is. But I smile through it, masking every doubt and ounce of hatred boiling beneath my skin.
“I’ll need full access to everything,” I say, sliding seamlessly into the role. “Accounts, contacts, assets.” My voice is steady now, gaining confidence with every word. “If I’m going to do this, I’ll do it my way.”
He arches an eyebrow but doesn’t object. “Of course. I expect nothing less from you.”
But there’s a glint in his eyes-a warning. He’ll be watching me closely, waiting for me to slip.
The meeting ends, and I walk out of the room with my head held high. Every step feels like walking deeper into quicksand. But I have no choice now. This crown comes with thorns-and I’ll wear it until I can crush everyone beneath it.
By the time I get back to my penthouse, exhaustion drapes over me like a heavy cloak. I pour myself a drink, the amber liquid burning its way down my throat. I did it. I have more power now than I ever imagined-but at what cost?
Isabella texts me as I slump onto the couch.
Isabella: Well? Did you do it?
Me: Yeah. I’m in.
Isabella: And how does it feel to wear the crown?
I stare at her message for a moment before typing back:
Me: Heavy. Too heavy.
Her reply comes quickly:
Isabella: You’ll get used to it. We all do.
I toss my phone aside and lean back, closing my eyes. But what if I don’t want to get used to it? What if this weight never lifts?
The next morning, I dive headfirst into the business. I spend hours combing through financial records, personnel files, and encrypted communications. I need to learn the game from the inside out-and fast.
Every conversation, every handshake, every deal has layers of manipulation buried beneath it. Nothing is what it seems.
I meet with lawyers, accountants, and lieutenants. I memorize their names, learn their quirks, and catalog every weakness I can find. This business runs on loyalty and leverage-and I plan to use both to my advantage.
As I dig deeper, unsettling patterns begin to emerge. There are deals on the books that don’t make sense-transactions linked to offshore accounts I’ve never heard of, and encrypted messages between my uncle and unknown contacts.
I bring Isabella into my office one evening, closing the door behind us. “I need your help with something,” I say, sliding a file across the desk toward her.
She flips through the pages, frowning. “What is this?”
“Evidence,” I reply. “There’s a third player involved in all of this-someone working behind the scenes, pulling strings.”
Isabella looks up sharply. “You think it’s connected to Ethan and Xavier?”
“I know it is,” I say grimly. “And I think my uncle is involved, too.”
She sits back, folding her arms. “If that’s true, you’re in deeper trouble than you realize.”
Tell me something I don’t know. I push a hand through my hair, frustration gnawing at me. “I need to figure out who this third player is-and fast.”
Isabella hesitates, her sharp gaze narrowing. “You think your uncle will turn on you?”
I laugh bitterly. “I know he will. It’s just a matter of when.”
The next few days are a blur of meetings and whispered conversations. I have to move carefully, balancing on the knife’s edge between loyalty and betrayal.
Ethan and Xavier are still circling each other, and my uncle… well, he’s a problem I’ll have to solve sooner rather than later.
Every time I sit across from him, his knowing smile makes my skin crawl. He knows more than he’s letting on. I can feel it in my bones. The only question is-how much?
Late one night, I break into one of my uncle’s private safes. It’s a calculated risk-if he finds out, I’m dead-but I have no choice. I need answers.
Inside the safe, I find stacks of documents, blackmail material, and something that makes my blood run cold: a set of encrypted messages between my uncle and the third player.
They’ve been working together this whole time.
I scan through the messages, my heart racing. The third player isn’t just some outsider-they’ve been embedded in our lives for years, orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.
My father’s death, Ethan and Xavier’s rivalry… all of it carefully manipulated to serve some twisted agenda.
And then I find it-a final message from the third player to my uncle:
“She thinks she’s in control. Let her. We’ll make our move soon.”
I stare at the message, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts. They’re not just watching me-they’re planning something.
I shove the documents back into the safe and lock it, my mind spinning. I need to act fast, but I have no idea who I can trust.
As I step out of the room, the phone in my pocket buzzes with a new message.
It’s from an unknown number.
Unknown: Tick-tock, Alyssa. Time’s almost up.