Chapter 20
The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence as Victoria's words echoed off the suite walls.
"What do you want from me?" Evelyn asked, her eyes locking onto Marcus, who was already tracing the call signal.
Victoria let out a soft, melodious laugh that sent an involuntary shiver down Evelyn's spine.
"I don't want to destroy you, Evelyn," Victoria stated with calm, terrifying warmth.
"In fact, I am deeply impressed by your intelligence, your ruthlessness, and your unwavering resolve."
"You are the only Vella who truly deserves to wear the family name."
"However, the fifty-one percent voting control you seized last week legally belongs to my private foundation."
"I am arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport tomorrow morning at eight o'clock."
"You have twelve hours to decide whether you will hand over the keys to the empire willingly..."
"...or if we will fight the most destructive legal and corporate war Wall Street has ever witnessed."
The line went dead with a soft click, leaving only the steady hum of the air conditioner in the quiet suite.
Marcus looked at his tablet screen, his face grim as the signal trace confirmed the call originated from a private hangar in Zurich.
Evelyn walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the glittering lights of the Manhattan skyline below.
She had fought her brother, exposed her husband's greed, and overthrown her father to claim her throne.
Now, the true architect of the Vella legacy was emerging from thirty years of darkness to claim what was hers.
Evelyn adjusted her emerald gown, a slow, unyielding smile spreading across her face as she stared into the night.
"Cancel my morning meetings, Marcus," Evelyn commanded, her voice dropping to an icy, dangerous whisper.
May you like
"Prepare the legal team, lock down the international accounts, and double my personal security detail."
"The real war for Vella Global begins tomorrow morning."
