CHAPTER 8
Kate stared at the message again.
He's not the enemy. Look east.
The east wing was still locked. Always locked. William never talked about it.
But now wasn't the time.
The next morning, Kate received a call from an old employee from her parents' company—Mr. Benson. His voice was shaking.
"Kate… I'm sorry for disturbing you, but I thought you should know…"
"Know what?"
"Your uncle… Mr. Carlos… he's moving fast. He's selling shares, taking over departments, changing board members. He's clearing the path."
Kate felt cold.
"For what?"
"To become the CEO. To erase everything your parents built."
She ended the call and rushed downstairs.
William was at the dining table, going through some documents.
She didn't wait.
"Did you know?"
He looked up. "Know what?"
"My uncle. He's trying to steal my parents' company. You didn't tell me."
William sipped his coffee. "It wasn't my place to tell you."
"Are you working with him too?"
He looked at her, calm. "No."
"Then why are you so calm?"
"Because I expected this."
Kate's hands shook. "You knew this would happen?"
"Carlos never cared about you. He only wanted control. Now that you're out of his way, he's striking."
"But I'm not out of the way," she said. "I'm still here."
William leaned back. "Then fight. If you want to stop him, stop acting like a victim."
Kate's eyes narrowed. "I don't have power, William. I don't have money. I don't even have a lawyer."
"Then use mine."
She blinked. "What?"
William stood. "You're my wife. I'll protect what's mine."
Kate hated that word. Mine.
But right now, she needed his help.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
Later that day, William's personal lawyer, Mr. Grayson, met her in the study.
"Mrs. Dray, I've reviewed the shares still under your name. They're enough to raise a legal objection. But you'll need to be aggressive. And public."
Kate nodded. "Then let's start."
She called a press meeting. She didn't tell William. She stood in front of the cameras like a stranger, dressed in a white blouse and bold red lips. Her hands were sweating.
"My name is Kate Jones Dray," she said. "I'm the only child of the founders of Jones Holdings. My uncle, Carlos Jones, is attempting a hostile takeover while I'm still grieving."
The reporters fired questions and she answered them back. She didn't flinch, She fought.
That night, the media exploded. Articles, tweets, news headlines.
William sat in his study, watching her face on the screen.
Grayson walked in. "She went off-script."
William didn't say anything.
"She might've made a powerful enemy."
Still no reply.
Grayson leaned forward. "You told her to fight. Now she's doing it."
Back in her room, Kate paced. Her phone kept buzzing.
Unknown number.
Then a message came.
"He's watching everything. Be careful who you trust."
Kate froze.
Before she could reply, the door creaked.
William walked in.
"You didn't tell me," he said.
"I didn't need permission," she replied.
He smirked. "So you've changed."
"No. I just remembered who I am."
William walked closer. "This will get ugly."
"I know."
"Carlos won't back down."
"Neither will I."
He looked at her for a long time.
Then turned and left without a word.
Later that night, Kate stood by the window.
Another message buzzed.
"Meet me at the east wing. Midnight. Come alone."
Kate stood in the hallway, eyes fixed on the east wing. She pushed the door slowly. It creaked. The room was dark, but a figure stood near the window.
"Hello?" she whispered.
The man turned. It wasn't who she expected.
Mr. Grayson.
He stepped forward, calm, quiet.
"You shouldn't have come alone," he said.
"You sent the message?"
He shook his head. "No. But I knew you'd come."
Kate's breath caught. "Then who…"
Footsteps echoed behind her. Heavy and Slow.
She turned.
William.
He walked in, hands in his pocket.
"So this is where you sneak to," he said.
"I thought—"
"You thought you were smarter than everyone," he cut in. "Including me."
"I got a message. Someone told me to come here."
William didn't blink. "It was bait."
"From who?"
He looked at Grayson.
"Your uncle," Grayson said. "He wanted to scare you. Maybe worse."
Kate's legs weakened. "What does he want now?"
William moved closer. "He wants you out. Humiliated and Powerless."
"And you just stood there and let it happen?" she asked, her voice breaking.
He didn't answer right away.
Then he said, "You're my wife. No one touches what's mine."
The next morning, William called a meeting at one of his hotels. The room was filled with men in suits. Kate sat beside him, trying to stay calm.
Carlos walked in last, acting like he owned the place.
"William," Carlos said. "I thought we were allies."
William leaned forward, voice low and sharp. "That was before you tried to trap my wife."
Carlos scoffed. "She's just a girl. Doesn't know what she's doing."
"She carries the Jones name," William replied. "That means something. And I won't let you destroy what her parents built."
Kate turned to him, shocked.
Carlos stood. "So that's it? You're protecting her now?"
William's tone didn't change. "I'm not protecting her. I'm warning you."
Carlos laughed. "Because she's your wife?"
William's eyes turned cold. "Because she's under my roof."
Then Carlos said, "Fine. But this isn't over."
He walked out.
*****
Later, back in the car, Kate stared at William.
"You didn't have to do that."
"I know."
"Then why?"
He looked out the window. "You're valuable."
"To the company?"
"To everything."
Kate bit her lip. "So that's all I am? A piece on your chessboard?"
William didn't respond.
That evening, Kate found Grayson waiting in the lounge.
"Your uncle's pulling back for now," he said. "But only because William made it clear he'll burn everything down."
"And William?" she asked. "What does he gain?"
Grayson looked away. "I don't think it's just about business anymore."
Kate's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"
Before he could answer, the door opened.
William stood there, watching.
"Kate. I need a word."
She followed him into his study.
He closed the door. "I know you don't trust me."
"I don't."
"Good. That means you're learning."
She folded her arms. "So what do you want now?"
"To make something clear."
He stepped closer.
"You're not alone in this fight. As long as you're my wife, I'll handle your enemies."
"And when the contract ends?" she asked.
His eyes narrowed. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Kate returned to her room that night, her heart racing. Nothing made sense anymore. William was still cold, still distant. But he stood up for her. Faced Carlos. Risked reputation.
Why?
A knock came at her door. She opened it.
A maid handed her a small black envelope.
Inside, just five words.
"He's hiding something. Check basement."
Her fingers trembled.
Basement?
She looked down the hallway. The house was silent. She clutched the note.
Tomorrow, she would find out what William was hiding.