CHAPTER 13
The next day,Kate sat at the edge of the bed, fully dressed, her eyes locked on the clock. She hadn't slept. Not after the fight. Not after everything William had said. Her phone buzzed. She picked it up without checking the caller ID.
"Your car is ready, madam," a voice said from the front desk.
"Good. Tell them I'm coming down."
She ended the call and stood. She took one last look in the mirror. She didn't look scared. She looked super ready.
By the time she stepped into her company's office, all heads turned. The receptionists stood, the boardroom glass shimmered with reflections of men and women whispering. She walked past them all and headed Straight to her office.
"Miss Kate, the investor is waiting," her assistant, Jane, said quickly, holding out a file.
"Let him wait a bit longer," Kate said, dropping her bag on the desk. "Get me coffee."
She sat down, and opened the file, and scanned the numbers again. Everything looked right. On the surface. But deep down, she knew things weren't smooth. She pushed the file aside and stood.
"Bring him in," she told Jane.
Moments later, a tall man in a grey suit walked in. His face was clean. His smile was sharp. His name was Raymond Cross. And Kate knew he was trouble.
"Miss Williams," he greeted, taking her hand.
"Mr Cross," she said calmly. "Let's talk business."
They sat. Papers were spread across the table. He made the first move. He Promised growth, Access and Power. He said he believed in her vision. But Kate knew belief came with a price.
"What do you want in return?" she asked, cutting through his charm.
He leaned forward. "Control over a minor portion of shares. Just enough to guide, and not to rule. Think of me as... insurance."
She stared at him. She knew He was lying. But she needed this. If she didn't take this deal, her uncle would tighten his hold. She would lose everything before she even started.
"Alright," she said. "You've got a deal. But don't cross me."
He smiled. "I wouldn't dare."
The moment he left, William walked in. He didn't even think of knocking.
"Are you insane?" he said.
Kate blinked. "What are you doing here?"
"You made a deal with Raymond Cross?" he snapped. "That man is poison."
"I made a business move," Kate said blatantly. "Stay out of it."
He stepped closer. "You're playing with fire. That man ruins everything he touches. You think you can outplay him?"
"I think I can survive," Kate replied. "I'm not afraid of the devil."
William scoffed. "You should be."
Kate turned away. "I don't need your permission. This is my company."
William said nothing. He Just stared at her for a moment longer before walking out.
Later that night, her phone rang. She was surprised to see the name—Tina. Her best friend from high school.
"Tina?" Kate smiled. "It's been forever."
"I heard about everything," Tina said. "And I just opened my own fashion brand. I want you to be the guest of honor for the grand opening. You inspired me, Kate. I mean it."
Kate laughed lightly. For the first time in days. "You want me?"
"Yes, you. You're the face of ambition now. Please say yes."
Kate hesitated. "Alright. I'll be there."
The next morning, her office buzzed again. Her assistant entered, looking pale.
"Ma'am," Jane whispered. "There's been some foreign transactions, Unusual payments and Also some copyright infringement claims came in overnight."
Kate stood. "From where?"
"Europe. It's linked to the software your uncle approved last quarter."
Kate's heart dropped. "Why wasn't I informed?"
Jane shook her head. "He didn't loop you in."
Kate sat back slowly. She stared at the ceiling, breathing hard. Her uncle had been making shady moves. Without telling her. Without giving her a voice.
"I want the files," Kate said. "Every record. Every payment."
"Yes, ma'am."
After Jane left, Kate stood up and grabbed her bag, and pulled out her phone.
She called William.
"I need to go somewhere," she said.
"Where?" he asked.
"I'm visiting my uncle. We have something to talk about."
"What's the real reason?" he asked.
Kate paused. "Nothing important."
She hung up before he could say more.
The drive to her uncle's mansion was quiet. Her fingers tapped her knee the whole time. When she arrived, the guards let her in without a word.
Her uncle was in the living room, sipping tea, like nothing was wrong.
"Niece," he said. "What a surprise."
Kate sat across from him. "You've been making deals behind my back."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm still the acting chairman."
"I'm still the CEO," Kate said. "You should have come to me."
"You were too busy playing wife to William Dray."
Her jaw tightened. "Don't twist this. You approved a software from a foreign developer. There are claims now. Money has gone missing. You didn't say a word."
"I handled it," he said simply.
"No, you buried it," Kate fired back. "You let this company take the fall, and you didn't even warn me."
"You weren't ready for the truth," he said, sipping his tea.
Kate stood. "I'm ready now."
He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Are you sure? The world out there doesn't forgive mistakes. Not for women. Not for you."
"I'd rather face it than let you keep lying to me."
He sighed. "You've grown. I didn't expect it."
Kate walked to the door, then turned. "Next time something goes wrong, you come to me. Not after. Before."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll replace you."
Their eyes locked. Years of tension hung in the air.
He gave a small smile. "You really are your father's daughter."
Kate didn't reply. She left the mansion, her heart pounding.
She didn't have all the answers yet.
But she had started something.
And there was no turning back now.
Kate slammed the door of the car as she returned to the mansion. William was waiting in the living room,a glass in hand, like he knew she'd come back burning.
"Where were you?" he asked coldly.
"I told you. My uncle," she said, walking past him.
"I don't believe you."
She stopped. "Since when do I owe you the truth?"
He stood. "Since you started playing games with devils like Raymond Cross."
Kate turned to face him. "I'm doing what you wouldn't. You left me to drown. You made it clear I'm on my own."
"You think that gives you the right to throw yourself into fire?"
"I'd rather burn than stay under your thumb."
"You're being reckless," he snapped. "You don't even understand what's at stake."
"I understand perfectly," Kate shot back. "You think I can't survive without you. That I need your hand to guide me like some helpless girl."
"You are helpless if you trust Raymond."
"And you're a coward if you think fear is power."
William's jaw clenched. "You don't know what power is."
"No," Kate hissed. "But I know what it's not. It's not silence. It's not manipulation. It's not watching someone drown just to see if they can swim."
He stepped closer. "This isn't a game, Kate. You make one wrong move, and everything falls."
She didn't back down. "Then let it fall. I'll build it again. On my own terms."
There was a long pause. His eyes searched hers. Something flickered in his face. But he looked away.
"You're going to regret this," he said quietly.
Kate's voice was steady. "Not as much as I'll regret becoming like you."