Chapter 18: The Predator's Ultimatum
The room went completely, suffocatingly silent.
Victor leaned over my desk, planting both hands on the polished wood, trying to use his physical size to intimidate me.
"You played a cute game, Lauren," Victor whispered, his voice dripping with venom. "You outsmarted a vain, foolish old woman. But you are swimming in the deep ocean now. You are a suburban mother playing dress-up in a billionaire’s world. I’m here to take it all back."
He snapped his fingers, and one of his lawyers handed him a fresh pen.
"I have a buyout agreement right here," Victor demanded. "Sign over your executive control, step down as the CEO, and I’ll give you a ten-million-dollar severance to go play house with your little twins. If you refuse, I will drag this company through federal litigation until the stock crashes to zero. I will bankrupt your children before they even reach high school."
The threat hung in the air, heavy and lethal.
The door opened again. Daniel walked in.
He had caught wind of the security breach and sprinted up from the lower floors. When he saw Victor standing over my desk, Daniel’s face hardened into a mask of pure, protective fury.
"Get away from her," Daniel growled, stepping directly between Victor and me.
Victor laughed, a dry, cruel sound. "Ah, the redeemed ex-husband. Tell me, Daniel, does it hurt? Watching the woman you cheated on sit on the throne you were supposed to inherit, while you play the role of her obedient lapdog?"
Victor was trying to divide us. He was trying to weaponize our painful past to crack our united front.
Daniel didn’t flinch. He didn’t look away.
"The only thing that hurts," Daniel said, his voice deadly calm, "is knowing I let a snake like you into this building. You don't know who you are dealing with, Victor."
I finally stood up.
I didn't look at the buyout contract. I didn't look at the shadow debt. I looked directly into Victor Sterling's arrogant eyes.
"I need twenty-four hours to review these documents with my legal counsel," I said, my voice completely devoid of fear.
Victor smirked triumphantly. He thought I was yielding. He thought I was terrified.
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"You have until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Lauren," Victor warned. "If you aren't ready to surrender the company by then, I will burn your children's legacy to the ground."
He turned and marched out of the boardroom, his lackeys trailing behind him like obedient shadows.
