Chapter 6

Cassandra's POV

Theophilus walked not too far from the car until we turned a corner, then he nodded at the driver and after that I didn't see him again.

I didn't get a chance to say more than a few words to him, but I still couldn't get Austin’s face out of my head.

Gideon cleared his throat. "We have a lot to handle today," he said calmly, but I understood more than ever.

"I know," I whispered. "I just...I didn't expect him to be so...there. right after the meeting."

Gideon’s eyes met mine. "He'll come up with something. Austin never does something small."

I nodded slowly, as I thought about his words.

My mind went back to the reporters, the cameras, the whispers.

Every image of me walking out with Gideon, every image of my smile.

By the time we reached my penthouse, the news was everywhere. My phone vibrated non-stop. My hands almost shook as I read the headlines.

"Cassandra Langston Takes GX Designs:Austin Barker Out."

"The Woman Behind the Genius Twins Reclaims Her Throne."

"Barker Shocked as Ex-wife becomes majority Shareholder.

I sank into the couch scrolling though every article, every tweet, every shared post, it was all the same.

My victory was put across every platform, and the world was watching.

I didn't feel victory.

Not fully at least.

Not yet.

Gideon stood by the window, his hands beside his back. "Cassandra," he said slowly, "You've won the first round. But battles like this never end quickly. Not when the victim is Austin Barker and you know it.'

I set the phone down. "I know," I murmured. "I didn't think....I didn't think it would be this...fast or loud. This was everything I tried to avoid."

"It's only the beginning," Gideon said. "And if you're feeling this way now, we better give up...."

"N..no no that's not what I want."

"Cassandra," Gideon said, moving closer. "Austin is smart, cunning...and very desperate. That makes me dangerous."

"I expected him to be dangerous . But...I didn't expect obsession.'

"That's what makes him unpredictable. You have to prepare for it."

I nodded.

I was so annoyed at how much I had underestimated him all those years ago.

How much I had let him have, how much I tried to stay sane after all the things he did to me.

Now I had all the power. But was it enough?

I reached for my laptop, Gideon sat beside me. "We need to be smart," he said. "The thing with the press is only going to grow worse. Investors are already calling, questioning his leadership. Some have hinted at pulling out."

My fingers hovered above the keyboard. "We need to reassure them. Make them see this at stability, not just me taking over."

Gideon nodded. "Exactly. And we need to control the narrative. Every interview, every press release, every social media post must focus on your strength, your vision. Every detail matters."

I exhaled. "I thought winning the boardroom would be enough."

"It never is," he replied. "Never with men like Austin Barker."

I bit my lip, as I thought of the headlines again. Of Austin’s face when he realized he was no longer in control. The arrogance, the shock... and that dangerous stare in his eyes. That obsession."

The day passed quickly.

Called with investors, strategizing press releases, scheduling interviews. Every move was calculated.

My phone didn't stop vibrating.

Every alert, every email, every message was a reminder that everyone had eyes on me and Austin now more than ever was watching too.

By late afternoon, I finally sat back. Gideon was reviewing the investors list beside me, making notes.

“Cassandra,” he said, looking up, "we have to be ready for his opposition. Austin won’t just sit back and watch you. He’ll try something. Something big."

"Do you think....do you think he'll try to sabotage the company?"

"Not just the company," Gideon replied. "He'll try to threaten you. And I think by now he'd know about the twins."

The thoughts of Austin trying to hurt my children was enough to make my hands shake. But I couldn't show fear. I couldn't show that I was scared, not now. Not ever.

"I can't let him," I whispered. "I won't.

"And you won't. But you'll need more than courage. You'll need strategy, allies and you'd need to be careful."

I nodded.

I had allies, Gideon, Theophilus, even my children in ways I couldn't yet think of, but was it enough? Austin Barker had been unpredictable before.

Obsession made him a different kind of threat.

Theophilus had said it himself. "Obsession is unpredictable."

I exhaled slowly and picked up my phone again. Social media was going wild.

Every update from my press conference, every video clip from the boardroom, every captured image of me walking with Gideon was being shared, liked and commented on.

Some messages were supportive:

"Finally, she's back! Cassandra is unstoppable!"

“GX Designs needed someone like her."

"The twins’ mom is the real CEO material. Austin didn’t stand a chance.”

Others were cruel, speculative and dumb:

"What did she do to him to get here?"

"I bet there’s more we don't know."

"She's just a gold digger!"

I continued scrolling as I read through.

Every word of support was helping and every accusation annoying.

But I refused to allow it overwhelmed me.

Gideon leaned closer. “Don’t focus on the hate. Not yet. Focus on strategy.”

I nodded, though I wanted to reply to some of the messages, to make a statement, but I stopped myself.

Instead, I typed out a press release.

Calm and deliberate.

Every sentence showed stability.

Every word carried vision.

By evening, my statement was live.

Articles started with headlines.

**“Cassandra Langston Assumes Leadership at GX Designs: Stability Returns.”**

**“Barker’s Departure Marks New Era of Fashion Leadership.”**

I rested back in my chair, exhausted, but I felt a small sense of satisfaction.

For now, I had gotten control back

“Not for long,” Gideon murmured, reading the latest investor emails. “He’s plotting something. I can feel it.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Do you… do you think he’ll try something immediately?”

“Probably,” he said. “The more desperate he gets, the riskier his moves become. You’ve seen his temper, his obsession. He won’t wait for the perfect moment. He’ll create it himself."

My mind replayed every scene that has happened since I came back here, what happened when I came back. Austin’s eyes, Theophilus beside me.

“I’m glad Theophilus is with me,” I murmured. “He… he understands what this means.”

Gideon nodded. “He does. But even he can’t protect you from everything. You’ll need to plan and act accordingly.”

I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining the twins, their laugh, their little hands sketching designs, how happy they were when they saw it all come to light.

I wouldn't let Austin destroy that.

Not now.

Not ever.

The rest of the night passed quickly, filled with email, calls and plans.

By midnight, the city was quiet, but the vibration of my phone didn't stop.

Every new notification was a reminder that this was far from over.

Finally I allowed myself to sit.

I picked up my phone one last time to check my messages before sleep

Then, a notification blinked on the screen.

Unknown number.

No name.

Just a single message:

**You think you've won, Cassandra. You haven't seen what I'm capable of. Be ready.**