Chapter Seventy-Four: Awakenings and Advances

The ICU smelled like disinfectant and broken dreams, but Victoria looked better than she had in weeks. The color was coming back to her cheeks, and when I walked into the room, her eyes actually tracked my movement.

"Well, look who's finally awake," Jules said, settling into the visitor's chair like she owned the place. "About time, Victoria. We've been running your empire while you've been napping."

"Jules," I hissed, but Victoria's lips were twitching like she was trying to smile.

"She's... not wrong," Victoria whispered, her voice rough from the breathing tube they'd only removed yesterday. "How long?"

"Two weeks," I said, pulling a chair closer to her bed. "You've missed some excitement."

"The... the board meeting?"

"I got the inheritance," I said, watching her face carefully. "Full controlling interest. 2.8 billion dollars and twelve companies across six countries."

Victoria's eyes closed for a moment, and I thought she'd fallen asleep again. Then she opened them and looked directly at me.

"Proud," she said simply.

The word hit me harder than any speech could have. This woman had built an empire from nothing, had fought for everything she owned, and she was proud of me.

"Maeve fought it," I said. "She tried to block the vote, said you were too sick to know what you wanted."

"Maeve," Victoria said, and there was something in her tone that made Jules sit up straighter. "Always... always thought she was... smarter than she was."

"She's not happy about losing power."

"She never... had power. Just... borrowed mine." Victoria's breathing was getting easier, her words coming more smoothly. "You earned it. The way you... handled Blackstone."

"You heard about that?"

"Nurses... gossip. Said you... destroyed him."

"We destroyed him," I corrected. "Dominic and I. Jules. Even Sana helped."

"Sana?"

"Your grand-niece. Maeve's daughter. She's actually really sweet when her mother isn't around."

Victoria smiled, the first real smile I'd seen from her since the shooting. "Good. Family should... stick together."

"Even when some family members try to kill you?"

"Especially then." Victoria's hand found mine, her grip surprisingly strong. "Blake?"

"In prison. Delilah too. Both charged with attempted murder."

"And the... the Van Alston companies?"

"Stable. Profitable. I've been learning the business, working with the department heads. It's complicated, but I think I'm getting the hang of it."

"You'll be... better than me," Victoria said. "You have something I... never had."

"What's that?"

"A partner who... loves you more than... your money."

The comment made my chest tight. "How did you know about Dominic and me?"

"I'm old, not blind. The way he... looked at you. The way you... trusted him." Victoria squeezed my hand. "Good choice."

"Even though his mother tried to have me poisoned?"

Victoria's expression hardened. "Lydia Blackwood was always... poison herself. But Dominic... he's different. He chose you... over her."

"How do you know that?"

"Because you're here... smiling instead of... crying. If he'd chosen... her, you'd be... broken."

Sometimes Victoria's insight was terrifying.

"The doctors say you're healing well," I said, changing the subject before I started crying. "They think you'll be able to go home in another week or two."

"Home to what? Maeve running... my companies into... the ground?"

"Home to me running your companies exactly the way you would want them run."

Victoria studied my face for a long moment. "You're not... the same girl who... whose hospital room I walked into... three weeks ago."

"No, I'm not."

"Good. That girl was... sweet but she was... prey. This woman is... predator."

"Is that a good thing?"

"In this business? Essential." Victoria's eyes were getting heavy again, but she fought to stay focused. "Richard Morrison... watch him."

"Why?"

"He may... start circling you like... a shark. Thinking he can... charm his way into... your bed and your... boardroom."

Jules snorted. "Too late for that warning. He already made his move."

"What move?" Victoria's voice sharpened despite her exhaustion.

"He cornered me after the inheritance vote," I said. "Offered to be my mentor in exchange for certain... personal favors."

"Son of a bitch," Victoria said, her voice getting stronger with anger. "I told you... watch him. He thinks... young women are... easy targets."

"I handled it."

"How?"

"Reminded him what happened to the last man who underestimated me."

Victoria's laugh turned into a cough, but her eyes were bright with approval. "That's my... granddaughter."

A nurse appeared in the doorway, giving us the look that meant visiting hours were almost over.

"We should let you rest," I said, but Victoria gripped my hand tighter.

"One more thing," she said. "The foundation... you mentioned... for protecting companies... from predators?"

"The Victoria Van Alston Foundation. I want to set it up as soon as the legal paperwork is ready."

"Don't name it... after me."

"Why not?"

"Because it's... your vision. Your fight. Call it... the Scarlett Blackwood Foundation."

"But I'm also a Van Alston now."

"You're a Blackwood who became... a Van Alston. Never forget... where you came from... or you'll lose... what makes you... dangerous."

The nurse cleared her throat. "Time's up, ladies."

I leaned down and kissed Victoria's forehead. "I love you, Grandmother."

"Love you too... my fierce girl. Now go... build something... worth inheriting."

Jules and I were halfway to the elevator when I heard someone call my name.

"Scarlett! Wait up."

I turned to see Richard Morrison walking toward us, his silver hair perfectly styled and his expensive suit looking like it had been tailored that morning. Everything about him screamed money and power and the kind of confidence that came from never being told no.

"Richard," I said carefully. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting Victoria, same as you." He stopped just close enough to be conversational but not quite close enough to be threatening. "I heard she was awake. Thought I'd pay my respects."

"How thoughtful."

"Actually, I was hoping to run into you." He glanced at Jules, who was watching him like she was deciding which bone to break first. "Could we speak privately?"

"Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Jules."

"Fair enough." Richard's smile was warm and practiced and absolutely fake. "I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day. I was out of line."

"Yes, you were."

"I let my... enthusiasm for working with you cloud my judgment. It won't happen again."

"Good to hear."

"But I hope you'll consider my offer of mentorship. Professionally speaking, of course."

There it was. The same proposition wrapped in different packaging.

"I appreciate the offer," I said, "but I think I'll manage fine on my own."

"Of course you will. But having an ally on the board could be valuable. Someone who understands the political landscape, who can help you navigate the more... complex aspects of corporate leadership."

"Such as?"

"The relationships. The unspoken agreements. The favors that keep the machinery running smoothly."

Jules stepped closer to me, her body language shifting into protection mode. "Sounds like you're describing corruption."

"I'm describing reality," Richard said, his smile never wavering. "Business isn't just about numbers and spreadsheets, Scarlett. It's about people. And people respond to personal connections."

"Personal connections," I repeated.

"Exactly. Lunches, dinners, social events where real decisions get made. You're young, beautiful, intelligent—you could have tremendous influence if you knew how to use it properly."

"And you could teach me how to use it?"

"I could help you understand the landscape. Show you which relationships matter, which favors are worth trading."

"For a price."

"For friendship. Partnership. Mutual benefit."

I studied his face, seeing the calculation behind the charm. He was still propositioning me, just using different words.

"Richard," I said, my voice taking on the cold authority I'd learned from watching Dominic handle threats, "let me be very clear about something."

"Of course."

"I'm not interested in your mentorship. I'm not interested in your friendship. And I'm definitely not interested in whatever kind of 'partnership' you're suggesting."

His smile flickered slightly. "I think you're misunderstanding—"

"I'm not misunderstanding anything. You're a predator who thinks young women are easy targets. You think you can charm your way into my bed and use that to control my business decisions."

"That's not—"

"But here's what you're missing," I continued, stepping closer until he had to look down at me. "I've already dealt with predators. I've destroyed them. And if you ever proposition me again, if you ever make me uncomfortable in any business setting, if you ever mistake my politeness for weakness, you'll discover exactly how expensive that mistake can be."

Richard's face had gone pale. "Scarlett, I think you're overreacting—"

"Am I? Because the last man who tried to manipulate and control me is currently in federal prison awaiting trial for racketeering. The man before that is facing attempted murder charges. Are you sure you want to be the third one on that list?"

The elevator arrived with a soft ding, and Jules stepped inside.

"You coming, boss?" she asked.

"Absolutely." I looked at Richard one last time. "Give Victoria my regards when you visit her. And Richard? Next time you see me in a boardroom, remember this conversation."

The elevator doors closed on his shocked face.

"That was beautiful," Jules said as we descended toward the parking garage. "Did you see how his face went white when you mentioned the federal prison thing?"

"He needed to understand the stakes."

"Think it worked?"

"If it didn't, he's dumber than he looks."

"And if he tries anything else?"

I smiled, feeling the same cold satisfaction I'd felt when Marcus Blackstone was led away in handcuffs.

"Then he'll learn the same lesson everyone else has learned. Don't threaten a Van Alston woman unless you're prepared for war."

The elevator opened onto the parking garage, and I walked toward our car with my head high and my spine straight.

Another predator warned off. Another threat neutralized.

Just another day in the life of the Van Alston heiress.