006. The Ultimatum.

Thea's POV

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, getting ready for work. I wore an ivory camisole, then buttoned my tailored navy blue suit, which accentuated my hourglass figure. Then I added pearl earrings to match. I let my black hair fall long and wavy, loose against my shoulders.

“CEO mode. Ready to go.“ I said to my reflection, picking my bag from the large bed.

Suddenly the hotel phone rang.

"Ms Brown, you have a guest."

"Who is it?" I frowned. I had no reservations at the hotel this morning.

"They insist on seeing you, ma'am, and they won't leave a name."

My heart skipped a beat.

"Fine. I'll be downstairs in a minute."

Part of me wished it was that person. Part of me also wished it wasn't.

I descended the stairs and noticed someone waiting in the lobby. The person turned around. My pupils constricted.

Silver bob. Black suit. Cold eyes.

I glared at her, my heart boiling with the resentment and grief I had carried for five years. My nails dug into my palms. If looks were bullets, Augusta would've been riddled like a traitor in front of a firing squad.

I drew in a slow breath and walked past her to a private lounge. We sat facing each other. It was just like five years ago — but this time, I was no longer that vulnerable woman.

"You have some real guts showing up after the warning I gave." Her smile was icy.

I leaned back on the sofa, my eyes never leaving her face.

"How did you find me?"

"New York City is my fort."

I almost laughed. Then maybe it's time someone took it from you.

"So why did you show up? To threaten me? Like you did five years ago in that hospital?" I chuckled, then reached for a glass of water on the side table and took a slow sip.

"I see you've made some fortune for yourself." She sized me up. "But dressing rich doesn't make you powerful." She clucked her tongue.

“The earlier you realise that, the better for you.“ she added.

You'd be surprised at how far I've come, Augusta.

She reached into her bag and placed a photograph on the table between us.

Kitty.

My breath caught. I didn't let it show, but my stomach dropped. It was a recent photo, Kitty laughing outside her school, her brown hair catching the sun. They had been watching her. They had been watching my daughter and I hadn't known.

Augusta leaned back, crossing one leg over the other like we were discussing the weather.

"If you want to fight me, Thea," her voice was almost gentle, which was worse than if it had been cold, "be ready to lose what you hold most dear."

My jaw tightened. I took another sip of water to hide my trembling.

"You don't have the power to protect her." She picked up her bag. "So if you value whatever measly thing you've built so far, back off. This is the limit of my patience."

Something ignited in me. Five years of struggle and rebuilding, and this woman sat across from me using my own child as a chess piece.

"If you are a real woman, fucking come at me directly." I held her gaze. "Leave my child out of this."

Her lips curled as she rose, smoothing her jacket with one hand. She didn't bother picking up the photo.

"If I were you," she said, pausing beside my chair without looking down at me, "I'd be watching my back."

She walked out without another word.

I sat very still for a long moment.

Then I set down my glass of water. My hand was shaking.

This couldn't be possible. I couldn't let her win. Not this time.

But Kitty, oh my Kitty.

I hurriedly dialed a number.

"This is Kitty's mother speaking, is my daughter within sight?"

"Of course ma, she is. Is anything wrong?“

I exhaled in relief.

"Not really. But did anyone come looking for her? A woman, perhaps?"

"No ma'am, but a man did come. He was dressed in black suit and wore dark glasses."

Dread coiled in my stomach. The fuck!

"What did he want?"

"Said he's Kitty's uncle."

Oh no. Damn it.

"Did he give a name?"

"Unfortunately, no."

“Please listen, Kitty has no uncles except Mr Russo. Don't hand her over to anyone except us!“

“Sure, ma'am.“

My vision swam. I fell back against the sofa as I tried to stand. I needed to bring Kitty home right now. I needed to hold her.

Just then, Alonzo called.

"Bad news, Thea."

Not now. Please, not now.

"What happened?"

"Ashcombe's CEO has refused our offer. They said Grosky Holdings has a better deal."

Grosky Holdings. Of course. Of course it was them. I felt a headache coming on.

"Lon, that woman just left. She's still aloof and condescending, just like five years ago." I exhaled. "I very much desire just one thing."

"What's that?"

"I want a piece of Grosky Holdings. I want to sit in their boardroom and watch her realise she made a terrible mistake." I narrowed my eyes.

"That's why Ashcombe is critical. We have to acquire it at all costs. If Grosky's offer is good, we make ours the best."

"That won't be easy, Thea."

"We have to find a way, Lon. I cannot lose this."

At the most vulnerable moment of my life, I was abandoned. And yet she sat across from me this morning with my daughter's photograph in her hand like it was nothing.

I was not back here to play games with her.

"I don't think I'll come into the office today. I won't be able to concentrate." I rubbed my forehead.

"Something wrong?" Alonzo's voice softened.

"Kitty is not safe. They know her school, Lon." I was trudging back to my suite, each step heavier than the last.

"But I can't just lock my daughter in a room all day just to protect her."

"I'll send someone to watch over her until lessons are done." He offered.

"I want to pick her up myself." I entered the room and sank onto the bed. "I need to see her."

"No problem.“

Then there was silence on the line. My screen lit up. It was an unknown number but the message preview made me frown. I squinted at it.

"Thea?" Alonzo's voice cut back in.

I blinked, pulled back to the call.

“Yea?“

"Ashcombe's board of directors' final vote happens in two days. Whatever we're going to do, we have just forty-eight hours.“

The words landed like a stone dropping into still water.

Forty-eight what?!

Alonzo added, "After the vote, the deal closes. There's no second chance on this."

I stared at the ceiling.

Two days. Two days to get inside Augusta's world and remind her who she underestimated. Two days before the door closed and she won again.

“Do we stand a chance?“ I asked.

“A forty percent probability of winning their CEO over.“ he replied.

“Then what are we waiting for?“