All Chapters of The Divorced Media Empire Heiress: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“They’re writing your story without you.”Victoria didn’t sit. She dropped a stack of printed headlines onto my desk like evidence in a trial.I didn’t reach for them.“I’ve seen them,” I said.“Then you know what this is turning into.”I leaned back in my chair, watching her instead. “A media cycle.”“No,” she snapped. “A narrative.”She slid one article closer anyway.ELENA VOSS RISES BUT AT WHAT COST? INTERNAL LEAKS HINT AT INSTABILITY.My jaw tightened.“Give it a week,” she went on. “They’ll flip. They always do. First you’re the comeback queen. Then you’re the woman who couldn’t hold it together.”“I can handle press,” I said.Victoria laughed, short and sharp. “This isn’t press. This is a war. And right now, you’re reacting. Not controlling.”Theo shifted against the wall. “She’s not wrong.”I shot him a look. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”“I am,” he said. “Which is why I’m not lying to you.”I exhaled slowly.The audit was still running. The numbers still didn’t make sen

“Smile like you mean it.”“I do mean it,” I said, not looking at Victoria.“You look like you’re about to negotiate a hostage release.”“That depends,” I muttered. “Is he difficult?”Victoria gave a small, knowing smile. “He’s powerful. Which is worse?”I exhaled once, steadying myself before stepping into the private lounge.Glass walls. City view. Controlled lighting. Everything about the place screamed quiet money and sharper intentions.And standing by the windowAdrian Keller.He turned the moment I walked in.Tall. Composed. The kind of calm that didn’t need to prove itself.“Elena Voss,” he said, stepping forward, hand extended. “Finally.”I took it. Firm grip. No hesitation.“Adrian Keller,” I replied. “I’ve heard a lot.”“I hope most of it was useful,” he said lightly.“Only the parts that matter.”A flicker of approval crossed his face.Good.We sat.No small talk.I didn’t have patience for it.“You asked for this meeting,” I said. “So I assume you’re interested in somethin

“They’re calling you a fraud.”I didn’t flinch.Theo stood across from my desk, tablet in hand, eyes sharp, waiting for a reaction.I gave him nothing.“Anything new?” I asked.He let out a short breath. “You don’t want to ask what they’re saying first?”“I already know the tone,” I said. “Give me the damage.”A pause.Then he nodded, turning the screen toward me.Headlines filled it.ELENA VOSS UNDER FIRE, INTERNAL CHAOS EXPOSEDLEAKS SUGGEST MISMANAGEMENT, POWER STRUGGLE INSIDE VOSS MEDIAIS THE COMEBACK COLLAPSING?My jaw tightened slightly.Not at the words.At the time.“They moved fast,” I said.“Too fast,” Theo replied. “This isn’t organic.”Of course it wasn’t.Nothing was anymore.I scrolled.More articles.More speculation.And thenA document.Leaked.Internal audit fragments.Not enough to tell the full story.Just enough to twist it.“They’re framing it like I’m hiding something,” I said.“You are,” Theo pointed out.“Not like this.”“No,” he agreed. “Not like this.”I le

The lights flickered once, and my screen went black.I froze.Not panic. Not yet.Just stillness.Then the screen came back on.Same files. Same reports.But one thing had changed.A single line sat in the middle of the document I had been working on.WE SEE YOU CLEARLY NOW.My throat went dry.“Theo.”My voice came out quieter than I expected.He was in my office within seconds.“What happened?”I didn’t answer. I just turned the screen toward him.He stared at it.Didn’t speak for a moment.Then, “That wasn’t there before?”“No.”He moved closer, already pulling up system logs.“Don’t touch anything,” he said.“I didn’t.”Good.At least I still had that instinct.His fingers moved fast across the keyboard.“Someone accessed your system,” he muttered. “But not in a normal way.”“What does that mean?”“It means they didn’t break in,” he said. “They walked in.”A chill slid down my spine.“Inside access?”“Or something close to it.”I leaned back slowly.The room suddenly felt smaller.

“Read the last line again.”Theo didn’t argue.He handed the phone back to me.I stared at the message like it might change if I looked long enough.NOW YOU’RE EXACTLY WHERE WE WANT YOU.A slow breath left my chest.“They wanted that scene,” I said.Theo nodded once. “Yeah.”Victoria crossed her arms. “Which means we gave them something.”“More than something,” I replied. “We gave them leverage.”Silence.Not the comfortable kind.The kind that pressed in from all sides.“So what now?” Theo asked.I looked up.Straightened.“We take it back.”Victoria’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You think that’s still possible?”“I know it is.”“That’s confidence,” she said.“That’s survival.”I turned toward the mirror again.Adjusted my posture.My expression.Because whatever this wasWhoever was behind itThey were watching.And I was done reacting.“They think they’re ahead,” I said quietly. “Let’s show them what that really looks like.”The room felt different this time.Heavier.Charged.Word ha