All Chapters of The Billionaires Greatest Regret: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

POV: Vivienne Ashford"I have to admit, when Sarah Chen first proposed this consulting arrangement, I didn't expect quite this much personal investment from Ashford Group's legal counsel," Diane said, settling into the chair across from Arthur's desk for what was, ostensibly, their first official onboarding meeting, though the conference room they'd originally reserved had somehow given way to the considerably less formal setting of Arthur's own office."I take my responsibilities seriously," Arthur said, and Diane's eyebrow arched slightly at the obvious deflection."Is that what we're calling three separate calls this week to discuss my consulting contract's standard terms?"Arthur's composure wavered, and he set down the folder he'd been holding as a kind of professional shield. "I suppose I could have handled the logistics more efficiently.""I suppose you could have," Diane agreed, something knowing in her expression that suggested she'd recognized his interest well before he'd f

POV: Vivienne Ashford "Sergei Volkov," Vivienne repeated slowly, the name settling uncomfortably into the careful architecture of everything they'd already survived. "You're saying he financed Meridian's takeover attempt, using Diane's personal grievance as cover for something else entirely." "That's my understanding," Reyes said, his hands trembling slightly around the water glass he hadn't touched since sitting down. "I don't believe Diane herself knew the full extent of who was actually behind the additional capital. I structured the entities specifically to keep that information compartmentalized, on Volkov's explicit instruction, before I fully understood what I was actually building." "Why would Volkov care about Ashford Group specifically?" Roman asked. "We have no prior connection to him that I'm aware of." "You don't, directly," Reyes said. "But the Naples shipping network that Caius's uncle was part of extended considerably further than the single relationship exposed dur

POV: Vivienne Ashford"Why do we have new people at school now?" Maya asked at dinner, poking suspiciously at her vegetables while eyeing Vivienne with the particular directness that made evasion nearly impossible. "There were two men in suits by the gate today who weren't there before. Sophia's mom asked me if they were with the government."Vivienne exchanged a glance with Roman, the careful conversation they'd planned for this exact question arriving somewhat sooner than anticipated. "They're part of our security team, sweetheart. We've added some extra people to help keep everyone safe, just for a while.""Are we in trouble again?" Leo asked, setting down his fork entirely, his young face already carrying the particular wariness that had become familiar over the past two years of accumulated family crises."Not you," Vivienne said carefully. "There are some people who might want to cause trouble for Papa's business, and we want to make sure our whole family stays safe while the gr

POV: Vivienne Ashford"Petrov, what's happening, talk to me," Roman said into the phone at three in the morning, jolted awake by the urgent call, Vivienne already sitting up beside him, her heart pounding at the particular tone of alarm in his voice."The safe house, sir," Petrov said, his usual composed efficiency strained by evident tension. "Reyes' location was compromised approximately twenty minutes ago. Two vehicles approached the perimeter. My team engaged before they could breach the property, but we have injuries, and Reyes is safe but shaken.""Injuries to whom?" Vivienne asked, leaning close to hear the call directly."One of my men, non-life-threatening, a gunshot wound to the shoulder," Petrov said. "The intruders retreated once they realized the property was properly defended, but sir, this confirms Reyes' information was accurate. Volkov's organization moved considerably faster than the federal timeline anticipated."Roman was already out of bed, reaching for clothes wi

POV: Vivienne Ashford "Sarah Chen's information has already produced significant results," Agent Okafor said, arriving at the estate two weeks later with an expression considerably more optimistic than her earlier briefings had carried. "We've identified her handler, a mid-level operative named Grigori Volkov, Sergei's own nephew, operating under diplomatic cover through a trade delegation. His identification has opened several new avenues of investigation we hadn't previously been able to pursue." "Diplomatic cover," Roman repeated, frowning. "That complicates prosecution considerably, I'd imagine." "Significantly," Okafor confirmed. "Diplomatic immunity prevents direct arrest or prosecution in most circumstances, though we're pursuing declaration as persona non grata through State Department channels, which would at minimum force his removal from the country and disrupt his operational capacity here." "Is Sergei Volkov aware his nephew's cover has been compromised?" Vivienne