Sidetracked Home Executives Novels & Stories

“Southern Axis approached executives inside my company before.” I looked up immediately. “What?” His expression hardened. “Years ago.” That definitely got my full attention. “They targeted weaker executives first,” he explained quietly. “Blackmail. Financial pressure. Affairs. Gambling debts.” Classic manipulation. “They wanted access to internal systems?” “Yes.” “And?” “I buried the problem before it spread.” Of course he did. I stared at him carefully. “You’ve been fighting organizations like this alone?” “For a long time, before we even met.” Something painful tightened in my chest suddenly.

I redirect my attention to the floor as the department heads continue their quarterly briefings to the Chairman. Dad scrutinizes every file, ensuring no one has massaged the numbers to save face. The meeting stretches on as he conducts a forensic perusal of every ledger. Following Lachlan’s blunder, it is clear Dad has lost faith in his executive tier; he is rooting out fiduciary negligence on the spot. Despite his age, his financial acumen remains lethal. It is how he scaled MD Group into a global conglomerate across entertainment and securities. He personally audits all six chains of the empire at these quarterly summits.

“You’re Adrian Carter’s wife, not him.” Another added dryly, “And even if you had access to that kind of money, corporations don’t run on threats.” My father didn’t interrupt them. Instead, he watched me quietly. Still waiting. Still expecting me to fold. To retreat. To realize I had stepped too far and back down gracefully. I let the noise run for a few seconds before speaking again. “I’m not joking.” The room quieted slightly. One of the executives leaned forward, irritation replacing his earlier amusement.

She casually placed a document on the table. "After I joined Hardin Group, I conducted a detailed investigation into all senior executives. Many of them have selfish motives, ranging from minor offenses like shielding underqualified relatives and friends who collect undeserved salaries to major offenses like embezzling company funds to establish outsourcing firms and pocket kickbacks." Liesel couldn't help but snort at that.

And now, after all that, she wanted to leave the baby behind? Not happening. Pulling out his phone, Liam dialed his assistant. "My wife just signed a contract with Dynasty Group," he said coldly. "Make sure they nullify it. I don’t care how you do it, and don’t bother covering your tracks. I want her to know I was behind it." There was a brief pause before his assistant responded. "Got it, boss." Liam ended the call, his expression unreadable. If she thought she could just walk away, she was wrong. He was going to force her to be responsible this time.

And he had no idea why. Sofia’s POV - Two Days Later The Parisian skyline stretched before her as Sofia sat in her penthouse suite, the city lights dancing across the floor-to-ceiling windows. But her mind wasn’t on the view. It was on the folder spread across the marble table. Kingston Enterprises. Financial vulnerabilities. Board fractures. Everything she needed to deliver the first blow. A knock sounded at her door, and she called for them to enter. Elise stepped inside, a small smile curling her lips as she placed a sleek tablet in front of Sofia.

Stella turns her head in my direction and squints her eyes. “They do, but only to their executive staff.” I grin inwardly and ask again, carefully, “Does the executive personal assistant to the CEO count as an executive staff?” Stella doesn’t reply at first, instead, she eyes me like she’s trying to gauge my motive for that question. “Yes. But why do you ask?” I rub my hands together under my desk in excitement while trying not to look the part. “I am thinking of moving out of my family’s home soon. So, I was thinking that if Transcorp could offer me a place, I wouldn’t need to make further expenses on rent.”