The Heiress's Choice

nder'

trust the

ripping the steering wheel like she wanted to break it. The city lights flickere

since we left," I said,

ect me to say, Alexander? That I'm thrilled to find out my father's

r closely. "But I do expect y

That's why I'm going to that board meeting-to

g my head. "It's

u know this how? Because you're always

f you let me explain, you might

back, but the sudden roar of

ee two black-clad figures

, drive

ha

ow

er foot on the gas, the engine growling as we shot forward. But th

creamed. This

artment and pulled out the g

n in my car?"

, rolling down the window ju

ulled something fro

hi

red

motorcycle spinning out of control. He crashed hard

oiding a lamppost as the second rider

M

ker threw the device. It missed by inches, bouncing ha

s?!" Annette snapped, str

ife, actually,

twisted the thrott

," I muttered, clicking

s eyes n

rying to force

ant. The street ahead was narrowing-construction barr

tr

n," she

gue, she yanked t

The biker tried to adjust, but Annette floored the gas, clipping his bi

e ground, I was out

cked his weapon away before crouching dow

sent

le

gun. "I won

aped his lips. "It

f the guy's helmet. His face was

ady begun?"

avement. "You're already

I exchange

r. "Tell us wha

m erupted in

see a plume of smok

tte whispered, ey

I finished, my

ad struc

then something shifted in her expr

ng there," she

ned. "

un there in a pani

r, tilting her head. "

d slightly.

oice quiet but deadly. "You p

fist. Then she punched him square

a

me. "We need to g

nd where exactly do

e one person Victor doe

I realized w

u are your fath

ever in

, and I followed, adrenaline

ne thing for certain-Vict

o find out how

asn't just fighting for he

ighting f

e neve

"They're going to come af

ning with defiance. "Then t

was no longer just

dered in my heart while I watched

e feared to speak of in boardrooms. The invisible hand behind deals that toppled empires. And ri

or your riddles." She finally speaks up and

ly a daughter

k black McLaren, her knuckles white, her jaw locked in determination. I watched her from the pas

t after what I'd just told her-that the company, her father's empire, was alre

razor-sharp. "Who signed the papers? How the

ictor had them in his pocket long before your father c

engine roaring as we weaved through traf

eren't

r laugh. "I wasn't

have no

was many things, but cautious wasn't one of them-not when she was backed into a

o get there first, before Victor set the final trap. But

very billboard, ever

d the brakes, the McLaren fishtailing before she pulled it under control. I was al

ked her tong

tailored suits stepped out. Not street thugs. Pro

y knew who w

s back. His silver hair gleamed under the distant city

iel

grabbed her wrist. "Don't," I said under my bre

ise of a woman born into power, she pushed open her car door and

ette Thompson. I was hoping t

Then you shouldn't have

ughter, I see." His gaze flickered to me. "And Al

n't r

riel? Because I swear, if you don't move those

errupted. "It's not about what I want. It'

e feared to speak of in boardrooms. The invisible hand behind deals that toppled empires. And ri

h. "I don't have tim

ar whisper with a stein look. "If you walk into that bo

enc

oblivious to the war brew

step closer. "Are

medical bills are covered, your family estate remains untouched, and your name remains out of the mud Victor is preparing

d see it in her eyes-she was weighing every possible move, every risk, every cons

ub

re outnumbered, outmaneuvered. She knew that.

n, with a slow, deliberate

ed an e

to h

d the engine. I barely had time to get in before she hit the gas,

hind us, but Annette didn't look back. He

" I demanded. "Do you re

id simply. "Now it's time

eath. "They're goin

ning with defiance. "Then t

was no longer just

dered in my heart while I watched