The Billionaire’s Wedding Trap - Chapter 11: Chapter 11
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The boardroom was thick with tension as Cain entered. The door clicked shut behind him, sealing him in with the glowering stakeholders. Their icy stares and disapproving grunts filled the air as they pored over the company's disastrous financial reports.
Cain adjusted his tie, struggling to maintain composure while his palms grew clammy.
After an agonizing silence, the largest shareholder reclined in his leather chair and fixed Cain with a piercing gaze. "Mr. Blackwood," he began, voice dripping with restrained fury, "we've given you every chance. But this?" He jabbed a finger at the reports. "This is catastrophic."
"We've hit some rough patches, but recovery is underway," Cain countered quickly. "There were setbacks, but I've got a solid plan to turn things around."
"A plan?" another investor scoffed. "Your 'plan' has cost us billions. We invested in this company because Elle Blackwood was supposed to take over after her father. Instead, we got this trainwreck!"
Cain's fists clenched. "The market's volatile, but I swear—"
"Save the excuses," an elderly investor cut in sharply. "King Corporation thrived under the family's leadership. Under you? Our profits have evaporated. We're doubting your competence."
"This is still my company!" Cain roared, surging to his feet.
"No, Mr. Blackwood," the shareholder fired back. "It's ours. And we won't watch you destroy it."
Cain stormed into his office and slammed his fist on the desk. "Sir, the board insists on answers," his assistant ventured.
"Tell them to wait," Cain growled.
Alone, he buried his face in his hands. Everything was crumbling. King Corporation teetered on the edge—stock prices had nosedived the moment Elle's disappearance leaked. He thought of how effortlessly she'd run the company, how he'd stolen it all from her. And now, without her... he had nothing.
Back at his mansion, Cain threw the door open with such force the windows rattled. Aliya lounged on the couch, sipping wine and flipping through a magazine without glancing up. "Relax, Cain," she murmured.
He snatched the magazine and hurled it across the room. "What the hell?" she snapped, dark eyes flashing.
"We're ruined."
"Stop being dramatic."
"Dramatic?" He barked a laugh. "The company's collapsing! Investors are bailing! The board wants my head! And you're just—what—enjoying your little vacation?"
She rolled her eyes and stood. "Oh, spare me the tantrum. How is this my fault?"
"It is your fault!" He stepped closer, voice trembling with rage. "I did everything you asked. Married Elle. Tricked her. Signed those papers. And now? Now I have to sell the company to stay afloat!"
Aliya went still. "You're selling King Corporation?"
"I have no choice!" he shouted. "Or I lose everything!"
She stared at him, then delivered the knife twist: "You're pathetic."
His eyes bulged. "What did you say?"
"You let Elle slip through your fingers. You're letting the company implode. And now it's my fault?" She smirked, venomous. "You let me manipulate you, Cain. That's on you."
For the first time in years, he saw her true nature—the ruthless predator beneath the beauty. He'd loved her for years, worked himself to the bone to become worthy of her. And it was never enough. She'd pushed him to betray his own company, to help her steal her stepfather's empire... even to kill. And he'd been too blind to see the poison in her until now.
ELLE'S POV
I sat in James's penthouse, eyes glued to the laptop screen. After hours of digging and a hefty payment to a PI, I'd struck gold.
James peered over my shoulder. "You sure about this?"
"Positive," I said. "Aliya didn't just try to kidnap me. She's done much worse."
I replayed the footage: Aliya meeting with my father's former doctor in a shadowy corner. She handed him a thick envelope of cash—and a bottle of pills.
James exhaled sharply. "Think this is enough to take them down?"
I didn't hesitate. "It's more than enough."
Cain adjusted his tie, struggling to maintain composure while his palms grew clammy.
After an agonizing silence, the largest shareholder reclined in his leather chair and fixed Cain with a piercing gaze. "Mr. Blackwood," he began, voice dripping with restrained fury, "we've given you every chance. But this?" He jabbed a finger at the reports. "This is catastrophic."
"We've hit some rough patches, but recovery is underway," Cain countered quickly. "There were setbacks, but I've got a solid plan to turn things around."
"A plan?" another investor scoffed. "Your 'plan' has cost us billions. We invested in this company because Elle Blackwood was supposed to take over after her father. Instead, we got this trainwreck!"
Cain's fists clenched. "The market's volatile, but I swear—"
"Save the excuses," an elderly investor cut in sharply. "King Corporation thrived under the family's leadership. Under you? Our profits have evaporated. We're doubting your competence."
"This is still my company!" Cain roared, surging to his feet.
"No, Mr. Blackwood," the shareholder fired back. "It's ours. And we won't watch you destroy it."
Cain stormed into his office and slammed his fist on the desk. "Sir, the board insists on answers," his assistant ventured.
"Tell them to wait," Cain growled.
Alone, he buried his face in his hands. Everything was crumbling. King Corporation teetered on the edge—stock prices had nosedived the moment Elle's disappearance leaked. He thought of how effortlessly she'd run the company, how he'd stolen it all from her. And now, without her... he had nothing.
Back at his mansion, Cain threw the door open with such force the windows rattled. Aliya lounged on the couch, sipping wine and flipping through a magazine without glancing up. "Relax, Cain," she murmured.
He snatched the magazine and hurled it across the room. "What the hell?" she snapped, dark eyes flashing.
"We're ruined."
"Stop being dramatic."
"Dramatic?" He barked a laugh. "The company's collapsing! Investors are bailing! The board wants my head! And you're just—what—enjoying your little vacation?"
She rolled her eyes and stood. "Oh, spare me the tantrum. How is this my fault?"
"It is your fault!" He stepped closer, voice trembling with rage. "I did everything you asked. Married Elle. Tricked her. Signed those papers. And now? Now I have to sell the company to stay afloat!"
Aliya went still. "You're selling King Corporation?"
"I have no choice!" he shouted. "Or I lose everything!"
She stared at him, then delivered the knife twist: "You're pathetic."
His eyes bulged. "What did you say?"
"You let Elle slip through your fingers. You're letting the company implode. And now it's my fault?" She smirked, venomous. "You let me manipulate you, Cain. That's on you."
For the first time in years, he saw her true nature—the ruthless predator beneath the beauty. He'd loved her for years, worked himself to the bone to become worthy of her. And it was never enough. She'd pushed him to betray his own company, to help her steal her stepfather's empire... even to kill. And he'd been too blind to see the poison in her until now.
ELLE'S POV
I sat in James's penthouse, eyes glued to the laptop screen. After hours of digging and a hefty payment to a PI, I'd struck gold.
James peered over my shoulder. "You sure about this?"
"Positive," I said. "Aliya didn't just try to kidnap me. She's done much worse."
I replayed the footage: Aliya meeting with my father's former doctor in a shadowy corner. She handed him a thick envelope of cash—and a bottle of pills.
James exhaled sharply. "Think this is enough to take them down?"
I didn't hesitate. "It's more than enough."
End of The Billionaire’s Wedding Trap Chapter 11. Continue reading Chapter 12 or return to The Billionaire’s Wedding Trap book page.