Chapter 4 - The Queen on the Throne
Daniel did not stay to pack.
Driven by a cocktail of panic,
rage,
and sheer denial,
he sprinted past the security guards,
jumped into his personal sports car,
and sped away from the mansion.
He drove like a madman,
weaving through traffic,
running red lights,
desperate to reach the towering skyscraper in the city center that housed the headquarters of Obsidian Holdings.
He slammed on the brakes outside the glass tower,
leaving his car parked illegally on the curb,
and stormed through the revolving doors into the grand,
marble-floored lobby.
"I need to see the CEO!"
Daniel screamed at the terrified receptionist,
slamming his hands down on the front desk.
"I need to see her right now,
tell her Daniel Sterling is here!"
Before the receptionist could call security,
the private,
VIP elevator chimed loudly,
and the doors slid open.
Arthur stepped out,
looking immaculate in a charcoal suit,
a confident,
knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Ah,
Mr. Sterling,"
Arthur said smoothly,
walking toward him,
"we have been expecting you,
please,
follow me."
Daniel,
breathing heavily,
followed Arthur into the private elevator,
his mind spinning with a thousand frantic thoughts.
He still couldn't believe it,
he refused to believe that the quiet,
obedient woman who served his mother tea every Sunday was the ruthless titan behind Obsidian Holdings.
The elevator shot up to the top floor,
the penthouse suite,
and the doors opened to reveal a massive,
glass-walled boardroom overlooking the entire city.
The room was immaculate,
intimidating,
and terrifyingly silent.
At the far end of the long mahogany table,
sitting in a high-backed leather chair,
was me.
I wore a tailored,
blood-red power suit,
my hair slicked back elegantly,
diamond earrings catching the sunlight pouring in through the windows.
I looked nothing like the broken,
sobbing wife he had slapped yesterday.
I looked like a queen,
sitting on her rightful throne,
ready to execute a traitor.
"Hello,
Daniel,"
I said,
my voice echoing smoothly across the large room,
calm,
collected,
and deadly.
Daniel stopped dead in his tracks,
his jaw practically hitting the floor,
his eyes darting around the room as if expecting this to be an elaborate,
cruel prank.
"You...
it's really you?"
he stammered,
his arrogant bravado entirely gone,
replaced by the trembling fear of a cornered rat.
"Take a seat,"
I commanded,
gesturing to the small,
uncomfortable wooden chair placed at the opposite end of the table.
He didn't move,
so Arthur placed a firm hand on his shoulder,
pushing him into the chair forcefully.
"How?"
Daniel choked out,
staring at me as if I were a ghost.
"How is this possible,
you told me you were an orphan,
you told me you grew up with nothing!"
"I did grow up with nothing,"
I replied,
leaning forward,
resting my elbows on the polished wood.
"But unlike you,
Daniel,
I didn't wait for a wealthy mommy to hand me an allowance,
I built my empire from the dirt,
step by grueling step,
until I owned the very ground you walk on."
I slid a thick folder across the table,
watching it glide until it stopped right in front of him.
"Open it,"
I ordered.
With trembling hands,
Daniel opened the folder,
revealing pages of bank transfers,
ownership certificates,
and corporate structures.
"Every luxury car you drive,"
I explained slowly,
savoring every single word,
"every expensive dinner you ate,
the watch currently sitting on your wrist,
the suit you are wearing,
and the $10,000 allowance your cruel,
insufferable mother received every month,
it all came from my pockets."
Daniel looked sick,
his face turning a shade of pale green,
his eyes filling with tears of humiliation.
"I loved you,"
he whispered pathetically,
trying to play the victim,
trying to manipulate me one last time.
"No,
Daniel,"
I laughed,
a cold,
hard sound.
"You loved the power you thought you had over me,
but the truth is,
you were nothing but my pet,
May you like
and now,
I am putting you down."
