“Elena Soltier,” Jake said, his eyes flicking between me and Luna, who was standing next to me. Her face paled at the name, and before I could ask, she spoke.
“I know her, we spoke at the pharmacy today,” Luna said softly, her voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place—fear? Regret?
“Pharmacy? You went to the pharmacy? I don’t understand. Why?”
“Just got painkillers - I was having a sharp pain in my neck. Nothing major. I’m fine. She approached me and we spoke.”
My blood ran cold, and I fixed Luna with a hard stare. “You spoke to her? You entertained a conversation with a stranger?” My voice rose, frustration lacing every word. I could feel the protectiveness burning hot inside me. Luna should’ve known better.
“She wasn’t just a stranger,” Luna snapped back, her green eyes flashing with defiance. “She told me things about Marcosias—things that could help us.”
I took a deep breath, trying to temper the growing agitation. “And what exactly did she tell you?”
Luna crossed her arms, clearly standing her ground. “Elena said she wants to help. She’s been working with Marcosias but secretly opposes him. She told me about the artifact that Marcosias is after. She said it has the power to tip the balance in his favor, but she also hinted that we could use it against him if we found it first.”
I turned to Jake, who had been silently watching the exchange. “You hear that? The artifact. Look into it—whatever this thing is, I want to know everything. Now.”
Jake nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. “I’ll start right away, Alpha.”
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows as I sat at the edge of the bed, already dressed and ready to face the day. I glanced at Luna, still asleep beside me, her face peaceful, despite everything going on. Leaving her wasn’t easy, especially now, but I didn’t have a choice. The company needed me.
When I arrived at the office, I could sense something was wrong. Every employee seemed on edge, and I didn’t miss the way their gazes lingered on me. The minute I walked into my office, I saw Robert was already there, pacing.
“Orion, we need to talk. Now,” he said, not even waiting for me to sit down. His face was grim, his voice tight. This was serious.
“What’s going on?” I closed the door behind me.
Robert didn’t waste time. “There’s a major deal on the verge of collapse. The board’s in a panic, and there’s suspicion of internal sabotage. Someone’s working against us, Orion, and if we don’t handle it fast, we’re going to start losing more than just money.”
My jaw tightened.Sabotage. Just what I needed.“Who’s behind it?”
“We don’t know yet, but it’s clear something’s not right. Documents are missing, funds unaccounted for. It’s all too … coincidental.” Robert’s eyes flicked toward the door, as if the walls might be listening.
“And the board?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“They’re losing faith. They think your absence is the problem,” Robert said, voice lowering. “They need to see you in control. They’re getting restless.”
I felt a surge of anger rise, but I pushed it down. “Let’s get everyone together.”
Moments later, I walked into the boardroom. The low hum of worried voices immediately quieted as I entered. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting, expecting. I stood at the head of the table, arms crossed.
“I understand there’s concern,” I began, looking each board member in the eye. “But this company isn’t going to fall apart. We’ve handled bigger problems before, and we’ll handle this. Robert’s investigating the suspicious activities, and we’ll get to the bottom of whoever’s behind it.”
“Orion,” one of the older board members, Mr. Carter, spoke up, his brow furrowed in doubt, “the losses are mounting. Wecan’t afford to keep bleeding like this. We need solutions, not investigations.”
I met his gaze head-on. “I’m aware of the situation. But we’re not going to make rash decisions based on fear. We’ll plug the leaks, deal with the sabotage, and renegotiate the deal. I’ll personally handle the discussions, and we’re not backing down.”
Another board member, Ms. Hudson, leaned forward, her voice tense. “What if the deal falls through? We’re already on shaky ground. Can you guarantee we won’t lose more clients?”
“I’ll make sure we don’t,” I said firmly. “We’re going to salvage the deal, even if we have to adjust our terms. This company is built to weather storms, and I’m not about to let it sink.”
The room fell silent for a moment, the tension still thick, but no longer boiling over. I turned to Robert.
“You’re going to lead the investigation,” I said. “Find out who’s behind the sabotage. I want answers, and I want them fast.”
Robert nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll get started right away.”
“And one more thing,” I added, looking around the room. “While I deal with the bigger issues, Robert will act as the interim chairman. He’ll have my full authority to run day-to-day operations.”