I didn't blow up at him like he expected.

I just watched him cradle his mistress. It was sickening. I walked up and rapped my knuckles hard on the desk.

"Ruthless? Fine. Let's talk business. This five-million-dollar hole. How are we filling it?"

My coldness stung him. His eyes went red and he snapped back, "I'll fill it! It's just five million, isn't it?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"Just five million?" I looked at him, every word a knife. "Jax, you forgot how you drank yourself to a stomach bleed for our first deal, just to save fifty grand on broker fees? Now, for some stupid girl, you're throwing away our reputation and billions in future contracts. Has your dick completely fried your brain?"

I’d hit a nerve. Jax's face turned livid.

"Alessia, you think too small," he cut me off, impatient.

Then he pulled out his phone. Tapped the screen a few times.

A minute later, a payment notification popped up in the company's finance group chat.

Five million dollars, wired straight into the company account.

He looked up at me, acting like it was nothing.

Like he just slapped me across the face with five million bucks to defend his little sweetheart.

But inside, I felt nothing but calm.

The broke kid who used to split a twelve-dollar pizza with me because it was too expensive was now arrogant enough to cross every line in business.

Five million. He'd burn it for Bianca without blinking.

I stared at him coldly. I wondered if he'd still be smirking if it was five hundred million.

That afternoon, I was having high tea at the Peninsula with my best friend, Isla.

The second I picked up my teacup, Chris called, frantic.

"Alessia, get back here! Bianca brought guys to empty out your office!"

I grabbed my bag and marched right back into Apex Holdings in my heels.

The moment I pushed my glass doors open, my eyes turned to ice.

The place was trashed.

The blueprints I drew myself, classified files, and a model I’d kept for five years were scattered like garbage. Covered in dirty footprints.

Bianca stood at my desk, barking orders at the logistics guys like she owned the place.

"Yeah, trash all this useless junk. Move her desk out to the bullpen."

"Stop," my voice cut through the noise like breaking glass.

Bianca turned around. She wasn't even scared. She just stood taller.

I walked right up to her. No bullshit. I raised my hand.

Smack!

A brutal slap right across her face. It echoed in the room.

She stumbled back, clutching her red, swelling cheek, screaming, "You hit me?!"

"I hit you because you're a stupid girl who doesn't know when she's signing her own death warrant." I stared her down.

A vicious taunt flashed in her eyes. "Who gave you the right? Jax ordered me to clear this out! He said you only belong in the bullpen now!"

Rapid footsteps approached from the hall.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Jax stormed in.

He saw the trampled blueprints first. A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes. Barely there.

But then he saw the handprint on Bianca's face.

The guilt vanished, replaced by blind rage.

He pulled her into his arms and roared at Chris and the staff outside, "Are you all blind?! You're just gonna let her act like a psycho?!"

Completely irrational. Blaming my team.

Then he turned, grabbed my shoulders, and spoke in this sickeningly patronizing tone. "Alessia, you've been working too hard. Take a vacation. Starting now. You're off company business."

Vacation?

Trash my office, kick me to the bullpen, and call it a vacation?

I shoved his hands off me in disgust.

Jax sneered. His eyes were full of mockery.

"Cut the crap," he looked at me like I was a clown. "Bianca told me. She had someone look into it. There’s no 'arranged marriage by 30' rule back in your Sicilian hometown!"

I narrowed my eyes.

Bianca peeked out from his arms, playing the victim. "I'm sorry, Alessia... I just couldn't stand seeing you lie to him. How could you make up such an awful lie to force him to marry you?"

Watching them play this little duet, I felt sick to my stomach.

Of course Sicily didn't have that rule. The Valeriano family made it a rule. For me.

But they weren't worth an explanation.

My eyes slowly swept over Bianca.

The latest Dior haute couture, limited-edition Van Cleef earrings, and a Hermes Birkin in her hand.

That outfit alone cost more than ten years of her assistant salary.

My eyes went completely dead.

Faced with betrayal, I killed whatever mercy I had left.

At the board meeting that afternoon.

I plugged a flash drive into the computer and cast it onto the huge screen.

Every executive in the room gasped.

It wasn’t a business plan. It was Jax’s personal bank statements.

"Three months ago. Presidential Suite at the Peninsula. Fifty-eight grand."

"Two months ago. Private jet rental to Miami. A hundred and two grand."

"Last week. Custom Patek Philippe. A hundred and twenty-six grand."

I tapped the glaring numbers on the screen and shot an icy look at Jax at the head of the table.

"Jax, you can use company funds for your little plaything." I looked around the room. "But you better get your facts straight on who's lying to who."

Whispers erupted around the table.

The room looked at the two of them with utter contempt.

Jax turned pale, then green. The vein in his forehead throbbed.

I ignored him and barked at the logistics guys, "Put my office back exactly how it was. If a single piece of paper is missing, you answer to me."

Chris moved out with his men immediately.

He even pulled out a bottle of disinfectant and sprayed it everywhere right in front of Bianca.

"Disgusting. Smells like cheap perfume," Chris sneered loudly.

"Fine! Just fine!" Jax yelled, losing his mind.

Completely humiliated, he couldn't sit there another second. He grabbed a teary-eyed Bianca and dragged her out of the room like a beaten dog.

I had barely sat down when my phone buzzed.

It was my father. Don Marco.

I answered. My father's voice came through, commanding but weathered.

"Alessia. The Family's jet is in the air. Are you sure you're coming home?"

Hearing that familiar Sicilian accent, my cold heart finally felt a sliver of warmth.

"Yes, Papa. I'm coming home," I said softly. "I know Mama is sick. Don't tell her I'm coming. I want to surprise her."

After that board meeting, Jax dropped all pretenses.

He and Bianca ran rampant, flaunting their affair every single day.

Bianca strutted around like she owned the place, wearing even more expensive clothes, even meddling in expense approvals for different departments.

Chris was so pissed he barged into my office three times a day.

"Alessia, she's blocking my team's budget! The bitch is on a power trip!"

I took a sip of black coffee and patted Chris on the shoulder.

"Hold steady." I looked out the blinds at Bianca's arrogant back and smirked. Let her run wild. The higher they fly, the harder they fall.

Until the fifth time.

Bianca didn't even knock. She barged right into my office.

She slammed a mundane file on my desk and shrieked, "Alessia, why are you still clinging to this place? Jax doesn't love you at all! Just pack up and get the hell out. It's better for everyone!"

Jax doesn't love you. The words hung in the air.

Fine. Let's see what his love is worth.

Let's put a price tag on it.

I set my pen down and slowly stood up.

I walked over and reached out, adjusting the collar of her brand-new Dior blazer.

"Bianca, you're in such a rush to take my spot. Let's play a bigger game."

I looked at her, deadpan, and dropped the bait.

"I'll bet my 49% stake in Apex."

Bianca froze, staring at me defensively.

"You go ask Jax for 10% of his shares," I said, word by word. "If he gives them to you, I forfeit my entire stake. I walk away with nothing."

I watched her pupils dilate and tossed in the final chip.

"And if he says no... you disappear. From this company, and from my life. For good."

Bianca went white.

Asking for shares meant challenging Jax’s absolute control. A death wish.

But the 49% payout and the dare were too sweet. Greed swallowed her fear.

She gritted her teeth and glared at me. "Fine! You'll regret this!"

A few days later.

Bianca walked into my office in heels, strutting like a victorious peacock.

Jax walked in behind her. He looked conflicted.

Smack.

Bianca slammed a share transfer agreement on my desk, shaking with excitement.

"Alessia, open your damn eyes and read it!"

I picked up the contract. Scanned the numbers.

15%.

Jax actually gave her 15%.

Just to get rid of me, he diluted his own equity down to 36%. He just surrendered his absolute majority.

What an incredibly stupid man.

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing.

Seeing me laughing instead of crying, Jax shifted uncomfortably.

He tried to hold onto his CEO ego, clearing his throat to explain.

"It's just a little reward for Bianca. She's been through a lot lately. She deserves it."

He looked at me with the arrogance of a winner.

Like he could already picture me begging on my knees with nothing left.

"But high society on Wall Street is all about credibility. Even a private bet is a bet. You lost. Pay up."

Jax leaned over my desk, flashing that arrogant, pitying smirk.

"Don't look at me like that, Alessia. Even if you give up your shares, I'll still marry you. You're my wife, Alessia. The only one."

He even reached out to touch my cheek, but I turned my head away.

He didn’t care. He pulled his hand back and kept making empty promises: "I'll double your monthly allowance. You can shop and go to the spa all you want. Bianca knows her place. She will never challenge your position in the house."

He was playing God. His sick little game.

I looked at this familiar yet foreign face. Bile rose in my throat.

"Wipe that disgusting look off your face, Jax," I glared at him coldly. "You don't deserve me."

Jax's face darkened instantly. His mask slipped as anger took over.

"Have it your way." He stood up straight and sneered. "Since you're so damn proud, sign it!"

Bianca couldn't hold back anymore. She pulled out her phone and eagerly hit play.

"I bet my 49% shares in Apex... If he gives it to you, I'll give up everything and walk away with nothing."

My voice echoed clearly across the office.

Bianca smugly pushed a "Voluntary Share Surrender Agreement" in front of me, along with a pen.

"A bet is a bet, Alessia. Sign it." Greed flashed in her eyes.

"Alessia, don't do it!" Chris rushed in, his eyes red, and slammed his hand on the document. "This is five years of your blood, sweat, and tears! Why hand it all to that bitch?!"

"Security! Drag this piece of trash out!" Bianca shrieked immediately.

I raised my hand, gently brushing Chris's away, and gave him a reassuring look.

"It's fine, Chris," I said calmly.

I uncapped the pen and signed my name without a second thought.

They had no idea.

Just yesterday, I’d already transferred my 49% stake to my best friend, Isla. The deal was done. Legal. Airtight.

This piece of paper in front of me was legally nothing but trash.

Seeing me sign, Bianca flushed with excitement. She snatched the agreement, her hands shaking violently.

For a split second, I saw it. A flicker of pain in his eyes. After all, it meant our last business tie was severed. But soon, that tiny bit of conscience was swallowed by the thrill of total control.

I tossed the pen down and leaned back. "Are we done here?"

Jax looked down at me, turned to the employees watching outside, and announced loudly:

"From today on, Bianca is officially a partner of Apex Holdings! Taking Alessia's place!"

Dead silence for a second.

Then, an eruption of applause.

A few useless executives pushed their way in, kissing Bianca's ass and congratulating her.

"What are you waiting for? Clear the office for Bianca!" someone yelled.

People barged into my office and started throwing my things out.

Crash!

The crystal glass Jax gave me was swept off the desk, shattering into pieces. Glass shards bounced by my feet.

Snap.

The West End real estate model I spent three sleepless nights building was crushed under the logistics manager's shoe.

Through it all, I just sat in my chair. I wasn't angry. I just watched them coldly.

Outside, my metal nameplate was pried off.

"Director Bianca." Brand new.

The circus finally ended. The crowd swarmed Bianca like a queen, heading to the main conference room to celebrate. The crowded office instantly emptied.

I stood up, gracefully brushing off imaginary dust from my suit.

I didn't head for the elevator.

I turned on my heels and walked straight down the hall to the CEO's office.

Jax's territory.

I pushed the door open, walked right over to the leather chair—the absolute throne of the company—and sat down.

Jax and Bianca, returning from their little party, caught me at the door.

They froze, staring at me like I was insane.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Bianca scowled, barking at me. "You don't belong to this company anymore. Get out!"

I spun the chair to face Jax, crossed my legs, and said coldly:

"Jax, you're fired."

The air froze.

Then, Bianca burst into shrill laughter.

She laughed like it was the best joke in the world, waving the agreements in her hand.

"Are you crazy, Alessia?" she mocked ruthlessly. "You're not a shareholder anymore! You're lower than a janitor now. Who are you to fire him?"

Jax didn't laugh.

He stepped closer, leaned on the desk, and looked at me with pity.

"Enough, Alessia." He sounded arrogant, like he was scolding a disobedient pet. "Go home and clean up your mess. If you keep this up, I promise you won't even get to be my wife."

He thought losing my shares meant I'd be nothing but an accessory, begging at his feet.

He severely underestimated me.

I am the sole heiress of the Valeriano family, the biggest Mafia clan in Sicily.

The blood of a Don runs in my veins.

I conquered Wall Street on my own, without a single dime from my family.

Today, I would use my own brains to take back what's mine, with interest.

I looked at Jax's smug face, my mockery spilling over.

"You think you've won, Jax? The real game is just beginning."