"Accidents don't happen by chance—not in this game."
— Dylan Reed
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Dylan's Point of View
"It wasn't an accident."
Mr. Nate's voice was low but firm as he lay in his hospital bed, wincing from the pain. "I'm very sure of that."
Shock flickered in Andre's eyes. For me, it wasn't much of a surprise. Knowing my father's mistress, Devina, it was no stretch to imagine her pulling something like this. But why target Nate? She already knew the will. She knew my position. What was I missing?
"Dylan, what are your plans?" Nate pressed, his tone serious. "Are you really not going to get married and risk everything falling into the wrong hands?"
I didn't answer right away. My chest tightened at his words.
Before I could respond, a nurse rushed into the room. "Mr. Reed, the patient in room 305 is nowhere to be found!"
You've got to be kidding me.
Ian rushed in at the same moment, his face pale with urgency. "Mr. Reed, there's a situation at the office. We need to head there immediately."
Chaos. Always chaos.
"What do we do about Ava?" Andre whispered, stepping closer.
"For now, we let her be," I replied in a low voice. "She doesn't even know who we are, and she's in no position to press charges. We can handle that tomorrow. Right now, the office comes first."
Andre nodded. "If Nate was targeted, someone should stay with him."
"You're right. Stay here with him. Ian comes with me."
With that, Ian and I rushed out.
"How big is this problem?" I asked as the car sped toward the office.
"VIP," Ian replied, glancing nervously at me in the mirror. "Rumors say the Johnsons are negotiating with Crestview for the same exclusive contract we signed with them."
I hated rumors. I preferred facts. "Go on."
"The Johnsons' ambassador is already waiting in your office. She's furious." The Johnson's have been silent for weeks. No updates, no progress reports and worst of all, no explanation.
He hesitated, then added, "Word is, Madam Devina has been spending a lot of time at Crestview. She's quietly becoming their biggest shareholder."
My grip tightened. Devina. Again. Why Crestview? Shouldn't her focus be Reed's Empire? I sat in silence with an unreadable expression, trying to process the information I had just received. Something about it felt… wrong. Too calculated.
The Johnsons' issue is enough to stir unrest among the shareholders, and if I can't resolve it before the upcoming meeting, it'll put me in a vulnerable position.
My father's Will won't be of much help unless I fulfill its terms. Mr. Nate's accident seems more and more like a distraction, a calculated move to throw us off.
Yet I still can't piece together what Devina is truly after. I can't shake the feeling that I'm being boxed into a corner, drawn into a game where the pieces were already moving long before I stepped onto the board.
And I can't win a game when I don't know the rules. One thing is clear though, whatever angle I look at this from, the odds are stacking up against me.
"How long do I have to wait here? it is very clear your CEO does not take the Johnsons seriously. You're really not worth our time and....'' Miss Lane, the ambassador of the Johnsons was in full performance mode, her voice rising in contempt until I cut her off by calling her name.
"How nice of you to finally join us Mr. Dylan Reed.'' She responded with a sarcastic smirk. "You kept me waiting'' she snapped.
"You showed up unannounced,'' I replied calmly, taking my seat. Her nostrils flared. "I am here on behalf of the Johnsons, Mr. Reed. I expect to be treated with the respect due to a strategic partner, not like some street vendor asking for a meeting.''
I didn't flinch. "Respect is earned, Miss Lane. And as far as I'm concerned, your client has given me every reason to question the definition of the partnership.'' That was the spark. She launched into a tirade, her voice rising in pitch and volume. "How dare you Mr. Reed?''
"I'll make this very short,'' I said, meeting her gaze firmly. "The Johnsons have breached their contract by attempting to negotiate an exclusive deal with another hotel. That's a direct violation of our terms.''
I paused, letting the weight of my words settle over the room. "Now, we can escalate this into a legal battle that'll tarnish reputations and waste valuable time, or you can reconsider your approach, while there's still room for diplomacy.''
Miss Lane's smirk faded slightly, though she tried to recover. But I could see the flicker of concern in her eyes. She wasn't expecting resistance, not this kind, not this early, not when she is yet to state her cause.
"You think you're the only one with leverage, Mr. Reed?'' she asked coolly.
I leaned back in my chair, folding my hands. "No. However, I'm not the only one in this room who still has something to lose if this contract folds. You've already shown your hand. And if the board hears even half of what I now know, you won't just be facing breach of contract, you'll be facing a blacklisting from every major luxury chain across the coast.''
She opened her mouth to speak, but I raised a hand.
"Spare me the spin. You came here expecting to intimidate me. That's not going to happen. What you should be doing now is thinking of how to clean this up before the ink dries on the lawsuit I'll file tomorrow morning.''
I stood, straightening my jacket as I moved toward the door. "One more thing'' I added, pausing to glance back at her. "Next time you send someone to deliver a threat, send someone who doesn't flinch when the room starts to shift.''
And with that, I walked out, every step a message. The game was changing. And now, it was my move.
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