Chapter Twenty-Four
Malachi's POV
I was in the middle of reviewing security footage from one of our warehouses when Maurice called.
"Sir, Mrs. Blackwood left the mansion this morning."
I glanced at my watch. Eight-thirty. Early for her. "Where did she go?"
Maurice hesitated. That pause told me everything I needed to know. Whatever he was about to say, I wouldn't like it.
"A law office, sir. Harrison & Associates. They specialize in family law. Specifically, divorce cases."
My hand stilled on the mouse. Divorce.
She was filing for divorce.
A dozen emotions hit me at once. Relief. Satisfaction. Possessiveness. And underneath it all, something darker. Something that whispered mine, mine, mine.
"Is she still there?" I asked, keeping my voice level.
"Yes, sir. She's been inside for about twenty minutes now."
Twenty minutes. Long enough to fill out paperwork. Long enough to set everything in motion.
She was freeing herself. Breaking the chains that bound her to Travis. To this family.
Good.
But the thought of her walking away completely, of disappearing once those papers were signed, made my chest tighten.
"Keep me updated on her movements," I said. "I want to know everywhere she goes."
"Understood, sir."
I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
Alicia was filing for divorce. Finally taking the step I'd been waiting for. It should make everything simpler. Travis would wake up, sign the papers, and she'd be free.
Free to be mine.
Except nothing about Alicia was simple. She wasn't the type to jump from one man to another, even if that man was me. She'd want space. Time. Distance to heal from the trauma Travis had inflicted.
And I didn't have that kind of patience.
I'd already spent two years watching her suffer from afar, waiting for the right moment to return. Now that I was here, now that I'd tasted her lips and felt her respond to my touch, I couldn't go back to waiting.
I wouldn't.
My phone buzzed. A text from Mavis.
Mavis: Zhao Wei met with someone at the docks last night. We got photos. Sending now.
Three images came through. Grainy surveillance shots of Zhao Wei standing with another man. I zoomed in on the second figure.
My blood ran cold.
Mario.
That traitorous bastard was meeting with the Zhao family. Behind Grandfather's back. Behind the family's back.
So that was his play. He couldn't take control of the company legitimately, so he was making deals with our enemies. Probably promising them access to our supply routes in exchange for their help taking me down.
Stupid. So incredibly stupid.
Mario had just signed his own death warrant. He just didn't know it yet.
I forwarded the photos to Maurice with a single instruction: Increase surveillance on both of them. I want every meeting, every call, every breath documented.
Then I called Mavis back.
"Did anyone see your people taking those photos?"
"No. We were careful. Used long-range equipment from a building across the street."
"Good. Keep watching. If Mario makes another move, I want to know immediately."
"What are you going to do?"
"What I should have done three years ago." I stood and walked to the window, looking out over the city. "I'm going to destroy him."
"And the old man? He won't like you going after his son."
"Grandfather will understand when he sees the evidence. Mario's been playing him for years. It's time he learned the truth about his precious son."
Mavis was quiet for a moment. "And what about Travis's wife? Have you made any progress there?"
The question irritated me, even though he had every right to ask. "She's filing for divorce."
"That's good, right? Clears the path for you."
"Maybe. Or maybe she'll use her freedom to run as far from this family as possible. From me."
"Then don't let her run."
"What do you suggest? Lock her in a room until she agrees to be with me?"
"I mean don't give her a reason to run. Show her you're different from Travis. From the rest of them."
I laughed bitterly. "I'm not different, Mavis. I'm worse. I've killed people. Destroyed lives. Built an empire on blood and fear. What makes you think someone like her would want someone like me?"
"Because she's already falling for you. I can hear it in your voice when you talk about her. And if you can hear it, she definitely feels it."
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that the way she looked at me, the way she responded to my touch, meant something more than just physical attraction.
But Alicia had been hurt too many times. Betrayed by everyone who was supposed to protect her. Why would she trust me?
"I need to see her," I said suddenly.
"Now?"
"Soon. I need to accelerate my plans."
"What plans?"
An idea was forming. Something that would force us together. Give her no choice but to spend time with me. To see that I wasn't like Travis.
"There's a business conference in two weeks. In Dark City. Major investors, international partnerships, the whole thing."
"And?"
"And I'm going to bring her with me. As my assistant. She'll need to be there for all the meetings, all the dinners. Three days of having her complete attention."
"That's bold. What if she refuses?"
"She won't. It's a work obligation. She's still technically employed by Blackwood Enterprises." I smiled. "And by the time we come back, she'll understand exactly what I want."
"Which is?"
"Everything," I said quietly. "I want everything with her."
Mavis sighed. "You're playing with fire, my friend."
"I've been burned before. I survived."
"This is different. This is—"
"I know what this is." I cut him off. "And I don't care. I'm done waiting. Done being patient. If she wants to leave after the divorce, fine. But she's going to know exactly what she's walking away from first."
We talked for a few more minutes about security arrangements for the conference. Then I ended the call and immediately dialed Maurice again.
"Sir?"
"I need you to do something for me. Book two suites at the Grand Meridian in Dark City for the business conference. Make sure they're connecting rooms."
"The conference is in two weeks, sir. I'll need to—"
"I don't care what you need to do. Make it happen. And inform Mrs. Blackwood that her presence is required. Tell her it's mandatory for all executive assistants."
"She might question why—"
"Then make up a reason. Tell her Grandfather specifically requested she attend. I don't care. Just make sure she's there."
"Understood, sir."
I hung up and stood there, looking out at the city. Somewhere out there, Alicia was signing papers. Taking the first step toward freedom.
What she didn't know was that I'd already decided what came next.
Three days. Just three days in Dark City with her. No family interference. No mansion walls. No Travis hovering in the background like a ghost.
Just us.
And by the time we returned, she'd be mine. Not because I forced her. Not because she had no choice.
But because she'd finally see what I'd known from the moment I pinned her to that bed in the dark.
We were inevitable.
My phone buzzed. Maurice again.
Maurice: Mrs. Blackwood just left the lawyer's office. She's heading back to the mansion.
I smiled. Good. Let her think she was in control. Let her believe that filing for divorce was her decision alone.
Soon enough, she'd realize that every move she made, I was three steps ahead.
Because that's what I did. I planned. I strategized. I won.
And Alicia Blackwood—soon to be Alicia whatever-name-she-chose—was the only prize that mattered.
I pulled up the security feed for the mansion on my laptop. Waited for her car to arrive.
When she finally walked through the front door, I watched her. The way she held her head high. The strength in her stride. The determination in her eyes.
She thought she was escaping.
She had no idea she was walking straight into my arms.
I opened a new email and typed quickly.
To: All Executive Staff
Subject: Mandatory Attendance - Dark City Business Conference
All executive assistants and department heads are required to attend the annual business conference in Dark City from November 3-5. This is not optional. Travel and accommodation arrangements will be made by the executive office.
Further details to follow.
- M. Blackwood, Acting CEO
I hit send and closed the laptop.
Three days. That's all I needed.
Three days to show her what we could be.
Three days to make her mine.
And if she still wanted to leave after that?
Well.
I'd cross that bridge when I came to it.
But something told me I wouldn't have to.