The air in Jesse's apartment felt charged, the kind of stillness that only came before a storm. Alina and Jesse sat at the small kitchen table, a laptop open between them, scattered papers and files around the edges. Every move they made was calculated, deliberate. This wasn't just about protecting Alina's name-it was about taking the fight directly to Gregory's door.
"We need to hit him where it hurts," Jesse said, flipping through a file. "It's not just the company he's after. He wants control. Power. The board will give it to him if he has the legal leverage."
Alina nodded, leaning in. "We already know he's been pulling strings through that shell company. But the transfer itself isn't enough. We need to prove it's a deliberate attempt to sabotage me."
Jesse's fingers danced over the keyboard, his eyes scanning rapidly. "There's a pattern here. Gregory's people have been moving money through multiple accounts, each one getting smaller, then pooled together before being sent to that media outlet. It's a money-laundering scheme, disguised as a legitimate investment."
Alina's eyes narrowed. "Which means we don't just expose him for trying to ruin my reputation. We expose him for breaking the law. The board won't be able to ignore that."
"Exactly," Jesse said, his lips curling into a half-smile. "But we need to trace every account, every transaction. Find the root. If we do that, we can use it against him."
Alina sat back, her mind already calculating the risks. "And we need something concrete. A physical piece of evidence that ties him to the illegal activity. Not just the money trail."
Jesse thought for a moment, then his expression changed. "There's one more thing. Gregory's been working closely with an insider. Someone on the board. If we can expose that, we take away his leverage."
Alina felt her pulse quicken. "Which board member?"
Jesse's eyes flashed with suspicion. "I'm still looking into it. But I have a contact in legal who can help us get access to the internal documents. They might have the smoking gun we need."
Alina nodded firmly. "We get the evidence, then we use it to force Gregory into a corner. He'll have no choice but to step down. We'll make sure the press knows exactly who's been pulling the strings. We can't let him hide behind his lies anymore."
They exchanged a look, both of them understanding the magnitude of what they were about to do. This wasn't just a corporate battle. It was war. And Alina knew they needed to be one step ahead.
---
Later that Night
Alina stood in front of her father's old desk in the study, tracing her fingers over the polished wood. The room felt different tonight-heavier, as if the past were creeping into the present. She could almost hear her father's voice in her head, reminding her of the legacy she had to protect.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Naomi stepped inside, her face tense. "I've got the files. We're in."
Alina didn't waste a moment. "Let's go through them."
The three of them-Alina, Jesse, and Naomi-huddled around the table, looking over the documents. There, buried in the details, was the connection they had been looking for. A shadow company linked to Gregory's business dealings. Alina's heart skipped. This was the smoking gun.
"Gregory's not just paying off media outlets," Naomi said, pointing to a contract buried deep in the files. "He's been funneling money into a private investment firm that's directly tied to a member of the board. Someone who's been feeding him intel."
Jesse leaned in, scanning the document. "That's it. We've got him."
Alina's mind raced. "This person is crucial. If we expose the board member-"
"-we destabilize his support," Naomi finished. "The board member's involvement will be the final nail in Gregory's coffin. He won't be able to wiggle out of this one."
Alina looked up at Jesse, who was already on his phone, contacting his legal source. "Let's move quickly. If Gregory gets wind of this before we act, he'll go into damage control mode. We need to hit fast and hard."
Naomi stood. "I'll prepare the internal leak to the press. If we're going to burn this down, we need the public behind us."
Alina stood with them, feeling the weight of everything in that moment. For the first time in days, the fog in her mind lifted. They were in control now. The game had changed, and they were finally the ones pulling the strings.
"I'll handle the board meeting," Alina said, her voice steady and resolute. "This ends with me in charge. Not Gregory."
---
The Next Day
The meeting was set for noon, and Alina walked into the boardroom with a purpose. Jesse, Naomi, and her legal team were already in place, ready to back her up.
Gregory sat at the head of the table, looking every bit the image of corporate power. But Alina could see the subtle tension in his posture, the way his eyes flicked toward the door as if he expected someone else to walk in.
Alina took her seat, ignoring him entirely. She addressed the board.
"I have something you all need to see," she said, sliding a set of files across the table. "A few documents have come to light, and it's clear there's been a coordinated effort to sabotage my position as CEO."
She paused, letting her words sink in. "These documents tie Gregory Vale to illegal financial activities, including money laundering and bribery, with the direct involvement of one of our own board members."
A murmur ran through the room. Gregory's face had gone pale, but he kept his composure.
Alina continued, her voice unwavering. "I have full evidence to back these claims, and if any of you wish to dispute them, I suggest you do so with a lawyer in the room."
The room was silent. Gregory opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Alina leaned forward, her gaze locked on him. "This ends now, Gregory. You will step down, or I'll make sure this company's future is built on the truth. Your lies won't survive in the light."