Chapter 73 One-Time Cleanup
Selena's POV
The office was terrifyingly quiet.
Those employees who'd been watching the drama had already scattered. They were starting to fear me.
Good.
Fear is a more efficient tool than loyalty, at least in the beginning.
I wanted them to know that I wasn't here to play house.
The title of Hart Group heir wasn't just for show.
"Miss Hart..."
Emily's voice sounded beside me as she replaced my coffee with a fresh hot cup, her movements careful.
I glanced at her—this girl I'd just promoted from an intern position still had a flush on her face that hadn't faded, her eyes gleaming with an almost fanatical light.
She saw hope, and she saw power.
"Call me Selena from now on," I said.
"Yes, Selena..." She immediately corrected herself, straightening her back even more.
I liked how smart she was.
I'd just picked up my coffee when my private phone on the desk rang. I recognized the area code—it was from the estate.
I answered.
"Selena, my dear niece!" Uncle Jonathan's hearty laughter came through the phone. "I heard! What you did at the company today—brilliant!"
His voice was full of undisguised pride and joy.
"Just clearing out some trash," I said flatly, taking a sip of coffee.
"Ha ha ha! Clearing out trash, I love it!" He laughed even harder. "You don't know—your other uncle, Robert, Blake's father, his face turned green with anger! He just went on a rampage in the family group chat, saying you had no respect for your elders, that you didn't take his people seriously. And guess what? Your grandmother immediately muted him!"
I could picture the scene, and the corner of my mouth curved into a slight smile.
"Your grandmother is thrilled. She said she knew she hadn't misjudged you." Jonathan's voice paused, becoming slightly more serious. "Your father also just called me. He asked me to tell you that he's proud of you."
Proud.
That word, like a small pebble, dropped into the calm lake of my heart.
In the twenty-plus years I'd lived with the Katesons, I'd brought them countless benefits and glory, but I'd never heard that word from their mouths.
They only ever thought it was what I was supposed to do.
"Also," Jonathan continued, "your father has decided that starting today, the 'Stardust' project will be completely under your sole responsibility. That annoying oversight committee—he's already disbanded it. Plus, at next month's group board meeting, he'll formally nominate you to join the executive board."
My hand stopped in mid-air.
A seat on the executive board.
This wasn't just delegating authority anymore. This was announcing to the entire group, to everyone, that I, Selena Hart, was the legitimate heir to this business empire.
"I understand," I replied calmly.
"That's it? Just 'I understand'?" Jonathan exclaimed dramatically on the other end. "My God, Selena, you should be jumping for joy! This is a board seat!"
"I still have work to do, Uncle," I cut off his fussing.
"Alright, alright, you little workaholic." He laughed helplessly. "Anyway, go ahead and do what you need to do. If anyone tries to trip you up, just tell me and I'll twist their neck off for them."
After hanging up, I looked at the skyscrapers outside the window, feeling no particular emotion.
Power—I was already used to it.
Only this time, I'd seized it back with my own hands.
"Selena." Anna walked in, her expression somewhat grave.
"Speak."
"Our people just sent word that Blake and his father Robert just entered Sterling Tower."
Sterling Tower? Royce's territory?
I frowned.
Had they gone to complain to Royce? No, knowing Royce's personality, he couldn't care less about this kind of family infighting. They must have gone to see some board member who had an office in Sterling Tower.
How pathetic—already starting to form factions this quickly.
"Also," Anna continued her report, "there's been new movement on the Kateson side. Apparently, Miss Taisia threw a huge crying fit at home. She said that now that you hold all the power, you'll soon take crazy revenge on the Kateson family, and she's very scared. Mr. Kateson is now acting like a madman, calling everyone he knows trying to raise funds, apparently wanting to fight us head-on."
That sister of mine who always knew how to put on a show.
She always knew how to hit the Katesons' sore spots, how to disguise herself as the most pitiful victim.
Painting me as a cold-blooded, vengeful demon?
She wasn't wrong about that.
I did intend to destroy them.
But not for revenge. I simply found them too much of an eyesore.
I looked at the computer screen where Royce's silver USB drive was still plugged in. Those seven people on the list should already be standing outside Hart Group's building with their boxes by now.
Robert, Blake, the Kateson family...
These clowns, jumping out one after another, eager to make their presence known before me.
Who did they think they were? Villain characters in my story?
How ridiculous.
I picked up the internal phone on my desk and connected to the head of legal.
"It's me." My voice was cold. "I'm giving you one hour. I want the most aggressive hostile takeover plan for Kateson Company."
There was a full five seconds of silence on the other end.
"Boss, this... isn't this too..."
"You just need to follow orders," I interrupted him. "Also, notify Anna to compile all the materials we have on my uncle Robert and all his offshore companies."
I hung up the phone and picked up the coffee that had already gone somewhat cold, taking a sip.
It tasted a bit bitter.
I turned around, looking at the city outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Trash always likes to gather together.