Chapter 74 My Things
Selena's POV
I twirled the pen in my hand, staring at the hostile takeover framework for Kateson Industries that the legal department had just drafted on my computer screen.
Aggressive, ruthless, no room for mercy.
I was satisfied.
My eyes fell on the silver USB drive still plugged into the port.
Royce Sterling.
That name kept running through my mind. I couldn't shake it off.
I didn't like owing people favors.
That list, plus the Dupont contract—that was no small favor.
I had to cut this tie before it got more complicated.
I picked up my phone and found the number I thought I'd never call.
It rang only once before being answered.
"Selena."
His voice sounded pleased, as if he'd been waiting for my call all along.
"Sterling," I didn't use his first name—a deliberate distancing. "I got the USB drive. The list was useful."
"Just useful?" A soft laugh came from the other end.
"The Dupont contract was timely too." I continued in that businesslike tone. "I'm calling to tell you I'm returning the favor. Whatever project or land you want from Hart Group, name your price."
I wanted to use money, use business interests, to completely clear up this murky relationship between us.
Silence on the other end for a few seconds.
I could even hear his steady breathing.
"I don't want projects or land. I told you, I don't like people touching what's mine."
That line again.
"I'm not your property, Mr. Sterling." I corrected him, my voice turning cold.
"No?" He questioned back. "Then why were you wearing my clothes, sleeping in the same room?"
My breath caught.
That bastard—he deliberately brought up last night!
"That was just an accident." I forced the words through gritted teeth.
"I don't believe in accidents. I only believe that you, Selena, are mine. And my prey never gets away."
"Dream on."
"We'll see."
I couldn't listen anymore and hung up directly.
I threw the phone on the desk, my chest heaving violently with anger.
That arrogant, presumptuous, possessive bastard!
Who did he think he was? God?
I needed to calm down.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to refocus on work.
Royce Sterling better not mess with me.
Just then, Anna knocked and walked in, her face even more serious than before.
"About the Kateson family."
"Go ahead."
"Miss Taisia threw a huge tantrum at home. She seems terrified you'll go after them. Then she privately met with the old family servant, Eileen."
Eileen.
The woman who didn't even give me a sympathetic glance when I was kicked out.
"Taisia gave Eileen a large sum of money," Anna continued, "to have her... to have her dig up all your 'disgraceful' past from when you lived with the Katesons. The more the better. Eileen agreed."
I almost laughed.
Disgraceful past?
What did they want to find?
That when I was sixteen, I stayed up three nights straight writing code to secure a key software patent for Kateson Company, only to have my father steal the credit and claim it was his "late-night achievement"?
Or when I was eighteen and secretly used money I'd earned from part-time jobs to cover up a not-so-small investment loss for Mr. Kateson, only to have Mrs. Kateson find out and scold me for having "dirty money from who knows where"?
What did they think they'd find?
Evidence of me sleeping with some man?
Pathetic and laughable.
They knew nothing about me.
"Let her look." I closed the file and tossed it aside. "I'd like to see what kind of story they can make up."
"But Selena, public opinion..." Anna was still worried.
"Anna," I interrupted her, "never be afraid when your enemies attack you with mistakes you never made. Because that proves they've run out of options."
I wanted to let Taisia, let the Kateson family, perform to their hearts' content on the stage I'd built for them.
Then, at their most triumphant moment, I'd tear down the curtain and expose their ugliest true form under the spotlight.
My personal phone rang again at an inconvenient time.
An unknown number.
I frowned and answered.
"Selena." It was Myrdal.
"I heard you're back." His voice carried a fake tenderness that disgusted me.
"What do you want?" I couldn't be bothered with small talk.
"I saw the news. What you did at the company today... quite a scene. I also heard that last night, you spent the night at the estate with Royce Sterling."
"How is that any of your business?"
"Selena, it shouldn't be like this between us." He sighed, starting his performance. "I know you're still angry with me. But you can't use this way to get back at me. Being with someone like Royce Sterling—he'll destroy you!"
Get back at him?
He thought way too highly of himself.
"Myrdal," I laughed coldly, "did you forget we already broke up? My private life isn't yours to judge."
"I haven't forgotten!" His voice suddenly rose, with a hint of urgency. "Selena, I know I was wrong! Give me another chance, okay? Let's start over."
Start over?
His words almost made me laugh with anger.
Just as I was about to hang up, he suddenly said something.
"Your uncle Robert just came to see me."
I froze.
"He wants me to help him go after you," Myrdal's voice returned to that calculating calm. "In exchange, he's willing to transfer his five percent stake in Hart Group to me."
Five percent.
Quite the generous offer.
"I refused," Myrdal said.
"Oh?"
"Because I know you're the real future of Hart Group. Selena, we're meant to be together. If we join forces, the whole world will be ours."
"Let's meet tonight. I know a newly opened restaurant with a great view. I..."
"Myrdal, stay away from me."