Chapter 59 Bait
A week at the cabin felt like living in a different world.
They were peaceful mornings with coffee on the porch with Elena checking Derek's wound twice daily, watching it heal cleanly, and then in the afternoons reading by the fire while Pierce worked on his laptop, coordinating with Marcus. Evenings came with cooking dinner together, the three of them eating around the small table like a strange makeshift family. While the nights belonged to just Elena and Pierce, wrapped around each other in the loft bedroom.
For seven days, the outside world didn't exist, then it came crashing back.
Elena was checking Derek's stitches when her phone rang. It was an Unknown number, she almost didn't answer.
"Ms. Davis?" Cyrus Lancaster's voice came through the phone. "We need to talk, immediately."
Elena's stomach dropped. "What happened?"
"The board filed their lawsuit this morning. They're contesting the ownership transfer on grounds abandonment of duty of care."
"But I showed up for the meeting..."
"Then disappeared for a week with no communication, no explanation, no plan for company leadership." Lancaster's frustration was clear. "The stock has dropped forty-five percent. Shareholders are demanding answers. The media is asking where you are."
Elena sank onto the couch. "Is it that bad?"
"It is Ms. Davis." He said sharply. "The judge granted a temporary injunction. Until this is resolved in court, the board maintains operational control. You're effectively frozen out of your own company."
"They can't do that..."
"They already did and Ms. Davis? The court date is in three weeks. If you don't appear, you lose all of it."
Elena pressed her hand to her mouth. "I'll be there."
"You need to be visible before then. Give interviews, release statements, prove you're capable of running a two-hundred-million-dollar corporation." Lancaster paused. "Can you do that?"
"I..." Elena looked around the isolated cabin. "I'll figure it out."
"Figure it out fast. You're losing control and once it's gone, it's nearly impossible to get back." He hung up.
Elena sat there, phone in her hand, feeling everything she'd built crumbling.
Pierce appeared in the doorway. One look at her face and he moved immediately to her side. "What happened?"
"It's the company. The board sued and I'm frozen out." Elena's voice was hollow. "If I don't appear in court in three weeks, I lose everything my father built."
Pierce's jaw tightened. "They can't do that. Alfred signed over full ownership..."
"Under stress, they're claiming and I disappeared for a week, which they're using as proof I can't handle the responsibility." Elena stood, pacing. "I have to go back."
"No."
The single word hung between them.
Elena turned to face him. "Pierce..."
"It's too dangerous. You step foot in the city and Xander will know within hours." His voice was rough. "Rodrigo will move on you."
"I don't have a choice..."
"Yes you do. You let the company go." Pierce moved toward her. "It's not worth your life."
"It's my father's legacy!" Elena's voice rose. "It's the only thing I have left of him. I can't just abandon it."
"You can if keeping it gets you killed."
"That's not happening!" Her voice was sharp.
Pierce's hands curled into fists. "You're asking me to let you walk into danger. To put yourself directly in Xander's sights for a company..."
"For my father's company. For everything he worked for." Elena's voice cracked. "You don't understand what that means to me."
"I understand that you'll be dead and the company won't matter!" Pierce's voice rose.
They stared at each other, both breathing hard, the peaceful week shattering around them. Elena sank back onto the couch, pressing her hands to her face.
Pierce sat beside her, not touching but close. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled."
"Neither should I." Elena dropped her hands. "But Pierce, I can't lose the company. It's all I have left of my father. It's.." Her voice broke completely. "It's the only good thing that survived when they died."
Pierce was quiet for a long moment. "What do you need to do?"
"Appear in court in three weeks and before that, be visible, interviews, statements, proof I'm capable of running it."
"All of which requires you being in the city?" He asked.
"Yes." Her voice was small.
Pierce ran a hand through his hair. "That's not possible. The moment you surface..."
"I know." Elena looked at him. "But I have to try. I can't just hide here and let them steal it."
"Even if it means risking your life?"
Elena met his eyes. "My father died protecting that company. The least I can do is fight for it."
Pierce stared at her, conflict written across his face. Then he pulled out his phone.
"What are you doing?" Elena asked.
"Calling Marcus. If you're doing this, we're doing it right." He dialed. "Marcus, we have a situation."
For the next hour, they planned. Marcus on speaker, Derek contributing from his room despite his injury, Elena and Pierce working through options.
"I could do interviews remotely," Elena suggested. "Video conferences, statements through lawyers..."
"That's not good enough," Marcus said. "The narrative is that you're hiding and remote appearances reinforce that."
"Then what?" Elena asked.
"You need to be seen, in person and at the company." Pierce's voice was controlled but she heard the fear underneath. "One appearance. It would be carefully planned and you'll have maximum security."
"That's insane..." Marcus started.
"It's the only option." Pierce looked at Elena. "You'll go in for one day, a address the board and media, you show you're in control. Then you're out."
"What about the court date?" Elena asked.
"We'll handle that when it comes." Pierce's jaw was tight. "But Marcus, we need a plan with fill security detail. Make sure every entrance covered. Snipers on rooftops if necessary."
"Boss, this is exactly what Xander wants." Marcus said. "You're giving him a target."
"I know." Pierce's voice was ice. "Which is why we're going to use Elena as bait."
Elena's blood went cold. "What?"
"We make it look like you're vulnerable. Draw Xander out and then capture him." Pierce's eyes were hard. "We've been playing defense. It's time to go on offense."
"That's too dangerous..." Elena started.
"More dangerous than you going in unprotected?" Pierce said. "At least this way, we control the situation."
Marcus was quiet for a moment. "It could work. If we plan it right. Use Elena's appearance to lure Xander into position."
"No." Elena stood. "I'm not being used as bait to trap someone."
"You are whether you want to be or not," Pierce said bluntly. "The second you show up at D'Corporation, Xander will know. He'll move on you. So we either wait for him to strike or we control when and how it happens."
Elena wanted to argue. But she knew Pierce was right.
"How would it work?" she asked quietly.
Pierce and Marcus spent another thirty minutes outlining the plan. Elena would announce a press conference at D'Corporation headquarters. Date and time public. Pierce's team would position around the building. Marcus would track Xander's known associates, looking for movement.
When Xander made his move, they'd be ready.
"It's risky," Marcus said. "A lot of things could happen."
"Everything's risky." Pierce looked at Elena. "But it gives us a shot at ending this. Xander, maybe Rodrigo if we're lucky."
Elena processed it all. The plan, the danger and the possibility of actually reclaiming her life.
"When will it be?" she asked.
"On friday. That's five days from now." Pierce's voice was firm. "That gives Marcus time to position assets and us time to prepare."
"What if something goes wrong?"
"It won't." Pierce's eyes locked on hers. "I won't let it."
After Marcus hung up, silence fell. Derek had fallen asleep in his room. Elena and Pierce sat on the couch, the weight of the decision pressing down.
"I'm sorry," Elena said quietly. "For putting you in this position."
"You're not putting me anywhere. I'm choosing to be here." Pierce took her hand. "But Elena, you need to understand...if this goes wrong, if Xander gets to you..."
"He won't. You won't let him." Elena squeezed his hand. "I trust you."
"I wish you didn't." Pierce's voice was rough. "The amount of things that could go wrong..."
"But they won't." Elena turned to face him fully. "Because you're the best at what you do and because we're doing this together."
Pierce pulled her close, burying his face in her hair. "I can't lose you and I won't. We're going to do this. We're going to save the company and trap Xander and then..."
"Then we get our life." Elena pulled back to look at him. "The peaceful one."
Pierce nodded. Five days until she walked back into the world. Five days until they used her as bait. Five days until everything either fell apart or finally came together.
She just hoped they survived it.