164

164
Laila’s POV

I couldn’t believe what had just transpired with Mr. Williams. The nerve of that man! He stood there, with that smug look on his face, as if he could intimidate me into submission. His arrogance was unbearable, but it wasn’t just that—there was something darker in his eyes, a hidden agenda, a lie that he believed he could pull over my eyes. But I was done being the naive little girl he had known. I wasn’t her anymore.

I could feel the heat rising within me, my fists clenched tightly as I stood there, face-to-face with him, watching his once-comfortable mask of authority slip away. He had no idea what was coming. The years of my father’s hard work, the legacy he had built, were not going to fall into the hands of a man like him. Not on my watch.

“You think you can just come in here and strip me of everything I’ve worked for?” Mr. Williams had scoffed earlier, his face red with frustration, veins popping on his forehead as his hands clenched at his sides.

“I’ve worked for this company longer than you’ve even known how to speak properly!” He had continued, his words laced with venom. “You can’t just take it away from me. I’ve seen your father build it from the ground up. I am the largest shareholder, the most influential man here. And now you, a girl who doesn’t even know the real workings of this business, want to walk in and pretend like you can just take it all away?”

But the look on my face must have made him reconsider his arrogance. His words faltered as I stared him down, my gaze unwavering, ice cold.

“It’s not about how long you’ve been here, Mr. Williams,” I had said, my voice low and steady, but the venom was there, concealed under the surface. “It’s about what you’re trying to do. You think I don’t know? You and Hamilton, plotting to drain my father’s company dry and leave it for dead. You’re wrong. It’s not going to happen.”

His expression twisted with disbelief. “You... you think you can stand up to me?” He had laughed bitterly, the sound mocking. But I wasn’t intimidated. Far from it.

“I can and I will,” I had retorted. “And I’ll make sure you never step foot inside this company again. You can keep your shares for all I care. But your position as CEO? Gone. You are not welcome here anymore. I will make sure that every piece of authority you think you have is revoked. And let’s see how long you’ll last without the power you’ve spent your life clinging to.”

The tension in the room had been palpable, thick enough to suffocate anyone in the vicinity. But the anger in Mr. Williams’s eyes was nothing compared to the fire burning within me. I had been calm, collected, but inside, the fury was boiling, churning, and the taste of victory was sweet on my tongue.

I had delivered my final blow, and I knew he had nothing else to say. He couldn’t. His secrets were exposed, his lies laid bare, and it was clear that his time in control was over.

“Goodbye, Mr. Williams. Don’t bother coming back to the company. If I see you around, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing,” I had said, my voice firm and resolute.

Turning on my heel, I had walked out of the room, not looking back. I was done with him, and I wasn’t about to waste another second on someone who thought they could break me.

Clara had followed me quietly, her eyes wide with admiration. I could see it in her expression—she was proud of me. But there was something else too, something deeper, a hint of awe. I had just dismantled a man who had believed he was untouchable. And now, he was nothing.

As we walked back to my office, I could feel my heart racing. There was so much more to do, so much more to take care of. Mr. Williams was only the beginning. There were still so many people who had wronged me, who had tried to steal from me, who thought they could get away with it. But I was done being the victim. I was taking control, and nothing was going to stop me.

I arrived at my office, my mind racing with thoughts of the next steps. Clara entered behind me, and I took my seat at the desk. The weight of the decisions I had made today was starting to sink in, but I didn’t have time for weakness. I had to keep moving, had to keep fighting.

“Miss Laila,” Clara spoke up, bowing her head as she approached. “We’ve succeeded in suing Mara again. But there’s a problem.”

I raised an eyebrow, already feeling the tension building. “What happened?” I asked, my voice tight.

“She’s managed to escape,” Clara replied, her voice filled with frustration. “When the police arrived to arrest her, they found out she had already run away. She’s gone, Miss Laila.”

My blood ran cold at her words. “How is that possible?” I demanded, rising from my seat in anger. “She was supposed to be in jail! All I wanted was to see her locked away for everything she’s done. For everything her mother has done. How could she escape?”

Clara’s face was filled with concern. “I’m sorry, Miss Laila. We’ll find her. I’m sure of it. She can’t hide forever.”

But I wasn’t so sure. The thought of Mara getting away again, slipping through my fingers, was infuriating. She had been the one to orchestrate so much of my suffering, and now she had managed to escape justice once more. But I wouldn’t let it stand. I couldn’t.

“I don’t care how long it takes,” I said, my voice deadly calm, though the rage burned in my chest. “I will find her, and she will pay for everything. I don’t care where she runs. She can hide for now, but I’ll make sure she doesn’t get away for long. I will find her, and she will rot in jail. I’ll make sure of it.”

Clara nodded, though there was a hesitation in her eyes. “I understand, Miss Laila. We’ll get to work on it immediately. We’ll track her down.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. I wasn’t going to let Mara or anyone else think they could beat me. They had no idea what they were up against.

As Clara left the room to continue her work, I sat back in my chair, my thoughts racing. This wasn’t just about Mara. This was about reclaiming my power, about taking back everything that had been stolen from me, piece by piece. I wasn’t going to stop until every last one of them had been exposed, until they had all been brought to justice.

The fire inside me was only growing stronger. And now, nothing—not even Mara’s escape—could stand in my way. The fight had just begun. And I was ready for it.

I would make them all pay. Every last one of them.