Love Denied Ch 9

Chapter 9
A Line Crossed
Elena sat in her office, gripping the phone so tightly that her
knuckles turned white. Isabelle was still on the other end, her
breathing uneven.
“Listen to me,” Elena said, forcing a calmness she did not
feel. “You need to stay put. Do not talk to anyone. I will
handle this.”
“But Elena—”
“No arguments, Izzy,” she cut in. “I am on my way.”
She ended the call and immediately dialed Adrian Kane. He
picked up after one ring.
“I assume you saw the news,” he said lazily.
“I need a favor,” Elena said, standing and grabbing her coat.
Adrian chuckled. “Of course you do. And here I thought we
were just business partners.”
“This is different,” she said. “Ryan went after my family.”
Adrian’s tone shifted, the amusement fading. “Then he just
made his biggest mistake.”
“I need your people to start digging,” Elena said as she strode
toward the elevator. “I do not care what it costs. I want every
move Ryan has made in the last six months uncovered.”
“Consider it done,” Adrian said. “And Elena?”
She paused.
“This is war now,” he said simply.
She ended the call, stepping into the elevator and pressing
the button for the underground parking. She had been
prepared to play dirty, but Ryan had crossed a line.
And now she would burn everything down if she had to.
Ryan’s Next Attack
Ryan leaned back in his chair, studying the reports in front
of him. Isabelle’s scandal was gaining traction. The
headlines were everywhere.
Nathan stood by the window, watching his boss carefully.
“Elena will retaliate.”
Ryan smirked. “Of course she will. That is the point.”
Nathan crossed his arms. “She is not like the others you have
taken down. She fights differently.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “And so do I.”
He tossed another folder onto the desk. “I want her company
audited. Every deal, every client, every employee. Find
something, anything we can use to weaken her hold on it.”
Nathan hesitated. “That could take weeks.”
Ryan’s expression darkened. “Then start now.”
Nathan nodded and left the room.
Ryan exhaled, swirling the whiskey in his glass.
Elena thought she was untouchable.
She was about to learn just how wrong she was.
Elena’s Counterattack
By the time Elena arrived at Isabelle’s apartment, the press
had already swarmed the building. Cameras flashed, and
reporters shouted her name.
She ignored them, pushing through the crowd until she
reached the lobby.
The security guard let her up immediately, and within
minutes, she was inside her sister’s apartment.
Isabelle stood near the window, arms wrapped around
herself.
Elena moved to her, placing her hands on her shoulders. “Are
you okay?”
Isabelle shook her head. “They are everywhere, Elena. My
career, my reputation—”
“We will fix it,” Elena said firmly.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Adrian.
Got something. Ryan’s people planted the evidence. Sending
proof now.
Elena’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.
She turned to Isabelle. “Pack a bag. You are coming with
me.”
Isabelle hesitated. “Where are we going?”
Elena’s eyes burned with cold determination.
“To take down Ryan Lancaster.”