Love Denied Ch 6

Chapter 6
The Counterattack
Elena Carter-Stone sat at the head of a long, polished table
in the Lancaster Industries boardroom. The air was thick
with tension, the eyes of nearly a dozen board members
locked onto her. The leaked story had thrown the company
into a storm, and they wanted answers.
She was ready.
“Elena,” an older board member, William Henshaw, cleared
his throat. “These allegations—your connection to Adrian
Kane—are causing serious concerns.”
Elena met his gaze without hesitation. “I understand,” she
said smoothly. “Which is why I’m here to address them
head-on.”
She pushed a folder toward him, the contents filled with
verified reports, legal documents, and timestamps.
“I never had business dealings with Adrian Kane,” she
continued. “I met him socially years ago, yes, but I had no
involvement in his financial activities. When the allegations
against him surfaced, I was one of the first to sever ties. The
claims being made against me are baseless speculation
designed to damage my reputation.”
Henshaw flipped through the folder, glancing at the
evidence. The other board members murmured amongst
themselves.
Elena leaned forward slightly. “I’ve spent years building
Lancaster Industries into a powerhouse. The company’s
success speaks for itself. Are we really going to let a gossipfueled hit piece distract us from what we’re here to do?”
Silence.
Then, Margaret Sloane, one of the most influential board
members, spoke.
“She’s right,” Margaret said firmly. “We shouldn’t let
speculation dictate business decisions.”
Relief flickered in Elena’s chest, but she didn’t let it show.
She simply nodded.
“If anyone has concerns, I’m happy to answer them,” she
said calmly. “But I will not allow distractions to derail this
company.”
One by one, the board members exchanged glances before
nodding. The tension in the room shifted.
Henshaw sighed. “Very well. But if anything else surfaces”
“It won’t,” Elena assured him.
With that, the meeting adjourned, and the board members
slowly filed out.
Elena remained seated, fingers tapping against the table.
Ryan had made his move. Now it was her turn.
Ryan’s Penthouse – The Unexpected Call
Ryan was savoring his victory, sipping on a glass of scotch,
when his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID. Blocked.
Frowning, he answered. “Who is this?”
A low chuckle came through the line. “You’ve been busy,
Lancaster.”
Ryan stiffened. He knew that voice. Adrian Kane.
He sat up, his grip tightening around the glass. “Adrian.”
“Miss me?” Adrian’s voice was laced with amusement.
Ryan’s mind raced. Adrian had disappeared off the grid
years ago. Why was he calling now?
“What do you want?” Ryan asked.
Adrian sighed. “I see you’ve been digging into old stories.
Bad idea, my friend.”
Ryan smirked. “You sound nervous. Have something to
hide?”
Adrian chuckled. “No. But you do.
Ryan’s smirk faltered. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You think Elena’s the only one with secrets?” Adrian
mused. “I know things, Lancaster. And if you keep coming
after her, I just might have to start talking.”
Ryan’s blood ran cold.
Adrian was bluffing. He had to be.
But what if he wasn’t?
The line went dead.
Ryan sat motionless, the weight of the conversation settling
over him.
For the first time, he wondered if he had underestimated
Elena.
Elena’s Office – The Counterstrike
Daniel paced in front of Elena’s desk, arms crossed.
“I don’t like this,” he muttered. “Ryan’s desperate, which
makes him dangerous.”
Elena didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she studied the
encrypted message on her laptop. Adrian had reached out.
She had expected it.
“I can handle Ryan,” she said finally. “But I need to know
what Adrian’s endgame is.”
Daniel sighed. “Adrian doesn’t do anything without a price.”
Elena’s gaze hardened. “Then I’ll pay it.”
Daniel stopped pacing, turning to face her. “And if he turns
on you?”
Elena exhaled. “Then I’ll destroy him, too.”
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
When Adrian’s voice came through, she didn’t wait for
pleasantries.
“Let’s talk.”
Ryan’s Office – The Growing Threat
Ryan was furious.
Nathan stood in front of his desk, a file in hand. “She’s
shutting down the narrative. The board is backing her.”
Ryan slammed his glass onto the table. “She’s not
untouchable.”
Nathan hesitated. “There’s something else. Elena’s meeting
with Adrian.”
Ryan’s entire body tensed.
“Why?”
Nathan’s expression darkened. “That’s what we need to find
out.”
Ryan clenched his jaw. If Adrian and Elena were working
together, this war was about to get a whole lot more
dangerous.
He grabbed his phone and made a call.
“We need to move faster.”
The voice on the other end responded immediately.
“Understood.”
Ryan hung up, his mind already forming his next move.
Elena thought she had control.
She was about to lose it.