Chapter 169: Chapter 171: The Warning
MARCUS’S POV
Marcus had been expecting this question. Had been expecting him to ask the moment Aria left the car.
"Victoria is still in intensive care at Mount Sinai," Marcus reported, his voice professional, detached. "Critical but stable. The doctors say she’ll need multiple surgeries over the next few weeks to repair the damage to her hands. Harold Ashford has been at the hospital constantly. Margaret Ashford hasn’t left Victoria’s bedside since she was admitted."
"And Harold? What’s he been doing besides playing the concerned father?"
Marcus pulled out his tablet, scrolling through the surveillance reports. "In the past forty-eight hours, Harold has made seventeen phone calls....most to business associates, likely trying to shore up support or assess damage to Ashford Capital’s reputation. Three calls to his lawyers, presumably about the evidence you have against him. And one call..." Marcus paused. "One call to a man named Robert Ashford, no relation. Former military intelligence, retired fifteen years ago. Now works as a private investigator for high-profile clients."
Damien’s eyes flew open, and Marcus saw the coldness there intensify into something dangerous.
"An investigator," Damien repeated softly.
"Yes, sir. Robert Ashford specialized in deep background checks during his military career. Uncovering classified information, finding leverage, exposing secrets. Since retiring, he’s worked exclusively for wealthy clients who need information that isn’t easily accessible."
"And Harold called him."
"Yes, sir. The call lasted seventeen minutes. We don’t have audio.....it was placed on a burner phone....but the timing suggests Harold is looking for ammunition. Likely against Miss Chen, given that she’s your obvious vulnerability."
Damien smiled. It was a wicked smile, cold and cruel and absolutely terrifying.
"It seems Harold is yet to learn his lesson," he said quietly. "Hasn’t learned that he shouldn’t cross me. Hasn’t understood that threatening what’s mine is the fastest way to complete destruction."
He was silent for a moment, his mind clearly working through scenarios, calculating responses, planning his next move.
"Marcus, I want you to do two things. First, send the complete file on Harold’s tax evasion to the IRS. Every questionable deduction, every offshore account, every instance of fraud we’ve documented. Include a cover letter from our legal team suggesting a full audit of Ashford Capital’s financial records."
"That will trigger a federal investigation, sir. Harold could face criminal charges."
"Good. He should have thought of that before hiring an investigator to dig into Aria’s past."
Marcus made notes on his tablet. "And the second thing. Sir?"
"Send a message to Harold. Make it clear that this is my final warning. If Victoria is not out of the country within forty-eight hours, if she is still on American soil after that deadline, I will not only send the tax information to the IRS....I will also release everything we have to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FBI, and every major media outlet in New York.’’
"Sir, if I may....that’s a nuclear option. Harold might decide he has nothing left to lose and escalate rather than back down."
"Then he’ll learn what real escalation looks like," Damien said coldly. "I’ve been patient, Marcus. I’ve given him opportunities to walk away. But hiring an investigator to dig into Aria’s past? That crosses a line. That threatens her directly. And I will not tolerate that."
Marcus knew better than to argue when the boss used that tone. "Understood, sir. I’ll have the tax files delivered to the IRS within the hour and the message sent to Harold immediately after."
"Good. And Marcus? I want twenty-four-hour surveillance on Robert Ashford. I want to know who he talks to, what he’s researching, every step he takes in this investigation. And if he gets anywhere close to finding anything damaging about Aria....anything at all....I want to know immediately so I can neutralize it."
"What if he does find something, sir? Miss Chen’s past isn’t entirely clean. Her hacking activities alone could be problematic if exposed correctly."
Damien’s expression didn’t change, but his voice dropped to something absolutely lethal. "Then we make sure Robert Ashford’s own past becomes very, very public. Former military intelligence officers have secrets, Marcus. I’m sure Robert has things he’d prefer stayed buried. Find them. Use them if necessary."
"Yes, sir."
HAROLD’S POV - Two Hours Later
Harold Ashford sat in his office at Ashford Capital, reviewing quarterly reports with half his attention while the other half remained at the hospital with his broken daughter.
His phone buzzed. An encrypted message from an unknown number.
Harold read the message three times, his jaw clenching tighter with each pass.
Then his phone rang. His personal lawyer.
"Harold, we have a problem. The IRS just contacted me. They’ve received an anonymous tip about irregularities in Ashford Capital’s tax filings. They’re initiating a full audit. Harold, this is serious. If they find what I think they’re going to find...."
Harold hung up without responding.
His hands were shaking. With rage. With fear. With the understanding that Damien Blackwood had just declared war and was playing for keeps.
Another message, this time from Robert Ashford, his investigator: I am Unable to continue with this investigation. I received credible threats regarding my military service records, So i advise you find alternative resources. Refunding your retainer. -R
Harold stared at his phone, at the careful unraveling of everything he’d built, everything he’d planned.
Damien Blackwood had moved faster than he’d anticipated. Had cut off his avenues of attack before he’d even begun. Had made it absolutely clear that further resistance would result in complete destruction.
He had forty-eight hours to get Victoria out of the country.
Forty-eight hours before his entire life imploded.
Harold closed his eyes and made the call he’d been dreading.
"Margaret, it’s me. We need to make arrangements to move Victoria. As soon as the doctors clear her for transport. Australia. It has to be Australia."
His wife’s protests echoed through the phone, but Harold barely heard them.
Because all he could think about was Damien Blackwood’s cold smile. The absolute certainty that he would follow through on every threat.
And the terrifying realization that Harold had lost.
Completely.
But was he ready to just let go like that? ’’No. Definatly not going to swallow the insult.
Damien wants do destroy eveything that matters to him, Everything he worked so hard to build. Including his only daugter.....then he would start taking his revenge by also targeting the only person that matters to him.
Herold knows that he couln’t do anything to Richard Blackwook. But he could do a lot to Aria Chen.
And Damien is about to find out just how ruthless he can also be.
