Chapter 175: Chapter 176: The Threat Returns
DAMIEN’S POV
The drive back to the estate was quiet but comfortable. Aria had fallen asleep against his shoulder, Damien held her close, thinking about everything Mei had said.
Aria’s father. A powerful man who’d been so possessive that Mei had fled from him. Had raised Aria and made her recognise another man as her father rather than subject her daughter to that kind of relationship.
And Damien saw himself in that description. Saw his own possessiveness, his own need to control, his own suffocating intensity.
Was he the kind of man Mei had fled from? Was he different from her father?
The thought terrified him more than he wanted to admit.
His phone buzzed. A message from Marcus: Boss, there is a situation. and It’s urgent.
Damien carefully shifted Aria so she was more comfortable, then called Marcus.
"What is it?"
"Harold Ashford, sir. He’s been active."
Damien’s expression hardened immediately. "I thought I made myself clear. Victoria was supposed to be out of the country by now."
"She is. Left for Australia two days ago, still recovering but stable. But Harold..." Marcus paused. "He’s been having meetings. Disguised as dinners with some of our business partners. But our surveillance suggests that they are having secret meetings sir."
"What kind of meetings?"
"Three in the past week. Two with board members from the company.....Robert from Finance and David Park from Operations. The third was with James Morrison. And he has been sighted with some of our business partners on several occasions,"
Damien’s jaw clenched. "James Morrison from St. Augustine?"
"Yes, sir. Miss Aria’s hospital director."
"What the fuck is Harold doing meeting with Morrison?"
"We don’t know yet. The conversations were too quiet to record clearly. But the timing is suspicious. Right after Miss Aria gets her position back at the hospital, Harold has a private dinner with her boss."
"He’s trying to sabotage her position. Trying to get Morrison to fire her or make her work environment difficult."
"That’s our assessment as well. Morrison seemed uncomfortable during the dinner. And he left the restaurant early. But the fact that he met with Harold at all is concerning."
Damien’s mind raced, already calculating responses, planning countermoves.
"What about the board members? Robert and David Park?"
"That’s even more concerning. They’re both senior executives with significant influence. If Harold is trying to build a coalition within your own board....."
"He’s trying to undermine me from within. Make them question my judgment.
"Exactly boss"
"Does he wants to die?." Damien’s hand tightened on the phone. "I warned him. Told him going against me would result in his complete destruction. And he’s doing it anyway. I guese i have been too merciful to that old fool, He had forgotten who is dealing with"
"He’s being strategic, sir. Moving carefully. Nothing overt enough to trigger your threats. Just quiet meetings, subtle influence, planting seeds of doubt."
"Which is exactly how he’s survived this long. By being clever." Damien looked out the window at the passing city lights. "Set up a meeting with Robert and David. Tomorrow morning. I want to know exactly what Harold offered them and make it very clear where their loyalties should lie."
"Yes, sir."
"And Morrison. I want everything we have on him. Financial records, personal life, any pressure points we can use to ensure his continued support of Aria’s position."
"Already compiling it. Should have a full report by morning."
"Good. And Marcus....I want twenty-four-hour surveillance on Harold. Every meeting, every phone call, every conversation. I want to know what he’s planning before he implements it."
"Yes, sir. I’ll coordinate with the surveillance team immediately."
Damien ended the call and looked down at Aria, still sleeping peacefully against him.
Mei’s words echoed in his mind: Please do not hurt her. She has gone through a lot.
And now Harold Ashford was trying to hurt her. Trying to take away her career, her purpose, the independence she’d just reclaimed.
Well, Harold Ashford had just made the biggest mistake of his life.
The car pulled up to the estate, and Damien gently woke Aria.
"We’re home, baby."
She stirred, blinking sleepily. "Already? I fell asleep."
"You did. Come on. Let’s get you inside."
He helped her out of the car, kept his arm around her as they walked into the estate.
"Did you and my mother talk?" Aria asked as they climbed the stairs to their bedroom.
"We did. She’s protective of you. I respect that."
"What did she say?"
"That I should never hurt you. That if I do, she’ll make sure I regret it. And that she’s watching to make sure I don’t become the man she fled from."
Aria stopped walking, turned to look at him. "She told you about my father."
"Some. Enough to understand why she’s concerned."
"And?"
"And she’s right to be concerned. I see the parallels. See how my possessiveness could become what he was. I’m going to work on that. Going to make sure I never cross that line."
Aria touched his face gently. "The fact that you recognize the danger means you probably won’t become it. My father never questioned himself. Never thought his behavior was wrong. You do. That’s the difference."
"I hope you’re right."
Aria collapsed on the bed immediately the entered the room.
Damien looked at Aria lying down on the bed and shook is head ’’You know you have to take a bath Aria, so get up’’
Aria raised her head and looked at Damien with a sad face. ’’But i am so tired.’’
Damien looked at her face and could not bring himself to force her. ’’Okay sleep then’’
He removed his shoes and tie and got on the bed with her. He pulled her close to him and she rested her face on his chest.
But as Damien held Aria close, his mind was already working through strategies. Plans. Ways to deal with Herold and to ensure that he never threatened her again.
