My Ambition 25

Chapter 8 

Patricia saw this and passed out cold. 

His college girlfriend had already turned ghost-white and slipped into the crowd. 

All those guests who’d been kissing his ass minutes ago were now looking at him like he had the plague, eyes full of disgust and schadenfreude. 

The whole Donovan family was in complete meltdown. 

I walked through the chaos straight to Rex. 

He looked up at me with this incredibly complex expression-hate, regret, defeat. 

“Why?” 

His voice was barely a whisper. 

‘Did you forget?” I looked at him calmly. “Last time, you sent me to hell the exact same way.” 

His eyes went huge. 

You…” 

Yeah, I’m back.” 

got close to him, whispering so only we could hear. “Back to collect what you owe me.” 

Everything you owe me, my brother, my family-I’m taking it all back, piece by piece.” 

‘ure terror crossed his face. 

He finally understood he was facing a demon who’d crawled back from hell for revenge. 

The cops led him away. 

Light before he left, he gave me one last look. 

hat look had none of his old arrogance or contempt-just endless despair. 

he grudge between us, spanning two lifetimes, finally ended in this moment. 

After Rex went down, Donovan Industries stock crashed and the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. 

Caleb swooped in, bought up all their core assets for pennies on the dollar. 

Steele Capital shot up to become the biggest business empire in the city overnight. 

My brother’s company also got cleared of all charges with Caleb’s help and went back to normal operations. 

After everything had settled into place, I handed Caleb a document. 

“What’s this?” 

He asked, twirling a pen between his fingers. 

Overseas market analysis report, and… Windsor’s rebuilding plan.” 

The flames of revenge had died out, but the fire of ambition was just getting started. 

‘I sent Sophie to Switzerland.” 

Caleb didn’t look at the document right away. “After the baby’s born, the Steeles will raise it.” 

1 also gave her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life in exchange for those files.” 

nodded. 

Best outcome for everyone.” 

What about you?” 

le looked at me. “What’s your plan?” 

Rebuild Windsor, surpass Donovan.” 

answered without hesitation. 

le pulled another document from his desk drawer and slid it over. 

Ten percent of Steele Capital. You earned it.” 

was stunned. 

This isn’t charity,” he said. “You bought this with your brains and guts.” 

Maddie, you’re a born fighter.” 

looked at him and for the first time saw genuine respect burning in those deep eyes. 

took the document. 

Thanks.” 

When are you leaving?” 

Tomorrow.” 

How long?” 

Three months.” 

Until I’m strong enough to stand beside you as an equal.” 

met his gaze. Something flickered in his eyes, then he smiled. 

‘Good. I’ll be waiting for you to come back and challenge my empire.” 

I spent three months covering Wall Street and Silicon Valley. 

Chapter & 

I wasn’t soul-searching. I was weapon-hunting. 

I had clear goals and plans, learning cutting-edge capital management to set up Windsor’s future. 

Three months later, I flew back to this familiar city. 

When the plane landed, I turned on my phone and saw Caleb’s message: 

[Welcome back. Dinner tonight at Riverside, my treat.] 

That evening, I met Caleb by the river. 

Same old Caleb-perfectly tailored suit, stone-cold expression. 

“You’re back?” 

“Yeah.” 

We walked side by side, river breeze catching my hair. 

“How’d it go?” He asked. 

“Better than I dreamed.” 

I handed him a thick business plan. 

‘My latest vision-Windsor’s rebirth plan.” 

He took it and read through carefully. 

The more he read, the brighter his eyes got. 

‘Maddie,” he closed the plan and looked at me, “you belong in this world.” 

So,” I held out my hand, “Mr. Steele, my plan just needs one more powerful partner.” 

He paused, then smiled. 

‘irst time I’d ever seen him smile like that-completely genuine. 

le gripped my hand tight. 

My pleasure.” 

lis eyes had this almost predatory gleam. 

knew he saw in me the future he wanted.