The sound of clicking keys filled the hotel suite as I typed out an email.
Ti waited for no man and my work as CEO and chairman of Imperium wasn’t going to stop just because I was out here playing queenmaker.
After sending the necessary emails, I went through the financial projections. The latest numbers from Walk Shop’s integration were promising and I was already drafting a mo to the board about next steps.
That was when I heard the knock on my door. I blinked before glancing at the clock.
I hadn’t been expecting anyone and it was still early enough in the night to tell it wasn’t a mistake. Soone was here to see .
I stood up from my chair and walked to the door. I opened it and froze for a second.
Standing there was the person I least expected. Well, not at this ti of the night.
Jasmine Voss.
She stood there with her perfectly styled blonde hair, wearing one of those boss lady pant suits. On her face was the polite and serene expression she regularly used to fool a lot of people, including the old Nico.
Let’s see what she was here for.
"Jasmine." I said politely, stepping aside. "This is unexpected. Co in."
"Thank you, Nico." She said with her demure voice as she walked past into the suite. "Impressive accommodations. Imperium is treating you well, I see."
I shut the door and leaned against it, crossing my arms. "You didn’t co here to admire the decor. Why are you here?"
I could tell my question caught her off guard as the Nico she was used to dealing with wasn’t this blunt. But as expected, she recovered quickly, turning to look at .
Her expression softened into sothing almost... maternal? No, not maternal. Pitying. As if she was about to pull so grand wisdom from her infinite grace and impart it to a misguided child.
"I ca because I believe we’re on the wrong sides of this fight." She said softly. "We don’t have to be enemies, Nico. In fact, I think we’d make an incredible team."
I raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the sofa. "Go on."
She sat with the sa impeccable posture she’d been taught since she was a kid. "Look, Jenny is impulsive and reckless. You know that just as much as I do. She doesn’t understand the nuance of running a company like Apex."
I sat opposite her. There was enough space between us that she couldn’t just reach out and grab my hand for so emotional bullshit.
"But you…," she continued, "you have vision. Drive. You’ve built sothing extraordinary with Imperium. That is why I believe that together, we could take Apex to heights even my mother never imagined."
"And in this scenario," I said, my tone as dry as sandpaper, "what would my role be? The loyal subordinate propping up your throne?"
Her laugh was soft, practiced, the kind of laugh designed to put people at ease. "No, Nico. A true partnership. You and I, side by side. The Voss legacy united."
I stared at her, keeping my expression blank. The Voss legacy united? What a load of crap.
The old Nico would have been over the moon at being acknowledged by Jasmine, not to talk of being considered an equal. But I wasn’t the old Nico.
"That’s a generous offer." I said slowly. "But there’s just one problem."
Her head tilted slightly, her smile growing wider. "And what’s that?"
"You." The single word dropped like a stone in a still pond.
Her smile flickered for a fraction of a second before she recovered. "I don’t understand."
"Sure you do." I leaned back on my chair. "Let’s cut the act, Jasmine."
"You don’t want as a partner. You want as a pawn. Soone to do your dirty work while you smile for the caras. I can see through you, Jasmine, so let make sothing clear."
I lowered my voice and she leaned in. "I don’t trust you, and I never will."
Jasmine’s smile fell and she fixed a hurt expression on her face. "That’s harsh, Nico. We’re family."
"Family?" I let out a bitter laugh. "You guys are unbelievable."
I shook my head. "We’re not family. We don’t share blood. You’re just a daughter your mother brought into the marriage with my father. And now that they’re divorced, you’re all shaless. Clinging to the Voss family na like leeches when your fathers are still alive."
"All of you are blood… sucking… leeches." I hissed.
Jasmine’s eyes were wide in shock. This hadn’t been in her calculations of all the actions Nico would take. Unfortunately for her, that Nico was dead.
"And don’t get started on how you leeches behave. Do you have any idea what you put through on Erald Isle? The gas, the humiliation? The constant reminders that I was less than you? That I didn’t belong?"
Now that I had started, sothing kept urging on and I couldn’t stop. The floodgates had opened.
"You treated like I was nothing. A mistake. And for a while, I believed you. So much so that I thought the world would be better off without in it." My voice hardened. "Do you know Jasmine? That I almost killed myself?"
mories of the night I’d woken up as Nico flashed through my head. The water, the burning in my chest…
Jasmine’s face went pale, her perfect composure slipping. "Nico, I didn’t know-"
"Of course you didn’t!" I snarled, cutting her off. "You were too busy tearing down to notice the damage you were doing!"
"And now you have the audacity to co here and ask for my help? To act like we’re equals? Like I owe you sothing?"
"Nico, I didn’t realize-"
"Cut the act, Jasmine! Even now, you’re acting! You knew exactly what you were doing." I said coldly. "And I’ll never forgive you for it. Not because I’m holding a grudge but because forgiving you would an excusing the person you are. And you... you disgust ."
Jasmine stared at , her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to say sothing but didn’t know how.
I stood, moving away from the chair and exhaling slowly. After a few seconds, I turned back to her.
"You wanted an answer, Jasmine? Here it is."
"I’ll never join you. Even if Jenny hates , even if she turns on tomorrow, I’ll fight for her until the end. Because whatever her flaws, she’s still better than you. At least she’s honest about who she is."
Jasmine stood up slowly from the chair. She held my gaze and studied for a mont before the vulnerable expression was wiped off her face, replaced by a cold expression.
"You’ve changed, Nico." She said, tilting her head. This was the real Jasmine. The face she hid behind the polite smiles and demure actions.
"I guess you’ve made your choice." She said, nodding to herself.
"I have." I replied. "Now, if you’ll excuse , I have work to do."
"Very well." She said like she was talking about the dirt stuck on the bottom of her shoe. "You’ve sealed your fate, Nico. You’ve chosen the wrong side. Don’t co crying back to when it all falls down because my rcy... has run out."
"Fuck you." I spat as she left the suite.
I stared at the door for a few seconds before sighing and dropping into one of the chairs, burying my face in my hand.
I guess even though he was dead, Nico Voss did have a lot of things to say.
I sighed again, staring at my hands.
I’d win this even if I have to go to hell and back. That, I promise myself.
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