The Heiress' Re Chapter 152: A Deal With Melissa

Chapter 152: A Deal With lissa

Ariana’s POV

The eting was long and boring, full of lawyers and accountants and people who spoke in numbers I didn’t understand, but I sat through it nodding when I was supposed to nod.

I smiled when I was supposed to smile.

I signed papers when they told

to sign. I was learning slowly, painfully, but I was learning.

Ugh!

Who would have thought I’d co back to this life again, of going back and forth in a multi-billion-dollar company?

I walked into my office, with my shoulders slumped, I was so tired,

But soone was sitting in my chair.

Ares.

He was leaning back with his feet on my desk, smiling.

That annoying smile that looked so much like my own.

He was holding a cup of coffee.

"Ares," I said, dropping the rules on the table, "You were supposed to be in the eting, not . You’re the one who knows about business. You’re the one who understands all those numbers I’m just learning. I’m still new at this and you—."

He broke into laughter, "I know, I know, but I also know that I have an elder sister now. Soone who can handle things and l take over. I’ve been doing this for years.... Years alone without anyone to share the burden. It’s good that I can finally rest. It’s good that I can finally let soone else carry the weight."

I walked to the desk I stood across from him. I crossed my arms. "You’re not resting. You’re avoiding. You hate those etings as much as I do. You just don’t want to admit it."

He laughed. "Maybe, but also, I have news. Good news. Exciting news. News that might make you want to hug ."

I raised an eyebrow. "Hug you? That’s unlikely. What is it?"

He put his feet down and leaned forward. His smile got wider. "We made a partnership with Dante’s company. We’re officially business partners now."

The world stopped.

My heart stopped.

My blood ran cold.

"What?" My voice was barely a whisper. "What did you say?"

Ares stood up and walked around the desk, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I said we made a partnership with Dante’s company. lissa signed the papers yesterday. She thinks she’s making a deal with a foreign investor."

I pushed his hand away and stepped back with my hands shaking. My whole body was shaking. "Are you insane? Are you completely insane? lissa? You made a deal with lissa? That devil? You partnered with her?"

Ares held up his hands. "Relax. Relax. Let

explain."

"Explain?" I shouted. "Explain what? That you’re going to be working with my enemy, or rather, you want us to be working with my enemy—"

"Ariana!" His voice was sharp but firm. "Stop and take a breath, then listen to ."

I stopped and took a breath. I crossed my arms. "Fine. Talk."

Ares walked to the window. He looked out at the city. "I didn’t make a deal with lissa because I trust her. I made a deal with lissa because I want to help you get to her.... With her being our partner now, she’s more vulnerable to getting to than she ever is."

I stared at him. "You tricked her?"

He turned to face . "I tricked her, I an, isn’t that what she likes doing? So then let’s play, I myself am much of a player, you know."

I chuckled, sending him a playful glare.

I walked to the window and stood beside him. "So the partnership... It’s fake?"

"It’s real on paper, but in reality, it’s a trap. A trap we’re going to use to get your children back and your life back."

I looked at him, a small smile playing on my lips.

"You did this for ?" I asked. "All of this?"

Ares smiled. "I did it for my sister, my niece, and nephews.. I told you, you’re not alone anymore, Ariana. You have us now."

I felt tears in my eyes. I blinked them away. "So what now? What happens next?"

Ares walked back to the desk. He picked up a folder and handed it to . "Now, we’re going to New York tomorrow. Our plane leaves at noon. We’re going to et with lissa. We’re going to finalize the partnership."

I opened the folder.

"Tomorrow?" I said. "We leave tomorrow?"

Ares nodded. "Tomorrow. I know it’s soon. I know you’re not ready, but we can’t wait. Every day we wait, lissa does more damage than she already is doing, so the earlier we take care of her, the better."

I really hope this works.

I want to inflict as much pain as she has caused

and take. "Okay. Tomorrow. We go to New York, then, and get my babies back."

Ares smiled. "Yes."

I nodded. I walked to the door. I paused. I turned back. "Ares?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for everything, for finding

and believing in . I know I don’t say it enough, but I’m grateful. I’m so grateful."

Ares walked to

and pulled

into a hug. "You don’t have to thank . You’re my sister. You’re my blood. I would do anything for you. Anything."

The private jet landed smoothly.

We got to New York in no ti.

New York.

The city that never sleeps.

The city where I fell in love.

The city where I got married.

The city where I had my children.

The city where I lost everything.

There was so much that happened here, good mories and bad ones.

Two months.

I had been gone for two months, and it felt like a lifeti. It felt like yesterday, but one thing was for sure: I wasn’t the sa woman who left.

Ares sat across from . He was on his phone, texting soone. He looked calm and confident, like he owned the world.

Maybe he did.

Maybe we both did now.

"Ready?" he asked, looking up at .

I nodded. "As ready as I’ll ever be."

The door opened, and we stepped out.

The air was cold, winter was coming. I could see my breath. I pulled my coat tighter around .

A line of black cars waited on the tarmac.

Guards stood by the doors in dark suits.

Sunglasses.

Earpieces.

They looked like sothing from a movie.

Sothing from a dream.

Sothing from my new life.

Ares walked beside

and put his hand on my back, gentle and reassuring. "You okay?"

I nodded, forcing a smile.

"Yes... I’m fine."

I got into the car.

The seats were soft.

Leather.

Warm.

Ares got in beside , and a guard closed the door.

The car stopped in front of a massive penthouse, one of which the Watsons owned.

Ares got out. I got out. We walked to the front door, and Ares unlocked it.

He stepped aside.

He let

go in first.

The house was warm and Inviting.

Wood floors.

High ceilings.

A fireplace.

Bookshelves.

"There are bedrooms upstairs," Ares said. "Pick whichever one you want and settle in. Rest well, we have etings tomorrow."

I nodded and walked upstairs and settled in one of the rooms.

Sarah

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

I haven’t seen or spoken to her since that day at the airport. I was ashad.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts.

Sarah.