Aurora's Gambit: Defying Destiny

Chapter 27

Author's Note:
Hello! This is just a very, very, very short update, huhu. Review season has just started, so I'll try to squeeze updating this story into my sched. Anyway, I really, really thank you guys for unconditionally supporting this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter! 

Kneel

Aurora's POV

The de Fidellis Corp headquarters was mine now. Every step I took through the towering glass halls solidified that truth. Ilang sa mga empleyado ay nag-uusap nang pabulong, tila takot na marinig ko ang pinagsasasabi nila habang lihim na sinusulyapan ako nang dumaan. 

Ang ilan ay yumuko nang bahagya bilang pagbibigay-galang. Mayroon namang iba na nakitaan ko ng takot sa kanilang mga mata pero hindi ko na iyon pinansin pa. 

Nasa tabi ko si Philip, may hawak na tablet habang binabasa ang report na iniutos ko sa kanya. ulat. "Sinimulan na ang internal audit sa lahat ng departaments. Several executives are already attempting to secure their positions under your rule."

Napangisi ako, itinuon ang paningin sa maliit na grupo ng matataas na opisyal na nakapila sa labas ng boardroom. Their eyes flickered with uncertainty, desperation masked under thin politeness. I let them wait. Hinayaan ko silang maghintay. Hinayaan ko silang lamunin ang mga sarili nila sa takot.

"Any signs of resistance?" Tanong ko.

"A few, but nothing that can't be handled. Most of them saw which way the wind was blowing and decided not to fight back." sagot ni Philip, hindi man lang nag-angat ng tingin mula sa tablet niya. "The last of Phoebe's loyalists are scrambling to stay afloat, but with our control over the shares, they won't last long."

"Good," I murmured. "Burn everything she left behind. I don't want a trace of her reign contaminating my empire."

Tumango si Philip nang walang pag-aalinlangan. "Understood."

Hindi lang ang de Fidellis Corp ang balak kong bawiin. Nang gabing iyon, pinangunahan ko rin ang muling pagkuha sa mafia group na itinatag ng mga ninuno ng de Fidellis—ang Del Fisidiel.

 The mafia that once answered to Kinara's family, my family, had long been loyal to Phoebe when she took over the group. The people who could not accept Phoebe as their boss were killed, and the remaining loyal ones decided to join Shadows, the originally elite hidden subgroup of the mafia, and disappeared without a trace. Well, they're not hidden anymore since I was the one who brought them back.

Naglakad ako papasok ng main headquarters nila kasama si Philip at iilang members ng Shadows. The hideout slash headquarters was a lavish, dimly lit underground den filled with the stench of cigar smoke, whiskey, and blood money. Maingay ang mga tauhan nang pumasok ako pero agad silang natahimik nang mapansin nila ang presensya ko

Men who once swore their allegiance to the de Fidellis name now sat rigid, eyes darting between themselves, uncertain of their fate.

I took my time stepping forward, letting my presence sink into their bones. 

"It seems," I said, my voice smooth yet sharp as a blade, "that some of you have forgotten who this empire truly belongs to."

One of the seated men, a lieutenant who had turned against my family, scoffed and leaned back. "Iniisip mo bang dahil lang nakuha mo na ang kumpanya, maaari ka nang maglakad papasok dito at hingin ang aming katapatan? This is the underworld, girl. We follow strength."

Philip smirked beside me. "Then it's a good thing she's the strongest in this room."

Tumawa ang traydor, ngunit kita sa kanyang mukha ang bahagyang pag-aalinlangan. "Strongest? Really? Nagpapatawa ba kayo?  Marami ka ngang pera, pero wala kang kapangyarihan dito, bata. Hindi mo kami mapapasunod."