Chapter 2 The First Cut.
Seraphina's POV
The next morning, I sat at the dining table across from Damien.
He looked exactly the same. With a perfect suit, perfect smile. The perfect liar.
"Morning, sweetheart," he said as he picked up his coffee.
"Morning." I smiled back.
If he noticed anything different about me, he didn't show it. Maybe because he never really looked at me.
For six years, I had been solving problems for Roth Holdings while Damien stood in front of cameras collecting praise. As the company's Chief Strategy Officer, I was the one creating expansion plans, negotiating land deals, securing investors, and keeping projects from collapsing. Roth Holdings was one of Seattle's biggest commercial real estate and urban development companies, building office towers, shopping centers, and luxury business districts across the state. Most people believed Damien built that empire. They didn't know that before I arrived, the company had been drowning in debt and failed projects.
I learned business from my grandfather, Richard Lancaster, founder of Lancaster Capital Group, one of the most respected investment firms in the country. His company managed billions in assets, funded major developments, and helped struggling businesses become successful. After he died, I inherited not only his fortune but also the knowledge he spent years teaching me.
And today, I was about to remind Damien exactly who had kept his company alive for the last six years.
"I have a board meeting in an hour," Damien said, checking his watch.
"I know," I replied.
"You know?" His eyebrows lifted slightly.
I took a sip of coffee before replying. "The Harbor Tech contract is being reviewed today."
For a second, surprise flashed across his face. The Harbor Tech contract was one of Roth Corporation's biggest projects. A project I personally negotiated two years ago.
"Right," he said casually, but I noticed the way his fingers tightened around his coffee cup.
My phone vibrated and when I checked, I saw that it was a text from Marcus.
Everything is ready< the text read.
I quietly slipped my phone back into my pocket. Perfect.
An hour later, Damien left for the office and the moment I saw his car disappear through the gates, I made a call to Marcus.
"Do it now," I said.
"Immediately?" Marcus asked.
"Immediately," I repeated.
The call ended and all I had to do was to wait, but it didn't take long because my phone vibrated almost immediately.
Right on schedule<
I smiled as I read the text because right now, somewhere across the city, Damien's board meeting was falling apart.
At Roth Corporation headquarters, chaos had erupted.
I knew because I watched through a live video feed from my tablet. Not because I hacked anything but because the board secretary had worked with my grandfather for twenty years and, unlike Damien, she knew who truly built the company.
Damien stood at the head of the conference table. His face was turning red.
"What do you mean they pulled out?" He almost shouted.
Across from him, one of the executives looked nervous.
"Harbor Tech suspended negotiations this morning," the executive explained.
"What?" Damien asked.
"They said they no longer trust Roth Corporation's future direction," he replied, and Damien slammed a hand onto the table.
He was losing control, and it was fun to watch.
"That's impossible," he said.
I almost laughed because nothing was impossible. Especially when I had personally called Harbor Tech's chairman the previous night.
The same chairman whose daughter I had helped save from a business scandal three years ago.
It was a favor he owned me. Everything was done simple and clean with no evidence left behind that could be traced back to me.
What Damien would soon find out was that, unlike him, I had influence. Real influence.
My tablet screen showed the board members exchanging worried looks.
One of them finally spoke. "Should we ask Mrs. Roth to assist?"
The room went silent and Damien's jaw tightened.
"No." The answer came too quickly and sounded too sharp, which made me smile.
That one word told me everything I needed to know. Damien was afraid because, deep down, he knew the truth without me, his company was nothing.
That evening, Damien came home three hours late than usual.
The moment he walked into the living room, I could tell he was furious.
"Bad day?" I asked sweetly.
"You wouldn't understand," he answered as he loosened his tie.
I almost laughed because I understood better than anyone, but instead, I looked concerned.
"Was it Harbor Tech?" I asked.
His head snapped toward me. "How do you know about that?"
"I helped negotiate the contract." I shrugged.
For a moment, there was silence, and he looked uncomfortable, but he quickly forced a smile.
"Don't worry about it. I'll fix it." He assured me with confidence I knew he didn't have.
At that moment, a maid entered the room.
"Miss Camilla is here," she announced.
I looked up. This was becoming interesting.
Damien froze for a split second, but I saw the panic and fear before it disappeared.
"Camilla?" I asked.
"Yes," the maid replied.
"That's wonderful," I said, standing up immediately.
"What?" Damien blinked nervously.
"Camilla is my best friend, remember, so this is like her second home...if not home." I smiled brightly as Damien looked like he was about to pass out.
"Bring her in," I said to the maid.
A minute later, Camilla entered.
She wore a loose cream dress. Obviously trying to hide the pregnancy, but that protective hand she placed over her stomach gave her away.
The sight almost made me sick but I smiled anyway.
"Camilla!" I called in false excitement and hugged her.
"Seraphina." She called back weakly as she hugged me back.
I noticed Damien watching us carefully. He was like a man standing on thin ice.
Good. Let him sweat.
"Actually," I said suddenly, "I have wonderful news."
Both of them looked at me.
"What news?" Camilla asked.
I walked toward the fireplace. Above it hung a large framed family photograph of me, Damien, his parents and Sophia.
The perfect fake family.
I pointed at the photograph.
"I've decided to host a family dinner this weekend," I announced.
Damien stiffened and Camilla's smile flickered.
"A family dinner?" she repeated.
"Yes, to celebrate our six years wedding anniversary" I said cheerfully. "Everyone must come."
I looked directly at Camilla. "You too."
The room became strangely quiet. I deliberately did it so I could see her face as she watched her husband show affection towards another woman. It would give me so much joy.
"Me?" she asked.
"Why not?" I smiled. "You're practically family already."
