The Devil's Contractual Bride-Chapter 41: Checkmate

Lucian’s POV

Mike’s voice echoed over the phone,I stood in silence,my mind rampaging on how best to follow this shit of a situation.

"Boss, what are we going to do about this, the nigga is not breathing."

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, the leather creaking under my palms.

I couldn’t afford Victor dying in my hands.. He was the one piece I needed to lock the board vote and the only person signature could bury Ethan’s proxy play for good.

I forced my voice steady. "Is he breathing?"

"Barely sir," Mike replied. "I checked his pulse and it’s weak. He looks pale and there is swelling on his hands and feet. I’ve got him on the couch but this dude is giving up,we should probably get an ambulance."

"Don’t try to get an ambulance,I’m on my way.Just keep him alive until I get there."

I ended the call and immediately dialed Dr. Elias Kane, our family physician since I was sixteen.

"Lucian?" His voice was calm and concerned as always. "What’s wrong?"

"I need you at the family house uptown now Doctor. It’s a medical emergency. I need you to help resuscitate someone but it has to stay between both of us. I’ll meet you there in twenty-five minutes."

"Is the patient dying or what?"

"The person might be if you’re not there in twenty-five."

"I’m leaving now," he replied. "I’ll be there."

I hung up, floored the accelerator, and cut across three lanes to take the next exit toward the hills.

The family home sat on a quiet ridge in the Hollywood Hills—Spanish Revival, white stucco, red-tile roof and a gated driveway lined with olive trees. My father had bought it in the eighties as a retreat; I’d kept it after he died. No one knew about it except family, Dr Elias and Mike.It was the perfect place to hide a man who couldn’t be seen in public.

I pulled through the gate at 10:14 a.m., Dr. Kane’s black Range Rover was already parked in the circular drive. I killed the engine, grabbed the Glock from the glove compartment just in case and jogged up the stone steps.

Mike opened the front door before I reached it. He looked scared and that made me fidget,Mike would not flip unless something was seriously wrong.

"Where is he?"

"In the living room,he’s conscious but fading."

I pushed past him.

Victor lay on the long leather sofa,his shirt was unbuttoned, chest rising and falling in shallow with uneven jerks. His skin was gray, lips bluish. Dr. Kane knelt beside him pressing the stethoscope to his chest He put an IV line into his arm, saline bag hanging from a makeshift stand.

"The collapse was due to heart arrhythmia," Kane said without looking up. "Tachycardia. It was probably triggered by stress, dehydration and whatever the hell you’ve been doing to him. He’s in atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. BP is 85 over 50. He’s crashing Lucian.What the hell is this old man doing in your father’s house Lucian?."

"Fix him," I thundered, ignoring his query.

Kane didn’t argue. He reached into his bag, pulled out a syringe and pushed medication into the IV line.

"I just administered amiodarone. That should stabilize the rhythm. If it doesn’t, we’ll need to cardiovert him. Now do you want to explain why I’m treating a man who looks like he’s been zip-tied and starved?"

"No," I replied sternly.

Kane shook his head but kept working. He attached the portable defibrillator pads, checked the monitor and adjusted the oxygen mask over Victor’s face. Minutes passed—tension rising in the room.

Finally ,Victor’s eyes fluttered open.

He blinked, looking confused and disoriented.In less than a second his gaze found me.

"Lucian..." His voice was a rasp. "Please... let me go. I can’t... I can’t do this anymore."

I crouched beside the sofa, close enough that he could see every line of my face.

"You’re alive," I said quietly. "That’s more than you deserve right now."

Victor’s eyes filled with tears. "My family... they’ll be worried. The police—"

"The police think you took a sudden business trip," I said. "Your wife got the board meeting notice and she’ll tell them you’re fine. However,you can be back home in your bed tonight but only if you agree to one condition."

Victor swallowed hard. "What condition?I’ll do anything Lucian"

"I see.You’ll sell me every share you own in Voss Enterprises at today’s market price. Secondly, you’ll step down during the board meeting in six days and you’ll vote for me in every motion. If you do this,you’ll be home tonight."

Victor stared at me like I’d asked him to cut off his own hand.

"That’s...that’s everything Lucian," he whispered. "You’re literally asking me to retire. What about my family grandchildren’s future—"

"Your grandchildren will be fine, don’t be dramatic "I chuckled"You’ll still have millions but if you don’t agree, you won’t have anything. Not even a heartbeat."

Victor’s chest rose and fell faster. The monitor beeped in warning.

Kane glanced at me. "He’s destabilizing again Lucian.What the fuck is this?"

Victor closed his eyes,tears slipping down his temples.

"I’ll do it," he whispered. "I’ll sell and vote for you, anything you want Lucian, just let me be."

I reached out, patted his shoulder gently.

"Good choice."

I stood.

"Mike," I said. "Drive him home tonight after dark. Make sure he’s seen arriving. He’ll tell anyone who asks exactly what I told him."

Mike nodded. "Yes, boss."

I turned back to Victor one last time.

"I’m going to warn you now," I fixated my eyes on him. "If you dare tell anyone where you were or even you breathe a word about this house and my involvement in your disappearance,you’ll be dead in a second. Do you understand?"

Victor nodded frantically. "Yes,yes, I understand."

I looked at Kane. "Give him something to make sure he can walk out of here tonight."

Kane nodded grimly. "Alright."

I walked out without another word.

The drive back to the city was quick. The stock was still tanking—down 32% at midday. Minority shareholders were dumping in panic. Everything was going exactly as planned.

***

Six days went by in a flash,it was finally the day for the boardmeeting.

I got into the building and every member of the staff stared as I walked across them up to board.

The rumor that there has been an acquisition battle going on.

I pushed them open.

When I stepped into the boardroom it was filled to the brim.

Every director was there starting from Margaret Kline,the two older men who’d sat silent during the last emergency session, three women from operations and legal, Ethan Caldwell who again was seated at the far end of the mahogany table like the owner of the room amongst others.

They all turned as I stepped inside,some avoided my eyes,the guilt of their actions eating them up.

Ethan smiled"Well," he started "The king returns. We were just discussing about you and why you called this emergency meeting, apparently your reign as CEO is dragging the company down to hell."

I didn’t sit.

I walked to the head of the table—my place and remained standing.

"This meeting is called to bring everyone to order. We must come together to fight the financial crises our company is facing."

Margaret cleared her throat. "Lucian... the stock is down 74% since opening seven days ago.Minority shareholders are in revolt and it won’t take time before we the directors have to bow out. We have lost so much money in days and I think we all need to know exactly what happened"

"You’ll know in a minute—"

"I’m not interested in all that" Ethan cut in

"I assume you’ve come to concede Voss. Victor is still missing—."

"I’m not Ethan," Victor interrupted stepping in.

The room stilled.

Ethan’s smile faltered like he’d seen a ghost..

He continued. "I’m stepping down from the board effective immediately. I have Aldi sold my shares to Lucian and I’m withdrawing as a member of this board"

A ripple of shock moved through the table. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Margaret’s mouth opened and it took her seconds to shut

Ethan laughed sarcastically. "You’re bluffing. Victor you wouldn’t—"

The boardroom doors swung open interrupting him again

Aria stepped inside.

She stood tall,still leaning lightly on the forearm crutch . In her free hand she held an envelope, which she opened and slid out a document and laid it on the table.

Every head turned, wondering what she was doing at a company board meeting

Ethan’s face was drained of color but Aria ignored him and walked slowly to my side. I stepped back so she could take center stage.

"I’m Aria Voss," she started "The new majority shareholder of Voss Enterprises."

The room erupted with whispers,gasps and scraping chairs.

Ethan stood so fast his chair tipped backward."That’s impossible," he hissed. "You don’t—"

"I do," Aria said. She opened the document to the first page."This document will prove that I have 65 percent of the company’s shares, you’re all welcome to verify".

She looked at Ethan.

"You thought you could take everything from us? Not this time Ethan" she said quietly.

The room went silent.

I stepped forward, placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Do we vote for the CEO or do we end the meeting?."

I looked around the table.

"Any objections?"

No one spoke.

Ethan’s face twisted with rage and defeat,he abruptly turned and walked out,the doors closing behind him.

Aria looked up at me, eyes shining.

I leaned down and kissed her right there in front of the entire board.

When I pulled back, I smiled.

"I guess the meeting will be adjourned then."