Chapter 189 What do you want, Aria?

Chapter 189: Chapter 189 What do you want, Aria?

Aria’s POV

I moved to the conference table, trailing my fingers along the polished surface.

"I heard Jennifer submitted her resignation. I haven’t approved it yet—company policy requires an exit interview to make sure she wasn’t subjected to any harassment or unfair treatment."

I paused, watching his reflection in the window.

"We take workplace conduct very seriously at V&A Group. If there’s any indication that a superior was pressuring her, or coercing her into unethical behavior, we’re obligated to investigate."

The threat hung in the air between us.

Nathan’s reflection went very still.

"Jennifer wouldn’t—"

"Wouldn’t what?" I cut him off smoothly. "Wouldn’t tell the truth if asked directly? Wouldn’t provide documentation if she felt she was being exploited?"

I let my voice drop, inject just a hint of steel. "You’re assuming she’s more afraid of you than she is of doing the right thing."

"You have no proof of anything."

"Don’t I?"

Before he could respond, his assistant knocked and entered, leaning in to whisper something urgent in his ear.

I watched Nathan’s already pale face drain of remaining color. His hands clenched on the windowsill.

"Leave us," he ordered without looking at the assistant.

The door clicked shut again.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I could practically hear the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out how to spin this, how to regain control of a situation that was rapidly slipping through his fingers.

Finally, he turned to face me.

"The meeting’s cancelled." His voice was flat, controlled again. "Ethan’s not coming."

I let surprise flicker across my face, though I already knew exactly what had happened. "Oh? That’s unfortunate. Did something come up?"

"You know damn well what came up." He took a step toward me, then seemed to think better of it.

"Silver Creek Pack is being investigated. Some irregularities in their S-Class development project. Very convenient timing, don’t you think?"

I met his gaze steadily. "I think companies that cut corners always get caught eventually. Karma’s a bitch."

"Was it karma that tipped off the Royal Council? Or was it you?"

"So what if it was me?" I tilted my head, meeting his glare without flinching. "I’m the Luna Queen. Is it really so strange that I’d use the Royal Council’s power when I need it?"

Nathan’s jaw tightened."You’re playing a dangerous game, Aria."

His voice dropped lower, taking on that predatory edge that used to make me flinch. "You think you can take on my mother? Take on me? You’re in over your head."

I moved closer, closing the distance between us until I could see the amber flecks in his eyes, could smell the anger rolling off him in waves.

"I think," I said softly, "that I’m exactly where I need to be."

My phone buzzed. I glanced down at the screen—a message from Rick confirming that the investigation into Silver Creek Pack’s finances was proceeding exactly as planned.

Evidence of tax fraud, construction regulation violations, and falsified environmental impact reports was already piling up.

Ethan’s little empire was starting to crumble.

I looked back up at Nathan with a smile.

"Besides, you should be more worried about yourself than about me. After all—" I pulled up a file on my phone and sent it to him with a single tap.

"I’ve been doing some research. Fascinating what you can find when you know where to look."

His phone chimed. I watched his expression as he opened the file, saw the color drain from his face completely.

"Where did you get this?" The question came out strangled.

"Does it matter?" I tilted my head. "The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

The file contained documentation of several questionable deals Nathan had orchestrated over the past two years.

Nothing major enough to land him in prison—Nathan was too smart for that—but certainly enough to raise eyebrows.

Enough to make Vincent’s will executors take a closer look at whether Nathan was fit to manage company assets.

Enough to give Victor ammunition if he decided Nathan needed to be removed from his position.

"This is nothing," Nathan said, but his voice lacked conviction. "These are standard business practices—"

"Are they?" I interrupted. "Then you won’t mind if I forward this to the board? Let them decide whether it’s ’nothing’?"

His jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth grind.

"What do you want, Aria?"

There it was. The question I’d been waiting for.