The hours leading up to the meeting with her father felt like a countdown to something inevitable. Agnes couldn't shake the feeling that the moment she stepped into that room, everything would change. Her heart raced with a combination of fear and determination. She was about to face the man who had controlled her life for as long as she could remember—the same man who had created an empire based on manipulation, power, and the belief that he was untouchable.
As she stood in front of the mirror, her reflection seemed like a stranger. The woman staring back at her wasn't the obedient daughter of the great CEO. She was someone different now—stronger, bolder, and ready to fight for herself.
Beside her, Majek stood quietly, his eyes fixed on her as if he could sense the storm swirling inside her. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice low, steady.
Agnes swallowed, nodding slowly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
They were standing on the edge of a precipice, staring down into an uncertain future. But one thing was clear: there was no turning back now. She had made her choice. She wasn't going to let her father control her anymore.
Together, they left the apartment, walking through the lobby of the building without exchanging a word. The city felt different tonight—darker, quieter, as if it too were holding its breath, waiting for what was to come.
The Meeting Room
The location of the meeting was one that sent a chill down Agnes's spine. The place wasn't just her father's private office—it was his personal kingdom. The walls were lined with dark wood, the shelves packed with trophies of his success. It was a space where control reigned, where decisions were made that affected thousands of lives, all while cloaked in an air of cold authority.
They entered the room together, and Agnes felt the weight of her father's gaze the moment they stepped inside. He was seated at the head of the large, polished conference table, his expression unreadable. Behind him, the windows offered a view of the city lights below, the same view that had once seemed so comforting to her.
"Agnes," her father said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Majek."
Majek gave a sharp nod but didn't speak. Agnes felt the air grow thick with tension as she sat down across from her father. She wasn't going to be intimidated. Not anymore.
Her father leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold and calculating. "You've made quite a spectacle of yourself, haven't you? All this nonsense about rebellion and exposing our family's secrets… Do you really think this is the right way to handle things?"
Agnes met his gaze without flinching. "I think it's the only way to handle things. You've spent my whole life making decisions for me, for everyone else. But I'm done being your puppet."
Her father's eyes narrowed slightly, but there was no sign of surprise in his face. "And what exactly do you think you're going to accomplish? You can't just tear everything down and expect it to rebuild itself. There's too much at stake. The future of this company, the future of your legacy…"
"My legacy?" Agnes interrupted, her voice rising. "This has always been about your legacy, not mine. You've never cared about what I wanted or who I was. This company, this empire, it's your dream. But it was never mine. I'm not going to let you use me as a pawn anymore."
Her father's expression hardened, and for a moment, the room felt colder than ever. "You're wrong. I built this empire with the vision of securing a future for you. For our family. This was always about ensuring that you would have power, control—everything you could possibly want."
"I never wanted it this way," Agnes replied, her voice calmer now. "I wanted to be free. And I'm done being trapped in your vision. I don't care what you think anymore. This stops now."
Her father's lips pressed into a thin line. "You think you have control now, don't you? You think you're in charge. But you're not. Not without me. And if you want to destroy everything I've built, if you want to tear down your own family's future, then you'll have to face the consequences. I won't let you ruin everything."
Agnes felt a chill settle in her chest. He wasn't just trying to scare her—he was trying to break her. Trying to remind her of the power he still held over her.
Majek's hand brushed against hers under the table, offering her a silent reassurance. She wasn't alone in this fight. And she wasn't going to back down.
The Deal
Her father let the silence stretch for what felt like an eternity before he finally spoke again, his voice smooth and calculated. "I'll make you a deal, Agnes. You've made your point. I'll allow you to have your freedom. I'll even back off for a while. But there are conditions."
Agnes's heart skipped a beat. She had known this was coming. Her father never did anything without a price.
"What's the catch?" she asked, her voice steady.
Her father's lips curled into a thin smile. "I'll give you control of SMG. You can run it however you want. But you'll marry Lami. The pact between our families must be honored. He'll be your partner, and together, you'll secure the future of this company. You'll be the face of SMG, and I'll step back. You'll have the freedom to run things your way… but you'll do it with Lami by your side."
Agnes froze, her mind spinning. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and she had to fight to keep her emotions in check. Lami. The very man who had tormented her for years, the man who had tried to manipulate her at every turn. The man who thought of her as nothing more than a pawn in his game.
"No," she said firmly, her voice cold. "I will not marry Lami. Not for this company, not for anyone. I've already made my choice. I'm not going back on it."
Her father's smile faltered, and the air between them grew thick with tension. He stood from his chair slowly, his face hardening. "You think you can defy me? You think you can walk away from all this and just… disappear?"
"I'm not disappearing," Agnes said, standing up as well. "I'm taking control. But I'm doing it my way. Without you. Without Lami."
There was a long, dangerous pause before her father spoke again, his voice low and dangerous. "You'll regret this. You'll regret turning your back on everything I've given you. On everything I've built."
Agnes didn't flinch. "Maybe I will. But I'll be free."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, Majek following closely behind her. She could feel her father's gaze burning into her back, but she didn't look back. Not this time.
Aftermath
The weight of the decision they had just made hit her the moment they stepped outside. The cool night air felt heavier now, as if the world was holding its breath. She hadn't just defied her father's wishes—she had severed the last thread that tied her to the empire he had built. She had chosen freedom.
"You did it," Majek said softly, his voice full of admiration. "You stood your ground."
Agnes smiled faintly, but the weight of what they had done was still settling in. "I did. But this is just the beginning, Majek. We've made an enemy of my father. And we've made a dangerous enemy in Lami."
"We'll face it together," Majek said firmly. "We've already come this far."
Agnes looked up at him, a fire burning in her chest. "Together," she echoed. "Always."
But deep down, she knew their real fight was just beginning. The storm her father had threatened had only just begun to brew. And the consequences of defying him were yet to be fully realized.
But one thing was certain—Agnes was no longer a pawn in anyone's game.