I Bought Out My Ex's Empire

Behind the rosewood desk, Luna Clark's gaze was as cold as ice as it swept over the hand resting on my lap. "Pamela Lynn, here's 5 million." She slid a cheque toward me, her bright red nail polish flashing sharply. "Take the money and divorce Caleb Lewis right now." I didn't touch the cheque and looked up at her. "And the reason?" Luna sneered, leaning back into her leather chair with arrogant ease. "The reason? You're not good enough for the Lewis Family. Caleb's the one who's going to inherit the family business; he can't have someone with such humble roots like you by his side." I picked up the cheque, my fingertips grazing the cold paper. I want the money, and I'll sign the divorce papers. I stood up. "Tell Ms. Clark to pass this on to Caleb: wish him all the best from me." "Wait." Luna Clark called after me, "Don't think you can pull any stunts—take the money and vanish. Don't show your face to Caleb again." "Don't worry," I smiled over my shoulder, "I'm not interested in used men." Stepping out of the Lewis Group's building, the sunlight hit me like a punch. I pulled out my phone and dialed. "Daniel, want to grab a drink?" A low chuckle came through the phone: "Just barely escaped the jaws of the Lewis Family, and you still have the nerve to ask me out? Pamela, you really haven't lost your nerve." "Right back at you." I walked to the roadside and hailed a cab, "Starlight Cafe, see you in twenty." After hanging up, I stared at the contact name "Brother" on my phone, my fingertip hovered for two seconds before letting go. I've put up with the Lewis Family's cold shoulder for three years. When it's time to lay all the cards on the table, I have to choose the loudest stage. I pushed open the Cafe door; Daniel was already sitting by the window. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, his side profile sharper and more defined than Caleb's. "Black coffee, no sugar?" He flipped the menu in his hand and caught sight of the cheque folder in my pocket. "No one knows me better than you do." I sat down and slid the cheque under the table. "5 million — the Lewis Family's 'divorce settlement.'" Daniel called the waiter over and tapped the table with his fingertips. "Luna Clark's generous, but not the sharpest tool in the shed." "What makes you say that?" I took the coffee; the steam fogged up my glasses. "She thinks money can buy her out of everything." He chuckled softly. "If she had any idea you came straight to me, she'd probably pass out." "That's perfect." I stirred my coffee and said, "I heard you're trying to snag the Lewis Group's project?" Daniel looked up, a flicker of surprise in his eyes: "You want to get involved?" "This isn't meddling. It's cooperation." I leaned forward. "I know the Lewis Group's bottom bid price—you just need an insider." Just as he was about to speak, my phone suddenly screamed to life. The name "Luna Clark" on the screen felt like venom. "Go ahead and answer," Daniel leaned back in his chair, "Her informant has probably already tipped her off." I pressed answer, and Luna's furious voice instantly blasted through the phone: "Pamela Lynn! Are you talking with Daniel Lewis?" "Ms. Clark dropping by for a surprise inspection?" I said casually, 'Why not focus on the Lewis Group's project progress instead?' "Stop changing the subject!" Her voice was sharp as nails scraping glass, "Cut him off immediately! I'll add another ten million!" I glanced at Daniel Lewis across from me trying not to laugh, then deliberately dragged out my tone: "Fifteen million?" "I'll call you tomorrow!" Luna Clark snarled, "But you have to promise me—for good—that you won't lay a finger on Daniel Lewis ever again!" "Deal." I hung up and threw my phone onto the table. "Pamela Lynn, you're turning the Lewis Family into your own cash machine." Daniel Lewis lifted his coffee, his eyes filled with admiration. "They basically handed it to us on a silver platter." I stood up and grabbed my bag. "Old Mr. Lewis's birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. I'll be there." Daniel's coffee froze mid-air. "Luna Clark won't let you in." "I have a ticket." I waved him off. "We'll talk business after the banquet." As I left the Cafe, I immediately called my brother. "Mark, come with me to the Lewis Family banquet the day after tomorrow." "You finally came around?" Mark Lynn's voice was smooth as silk. "Want me to set things up in advance?" "No thanks." I stared at the Lynn Group's towering skyscraper in the distance and thought, "I'm going to make sure everyone knows who the real big shots are."