The next few days passed with an eerie quiet.
Triton Holdings stayed low, too low. Not a single ripple, not even a whisper in the usual underground channels. Lucius had tried everything. Pressed his contacts, pulled old favors, threatened loose tongues.
Nothing.
Not even a cough of movement from inside the company. Like someone scrubbed it clean.
And Lucius hated that.
Krishna, on the other hand, was just bored.
Lying across the white divan in the sunroom, she scrolled through the daily security logs, barely blinking. Aaron had been pacing like a restless shadow all morning, and the twins were out breaking someone's spine in her name. Even Lucius was unusually silent, buried in failed leads.
So, Krishna sighed and tossed her phone aside.
"Fine," she muttered to herself, "Let's poke the wolf."
She picked up her personal line, one number saved.
Bella.
It rang only once.
"Wow," Krishna said, when the line picked up. "Didn't even let it vibrate once. Were you waiting?"
Bella's voice was smooth, mildly amused. "I knew you'd call."
"Of course you did," Krishna smiled faintly. "So… let's stop dancing. Meet me."
A pause.
"Why?" Bella asked.
"To talk."
"About?"
"What you want," Krishna said, her tone lilting. "I already know I'm interesting to you. I just want to understand what you're planning to do with that fascination."
Bella didn't answer right away.
So Krishna leaned back. "You didn't flinch when I threatened you. You didn't even blink when I blackmailed you. That makes you… rare. And rare things tend to either rot or rise."
"Are you offering me something?" Bella asked, her tone unreadable now.
"I'm offering you options," Krishna said. "Because clearly, pressure doesn't work on you. And I don't waste bullets on the wrong prey."
Another pause.
Then Bella said, low and deliberate: "When and where?"
Krishna smiled wider now.
"There's a tea house. You'll know the one. Private booth, no ears. Come as yourself."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll come find you," Krishna said simply.
The line went dead.
But Krishna was already up, already moving.
She clearly know what Bella truly wants, and she knew the scent of power when it smiled through the phone.
And if Bella thought she could stay above her?
Krishna would either leash her.
Or tear her down with her own fangs.
Definitely, this time.
~~~~
The tea house was quiet, too quiet.
Private booths wrapped in dark paneling. Soundproofed. No servers lingered. Even the glassware was matte, spotless, like it knew silence was the point.
Krishna was already seated when Bella arrived.
The girl walked in unbothered. Hair tied back. No guards. No fake smiles. She slid into the seat opposite like it was a throne, not a trap.
Krishna didn't wait.
She folded her hands on the table and said, calm and clear, "What do you want?"
Bella tilted her head, brows raised. "Tea would be nice."
Krishna didn't blink. "Not the heir title. You're not keeping it."
Bella's eyes gleamed. "Oh? You're just going to hand it to Aaron?"
"I'm returning what's his," Krishna said. "You stole it. I'm correcting it."
Bella leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "If you want me to step down, Krishna, you'll have to make me."
A smile curved Krishna's lips, icy, not amused.
She pulled out a small drive and slid it across the table.
Bella didn't touch it.
"That's everything," Krishna said, voice soft. "Every file I've gathered. Every whisper you thought no one caught. Want a summary?"
Bella's silence was answer enough.
"You weaponized your scent," Krishna began. "Knowingly. Against your own board. Against everyone you used it on. Especially, against Michael."
Bella's jaw tensed.
"That alone," Krishna continued, "could get you wiped off Triton Holdings and blacklisted from every power circle from here to the Capitol. You made half your council fuck you for their votes. The other half you threatened. And as for Michael…"
Krishna's eyes were sharp. "He won't speak unless I tell him to. Loyal little pet, that one. He'll keep his mouth shut tightly, unless I give him a go signal. Michael's voice alone, can ruin you."
Bella's lips thinned. But she said nothing.
Krishna's voice dropped.
"You want to keep playing heiress? Fine. But if I announce Citadel Prime's full severance of ties with Triton, and leak this to the press…" Krishna leaned in, eyes cold, "You'll fall. So hard they won't even remember your name. And Triton Holdings will fall with you."
Bella finally spoke. Low. Controlled.
"So this is a threat."
"No," Krishna said. "This is mercy. One last chance."
She sat back. "Step down and work with me, or be stubborn, and burn with the ruins."
For a beat, they stared at each other. Not blinking. Not breathing.
Then Krishna added, "You're clever. Cunning. But you've made enemies who don't play games. I'm the only one giving you a choice."
Bella's voice, when it came, was quieter than usual.
"What exactly do you want me to be, Krishna?"
Krishna's answer was immediate.
"Useful."