The aftermath of Ivy's public downfall rippled through the Rothsford empire like a shockwave. Investors who had wavered were now rallying behind Vivienne, banks reopened their vaults, and the board was calling emergency meetings to realign their loyalty.
But Vivienne knew better than to trust the sudden tide of favor. Ivy's shadow still lurked in the corridors of power, invisible and venomous.
---
The Rothsford Tower conference room was filled with hushed voices as Vivienne took her place at the head of the table. Around her sat executives, lawyers, and trusted allies — a carefully curated group. Every eye was on her, waiting for direction.
Rhys stood quietly by her side.
"I'm grateful for your support," Vivienne began, her voice steady and commanding. "But this is only the beginning. Ivy has vanished, but her network remains. We must root out every thread she's woven."
A senior executive cleared his throat. "Madam CEO, we've begun forensic audits. Several subsidiaries show signs of falsified documents and shell corporations."
Vivienne nodded. "Good. We'll bring everything into the light."
She paused, scanning the room. "But we need more than audits. Ivy wasn't acting alone. I want every contact traced — from her private lawyers to offshore brokers."
Murmurs filled the room.
"This is war," Vivienne said bluntly. "And I intend to win."
---
After the meeting, Vivienne retreated to her private office. The city's skyline glittered beyond the glass, but it felt cold and distant.
Rhys joined her, handing over a tablet.
"We've identified an associate — one Felix Marlowe. Known for laundering funds through Eastern European banks. Ivy's link to several accounts traces back to him."
Vivienne swiped through the documents. "Find me everything on Marlowe. Background, financials, enemies."
Rhys hesitated. "There's more. The intelligence suggests Felix is connected to the Redglass firm—the same one that scrubbed Ivy's prenatal DNA records."
Vivienne's breath caught.
"So it's not just family betrayal," she whispered. "It's corporate espionage... organized crime."
Rhys nodded grimly. "It runs deep."
---
Days turned into weeks as Vivienne threw herself into unraveling Ivy's web. She met with informants in shadowy cafes, intercepted coded messages, and used every connection in the underworld.
One evening, as she left a discreet meeting in a downtown warehouse district, she felt eyes on her.
A black sedan tailed her through narrow alleys.
Heart pounding, Vivienne weaved through traffic, leading the car on a chase.
Finally, she pulled into an abandoned parking garage.
The sedan followed.
Out stepped two men in dark suits, faces obscured.
"We need to talk," one said, voice low.
Vivienne recognized the accent — Eastern European, sharp and clipped.
"Felix Marlowe sent you?" she asked.
The men exchanged a glance.
"We're here to negotiate," the other said.
Vivienne's mind raced.
---
In a dimly lit room, the men laid out their terms.
Felix wanted a truce.
He proposed a partnership — combining their resources to consolidate control over the empire.
"You don't have to do this alone," the man said. "We can protect you from Ivy's ghosts."
Vivienne shook her head.
"I'm not interested in sharing," she replied coldly. "And I certainly don't trust you."
The men left, but Vivienne knew this was only the beginning.
---
Back in her office, Vivienne poured over new data.
There was a pattern — subtle yet sinister.
Every time she moved forward, Ivy's network retaliated.
Her top lieutenants were threatened.
Investors received anonymous warnings.
The media was bombarded with fake scandals.
---
Vivienne clenched her fists.
"You want to play dirty?" she muttered.
"I'll play dirtier."
She began assembling her own covert team — experts in cyber warfare, private investigation, and financial crime.
Her goal: expose the entire criminal enterprise behind Ivy's rise.
---
One night, Mira burst into Vivienne's office, eyes wide.
"We found something."
On the screen was a video — grainy but unmistakable.
A clandestine meeting between Ivy and a shadowy figure.
"Who is that?" Vivienne asked.
"Felix Marlowe himself," Mira replied.
In the footage, they exchanged a briefcase.
Vivienne's pulse quickened.
"This is the proof we need."
---
The next morning, Vivienne held a press conference.
The room was packed.
Cameras flashed.
She stepped up to the microphone.
"Today," she began, "we expose the truth."
She played the video.
Gasps echoed.
"This is the face of betrayal," she said firmly. "And it ends now."
---
The fallout was immediate.
Felix Marlowe was arrested.
Ivy's remaining allies scattered.
Vivienne's empire solidified.
But as she stood triumphant, a new unease settled in her chest.
She had won this battle.
But the war was far from over.