Chapter 10
Obsession & Opportunity
Elijah's POV
---
It had been three days since the De La Cruz gala, and yet, I couldn't get her out of my head, I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Mary.
The way she smiled, smellee, that mischievousness in her eyes.
The woman who was supposedly Andrew's, the one he paraded around like a prized possession.
The moment I saw her, I knew she was different from other girls, She had fire in her, a fire couldn't be tamed just easily.
A kind of defiance that didn't belong in a world where women like her were expected to be submissive, obedient.
Yet, she pushed back. She teased, she played, she flirted and when I looked into her eyes that night, I saw something else, something Andrew was too arrogant to notice.
She was not his. Not really.
Not yet.
And that made her all the more intriguing.
I leaned back in my leather chair, swirling the whiskey in my glass, my mind still consumed by the memory of her. The way she smirked, the way she challenged me at the bar without thinking twice, the way Andrew had burned with jealousy the second he saw us talking.
He knew.
He knew that if Mary wasn't already his, I would've taken her for myself.
And the thought of it… the thought of having her, of taking her right from under him, sent an intoxicating thrill through me.
I needed to know more.
"James," I called, my voice calm but firm.
A moment later, the door to my office opened, and my personal assistant, James Holloway, stepped inside. He was a sharp man, efficient and ruthless when necessary. I didn't trust many people, but James had proven his loyalty time and time again.
"I need information, Fast and accurate," I said, setting my glass down.
He gave a short nod. "On?"
I exhaled slowly, letting the name roll off my tongue.
"Mary De La Cruz."
James raised an eyebrow but didn't question me. That was why I liked him, he didn't need an explanation to do his job. He simply did it without complaining.
"I'll get on it immediately."
"Good." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk. "I want everything. Her background, her family, her weaknesses, her strength. I want to know everything."
For the first time, James hesitated. "You're aware that she's…."
"Andrew's wife?" I finished for him.
He nodded.
I smirked, pouring myself another round of drink. "That just makes it more interesting for me."
James didn't argue. He gave a short nod before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
---
Two Days Later
James placed a thick folder on my desk, his expression unreadable.
"She's more than just Andrew's wife," he said.
I arched a brow, flipping the folder open.
Inside were pages upon pages of information, background checks, financial reports, business dealings. But the thing that caught my attention first was the name Blackwood's Industries.
I leaned back, rubbing my jaw.
"The beverage empire," I mused. "Owned by her father, Ezekiel Blackwood."
James nodded. "Or at least, it was his."
My gaze flicked up to him. "What do you mean?"
"Ezekiel Blackwood was drowning in debt and his company was on the verge of collapse before Andrew stepped in. He struck a deal with Richard, he'd save the company, $500 million but in return, Mary had to marry him."
I let out a low whistle, shaking my head. "So she's not just his wife. She's Just his pawn."
James inclined his head. "Exactly."
I skimmed through the financial reports, noting the amount Andrew had invested to keep Lancaster Industries afloat. It was a significant sum, but not something I couldn't match.
An idea began to form in my mind.
"If her marriage to Andrew was purely transactional…" I tapped my fingers against the desk. "Then what's stopping her from breaking free if she gets a better deal?"
James studied me for a moment before smirking. "You're thinking of offering her father more money than Andrew did."
I leaned back, smiling. "Precisely."
If Mary married Andrew to save her father's legacy, then she wasn't with him out of love or loyalty. She was there out of necessity so as to save her father's legacy.
And necessity could change.
As they say when the desired is not available, the available becomes the desired.
And if I could give her father more. I could pull her out of Andrew's grasp.
And then?
She'd be mine.
Mine forever…
---
The First Move
Later that night, I made the first call to Ezekiel Blackwood
Ezekiel Blackwood answered on the second ring. "Who is this?"
"Elijah Brooke."
There was a long pause. Then, a sharp intake of breath. "What the hell do you want?"
I smirked, leaning against my desk. "Relax, Ezekiel, I've come with a bigger opportunity for you."
"I don't deal with criminals."
I chuckled, as I could feel the disgust in his tone. "Oh, but you did when you made a deal with Andrew De La Cruz, didn't you?"
Silence.
Bingo, I got him.
"You needed money," I continued smoothly. "And Andrew gave it to you. But tell me, Ezekiel… do you really think he did it out of kindness?"
He didn't respond, but I didn't need him to.
"He owns you now," I said, my voice dipping lower. "Just like he owns your precious only daughter."
Still nothing.
Good. He was listening.
"I'm offering you a better deal, more lucrative than, his," I finally said. "One that puts you back in control of your company."
Richard let out a bitter laugh. "You think I'd betray Andrew for you?"
"I think you'd do whatever it takes to protect your company," I countered. "And if I remember correctly, Blackwood industries is still struggling. You might have kept the wolves at bay for now, but that investment Andrew gave you? It's not going to last forever."
"Would it?"
Another silence.
Then, finally
"I'm listening."
I smiled, knowing fully well my plans are now in full motion…
Step one: Set the bait.
Step two?
Reel Mary in.
She didn't know it yet… but she was about to become mine.