JANE'S POV

I stepped out of the black car slowly, my heels pressed into the red carpet like it was made for me. Cameras clicked, flashes exploded like fireworks. The security detail surrounded me, but I waved them off with a small gesture. Today, I didn't need shadows or secrets. Today, I walked by myself.


Jane Grande.

The name rolled inside me like thunder.

I climbed the short steps of the glass-panel stage outside the International Women's Empowerment Summit, my lips were painted red like war paint.


Thousands of people were gathered in the open-air auditorium, their eyes following every one of my moves. Some squinted in confusion, others whispered. The whispers grew louder as I made my way toward the podium.

My long black dress fluttered in the wind, catching the sunlight and drew more attention. My name, the real one buzzed in the air like an unanswered question.


Is that her?

Is that Jane Grande?

I glanced sideways, Raheem was seated right beside the mayor of the city. He was dressed in a simple grey suit, neat, humble. But the way he met my eyes tells me we were ready. Ready for the world to see what we have built, what we have planned.

I adjusted the microphone.

'Good afternoon," I began, my voice was calm, strong, and trained for moments like this. 'My name is Jane Grande, CEO, survival and strategist and I am here to remind the world that no woman should ever be underestimated."

A silence followed and the silence was so thick, it was so powerful, I could feel it in my bones.

Then, the applause began and I was hesitant at first, then wild. Cameras flashed, journalists scrambled, phones were raised and my face, the one I had kept hidden behind aliases and disguised, was now out in the open and it was glorious.

I continued.

'Today, I am proud to announce that Grande Global Holdings has successfully acquired a controlling interest in Van Cott Industries."

Another wave of confusion swept through the crowd. Murmurs rose again.

Van Cott Industries? Isn't that the company RK Ventures tried to swallow?

Exactly.

I smiled faintly.

'This acquisition marks a new chapter in business innovation and female-led enterprise. We are restructuring Vancott from the ground up, starting with their corrupt board."

I dropped the words like thunderbolts. Their CEO, a misogynistic man who once told me to my face that women belong in the kitchen, was now jobless and was fired with immediate effect. The documents were signed yesterday.

I stepped down from the podium and walked straight toward the press, letting them take all the photos they wanted.

Let them publish. Let the world know.

The Grande name is back and strong.

____

HADES

I watched her on screen, my hands clenched the edge of my mahogany desk. The massive television on the wall showed a live stream from the summit. Jane, or whoever I thought she was, stood tall in a sea of journalists and political figures.

She said her name with pride.

"Jane Grande."

And everything inside me shattered, Raheem was beside her, she was smiling like he had been playing this game the whole time. That bastard, All this time, he was feeding her information and pretending to be on my side.

My throat dried as she announced the takeover of Van Cott Industries. My Vancott. The very company RK Ventures spent the last six months trying to wrap its claws around.

'No!" I whispered

She knew, she knew about the plans, the acquisitions, the hidden buyouts. She played along, fed me just enough to make me think I was winning and now she stood on that stage like a goddess claiming her throne.

I hurled the glass tumbler across the room andIt shattered against the marble wall, and splattered whiskey like blood.

She set me up.

Every step I took, she already walked it. She let me believe I had power. Let me think I could own her. But she was not a woman you own.

She was a wildfire.

I paced in my office like a lion in a cage. My mind raced, and flashed back to every moment we shared, every conversation, every smirk. Her words echoed now with double meaning.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of."

She warned me, butI didn't listen.

___

JANE POV

After the event, I sat in the back of my car with Raheem and watched the online response explode. Hashtags trend, news channels shifted their programming to cover the surprise announcement and photos of me go viral within minutes.

I opened the tablet Raheem handed me. It showed the real-time stock movement.

Van Cott Industries was rising like a phoenix. Grande Global Holdings was stable and our media team has already issued the statement. Every journalist had a press packet and every shareholder was notified.

It was perfect. I rested my head back against the seat and took a deep breath.

Raheem looked at me, his face was unreadable. "You pulled it off."

I nodded. "Now the real game begins."

He gave me a small smile. But I could see something in his eyes. Worry, fear, maybe.

"Hades won't stay quiet after this," he said.

I looked out the window as the city blurred past.

"Let him come," I whispered

____

HADES

I sat alone in my penthouse, the city glowed beneath me like a silent threat. Jane's face still lingered on the screen. I replayed the video over and over, watched her speak, and watched her rise.

She outplayed me. And not just in business, in life, in power and in strategy.

She was not just dangerous, she was untouchable and I wanted her more than ever.

Not because I love her, but because I needed to beat her.

I reached for my phone and dialed a number I swore never to use again.

It was time to wake up the sleeping dogs.

This war has just begun.

___

JANE

The next morning, I walked into my office wearing a white suit, crisp and elegant white suit. My entire staff rose when I entered. Some were still stunned and some looked proud and I nodded at them.

My secretary rushed to my side. "Ma'am, the phones haven't stopped ringing. Investors, media, even the Prime Minister's office called."

"Let them wait," I responded.

I walked straight into the boardroom. My leadership team was already seated. Raheem stood at the end of the table and I placed my hands on the table and looked each one of them in the eye.

"We have entered the next era of Grande Global Holdings. Every competitor out there is either confused or scared. That's how I like them. Now we start cleaning the house. Vancott has rot at the core. We dig it out. We replaced it. And we rise."

They nodded.

This was just the beginning.