Chapter 3 Taking back control

Dami's POV

As I walked into the house, I was met with faces twisted in shock and anger. Axel's mother froze, her eyes wide as if she had just seen a ghost.

"You... you can talk?" she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

I smiled sweetly, savoring the moment. "Let's talk business, please," the agent interrupted, stepping forward and handing me the papers.

Inside, the familiar surroundings wrapped around me like ghosts from the past. Nothing had changed. The curtains, the paintings, even the faint smell of lavender yet Mrs. Storm and Alexa looked worn out, older, thinner, and hollow-eyed.

A quiet part of me wondered what kind of storms had passed through this house in my absence.

"These are the people interested in buying your son's house to repay his debts," the agent announced.

Their eyes widened; their mouths hung open.

"You're selling Axel's house? Why?" Alexa demanded, panic threading through her voice.

The agent's tone was steady, almost bored. "He borrowed ten million dollars from our bank. This house was the collateral, and he hasn't repaid a dime. We are fully within our rights to sell it to recover the money."

Mrs. Storm staggered backward, clutching her chest until Alexa steadied her. Her daughter's glare could have burned holes through me.

"Are you her boss?" Alexa sneered at Sophia.

Sophia chuckled, her confidence like silk. "Dami is my boss. I'm her personal assistant. She's the one buying this house."

The shock on their faces was delicious.

"No... no, this can't be. You cannot buy this house! It's ours!" Mrs. Storm's voice rose, trembling with rage.

I crossed my arms calmly and turned to the agent. "Let me sign the cheque."

He handed it over. With one swift stroke of my pen, I wrote fifteen million dollars. The agent smiled, satisfied.

"These are the documents, ma'am. You are now the legal owner of this house. Congratulations." With that, he left, closing the door behind him.

"You bitch!" Alexa spat, fury twisting her face.

I laughed softly, almost musically. "You have two hours to leave my house." My tone shifted, sharper and deadlier.

"You don't have the right! This house isn't yours. It belongs to my son!" Mrs. Storm protested.

"This house has been bought, ma'am. It belongs to Dami now," Sophia said smoothly.

"How dare you? How dare you do this to us?" Mrs. Storm cried, her voice breaking.

I tilted my head, my smile cold. "You're a lawyer, aren't you? Then sue me. Let's see how far that gets you."

Alexa whispered frantically into her mother's ear. Their faces crumpled into defeat. I savored it.

"Now you know how it feels," I said, my voice cutting through the silence. "When someone rips away what matters most to you. I'll be back tonight, and I expect you out of my house."

Sophia and I walked out, the weight of victory wrapped around me like a cloak.

"I didn't know you could be this ruthless," she said as we got into the car.

"I'm not ruthless," I replied firmly. "They are evil. And I'll go to any length to make them crawl at my feet."

The agent handed me two more documents, one for Axel's company, which I had already paid for online, and the other confirming the house. My fingers tightened around them.

"Axel's company is next. I need to see the look on his face," I said, a thrill running through me.

Sophia laughed. "This is like watching a movie. I can't wait for the drama."

"Neither can I," I smirked. "The day we divorced, he called me useless. His family mocked me, humiliated me. Now, it's my turn to set the stage."

When we arrived at his company, my heart raced. This building, this empire, had been Axel's pride, a gift from his late father. For him to put both it and the house up as collateral meant something had gone terribly wrong.

"Let's go," Sophia urged.

Inside, the receptionist a young redhead greeted us warmly. "Good morning."

"Good morning," we echoed, handing her the bank's letter. Her eyes widened, her lips parting in disbelief.

"Your boss is upstairs?" I asked. She nodded mutely.

We stepped into the elevator. My reflection in the polished steel doors looked calm, but inside, memories clawed at me. Axel's laugh. Axel's anger. Axel calling me useless.

"You're nervous," Sophia whispered.

I clenched my fists. She was right. Seeing him would reopen wounds, but I forced my breathing steady. "I can do this."

The elevator chimed. We stood before his office. Sophia squeezed my hand before pushing the door open.

Axel looked up. His eyes widened, his face draining of color.

"Dami..." he breathed, my name trembling on his lips as his gaze swept over me.

I flipped my hair back, a smirk curving my lips. "Show some respect. I'm your new boss."

He blinked, stunned. His brown hair was slicked back, his once bright blue eyes dull with weariness. He was still handsome, but to me, he was uglier than ever.

"You can... talk?" he whispered.

I ignored him, glancing instead at the receptionist who had followed us inside.

"Miss Winter," she said respectfully, "this is your office, as the new CEO of the company."

"CEO of my company?" Axel's voice cracked in disbelief.

"Your company was sold to me to repay your debts," I said, my tone sharp as a blade. "I'm in control now, baby boy."

"This is not possible!" His voice rose, desperate and ragged.

I pulled the documents from my bag and walked toward him, my heels clicking like a countdown to his doom. "See for yourself."

He snatched the papers, his hands trembling. His face twisted in horror as he read. "No... no, this can't be happening. You can't do this to me, Dami!" Sweat dotted his forehead, and his chest heaved.

I leaned close, my eyes locking onto his. "You know what this feels like, Axel? It's the same pain you gave me when you stripped away my worth, when you and your family crushed me. And I'm only just beginning."

"If this is about what happened between us years ago, I'm sorry, Dami. Please, don't take my company. It's all I have left," he pleaded, his voice breaking.

I smirked, unshaken. "I haven't even started with you. I'll take everything, piece by piece, until you're left with nothing but shame."

He tried to speak again, but his phone rang. He picked it up with shaky hands.

"She did what? She bought my house?" His eyes darted to me, panic flooding his features. The phone slipped from his grasp.

His knees buckled. He staggered, falling hard against the floor.

For a fleeting second, my heart skipped a beat. In that vulnerable moment, I saw a glimmer of the man I once loved.

But I pushed it aside. Love was weakness, and I couln't afford that now.