Chapter 45: Hidden Shields
The sun set, casting a warm glow over the cityscape as Ariana stepped out of the camelo corporation. The weight of what she just did was still pressing on her chest, though the small feeling of pride refuse to dimmed. She had just reclaimed her step. Reminding the board of her presence and rights had been a small but significant step. Yet the road ahead was unpredictable with unseen claws and fangs waiting in the shadows
Her phone rang in her hand as she descended the steps. The caller name "Lincoln park" flashing across her screen.
"Miss Camelo," Lincoln's calm voice greeted her once she answered. "Mr Ren is waiting for you in the black Mercedes car across the street."
Her heart skipped. Jesse Ren. Despite the marriage bind between them, the man is like a stormy sea she hadn't yet dared to cross. He was always composed, precise and unreadable. Ariana never knew whether he saw her as an asset, a burden or simply a mission he needed to fulfill. Still feeling the reels from the boardroom meeting, she didn't no have any energy left to argue.
She spotted the sleek black Mercedes car parked near the curb, the door already opened. Her heels clicked softly against the pavement as she approached. Sliding inside the car, the door shut behind her like a seal to her fate.
Jesse sat across from her, wearing a dark suit, his gaze quietly observing her. Lincoln was driving, given them privacy without a word.
"You handled yourself well Today," Jesse said after some time, his voice low and thick.
Ariana turned to face him. "You watched?"
He nodded. "Of course. You made your presence known and that what necessary. But it is only the beginning."
She folded her hands on her lap, her fingers twitching slightly.
" I need control of my own life. That also includes the company."
Jesse turned his head slightly, appraising. "And you will have it eventually. But you need to play smarter. The people you are dealing with are not just greedy, they are also dangerous. If you are going to sit at that table you need a different kind of shield.
Ariana's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Jesse reached for the small drawer beneath the armrest and brought out a slim folder. He handed it to her.
"My legal team, they don't operate like the average firm. They are discreet, loyal and specializes in high stakes corporate warfare. They will handle all legal aspects of your stake and protect your interests behind the scenes."
Ariana opened the folder, skimming through the profiles. Names with no public records, lawyers with background in information, finance and international law. This wasn't just a team, it was a fortress.
"Why are you doing this for me?" She asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Jesse met her gaze, expression unreadable. "Because you are my wife. Even if neither of us asked for this marriage, It binds us. Your downfall would reflect on me. And perhaps more than that I see potential in you."
Her heart skipped. The way he said it was so calm, like it a matter of fact yet it pried at the icy wall she build around her self.
She looked away, staring out the tinted window. "I'm still trying to understand what being your wife means. I didn't choose this. I didn't choose you."
"I know," Jesse said, his tone surprisingly gently. "But now that we are here, we must make the most of it. I won't let you be swallowed by people like Anthony and Rachel."
His mention of their names ignited something inside her.
Ariana thought back to the day she has quietly slipped the marriage certificate to Rachel, hoping to stir chaos, only for it to backfire. Jesse had known. She was sure of it now, and yet he hadn't retaliated. That itself spoke volumes.
"You let me make that mistake," she murmured. "You knew I would leaked the certificate."
"Yes," Jesse admitted. "And I let it play out because you needed to see the game for what it is."
She flinched slightly. "You could have stopped it."
"I could have," he agreed. "But I'm not here to control you, Ariana. I'm here to help you."
For the first time, she felt some ripples of emotion between them. Not affection. Not yet. But perhaps something even rarer: respect. And that was something she could work with.
"What exactly can this team do for me?" she asked, more firmly now, flipping through the final pages of the portfolio.
Jesse leaned back. "They can monitor the board's movements, flag any under the table dealings, and fortify your voting rights. They have handled hostile takeovers, hidden asset recovery, and even media suppression. They work fast and leave no fingerprints."
She swallowed. It sounded like something out of a political thriller.
"Are they loyal to you or to me?"
"They answer to you now," he said. "Their payment has already been planned through a private fund set in your name."
Ariana stared at him, unsure how to feel. Gratitude? Apprehension? Jesse was powerful, perhaps too powerful. And yet, this gesture felt like a baton being handed over rather than chains being tightened.
"And what do you get out of this?" she asked again, softer this time.
He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes giving nothing away. Then he said, "I get to see what you become when you are not tied down by betrayal."
Something about those words dug deep into her. She had spent so long reacting to others' actions. Antony's betrayal. Rachel's cruelty. Her father's indifference. Even the marriage to Jesse had been a consequence of past moves. But now... now she had something she hadn't realized she needed.
____
The car pulled up outside a discreet glass building placed between luxury offices downtown.
"This is their HQ," Jesse said. "You don't need to make any decisions today. Just meet them. Listen. Ask your questions. You are not alone in this, Ariana."
She opened the door slowly, stepping out with the folder clutched to her chest. The sky was darker now, the city beginning to glitter with its nighttime soul. She turned back briefly, eyes meeting Jesse's once more.
"Thank you," she said.
He gave a slight nod. "We'll talk again soon."
Ariana walked into the building, heels clicking on polished floors, a receptionist already expecting her.
As she rode the elevator up to the confidential floor, she didn't feel small anymore. She felt... prepared.
Maybe she hadn't chosen this marriage.
Maybe she hadn't chosen this war.
But now, she would choose how to fight it.
And she would win.