The morning sunlight poured into the glass-walled office of Ivan Group, bouncing off polished floors and sleek furniture. Phones rang, assistants clicked keyboards, and printers hummed somewhere in the corner. Kids' laughter echoed faintly from the play area Luke had set up nearby.
Selena leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, fingers tapping on the glass desk. The twins—Lila and Leo—were sprawled on a rug, coloring books and tiny blocks everywhere.
"Mom, can I use the stapler?" Lila asked, holding up a crayon like it might magically transform.
"You want the stapler?" Selena raised an eyebrow. "It's not a toy, Lila."
"It's not!" Leo shouted. "I'm gonna make a castle!" He shoved a block into the tower he was building. It wobbled, then fell.
Selena chuckled. "Careful, or you'll destroy the empire before you inherit it."
Luke, sprawled across the couch, grinned. "They're going to grow up tougher than you, boss lady."
"I'm counting on it," Selena replied, smirking. She turned back to her laptop. Charts, emails, contracts. Her empire demanded attention. Ivan Group and Brun Group were already negotiating partnerships all over the city.
"Mom," Lila tugged at her sleeve, "can Leo be the king and I the queen in the castle?"
"You're both rulers," Selena said, tapping the keyboard, "but the queen makes the rules."
Luke laughed. "I'm still not sure who's running this company. You or your kids."
"You?" Selena asked.
"Nope. Definitely them," he said, pointing at the twins, "they're ruthless."
A buzz came from her tablet. Selena glanced at the breaking news app.
"Alen Group Eyes Cooperation with Ivan and Brun Group—Negotiations Underway."
She blinked. Adrian's empire. Alen Group. And he had no idea she was the one calling the shots.
Luke leaned over her shoulder. "Hmm… looks like your old friend Adrian wants a handshake."
Selena raised an eyebrow, lips twitching. "I'm not a handshake kind of person. I'm a power move kind of person."
Luke chuckled. "Right… power move. I like that. Sounds scary."
"Scary is good," Selena said, eyes scanning the article. "He has no idea I'm behind Ivan Group. He thinks it's just Bruno my dad's team and he doesn't even know he's my dad. He has no idea Brun Group and Ivan Group are practically running the city now."
"Classic," Luke said, grinning. "Meanwhile, he's out there thinking he's in charge. Poor Adrian."
Selena rolled her eyes. "Let him think whatever he wants. That's the fun part."
Later, in the corner of the office, Lila tugged at Luke's sleeve.
"Luke! Can we do the dragon game?"
Luke groaned dramatically. "I just finished my coffee. Do I look like a dragon wrangler?"
"You have to," Lila said firmly. "Mom said you have to."
Selena laughed softly, covering her mouth. "Yes, you have to. I said so. That's all."
Luke threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Fine. But if I get eaten, I'm haunting you both."
Leo squealed. "I'm the wizard! Mom, you're the knight!"
Selena pointed at her laptop. "Knight works from the office. I can't leave my battle plans."
Luke tilted his head. "So… we fight dragons without the boss?"
"Exactly," she said, smiling. "And remember, knights always win."
By afternoon, contracts were signed, emails answered, calls returned. Selena was in her element. Luke sat nearby, flipping through a notebook, making notes on marketing ideas she had brainstormed earlier.
"So, the twins' school?" Luke asked, glancing toward the play area.
"Settled," Selena said. "Private. Excellent curriculum. They're already way smarter than me, and I want to keep it that way."
Luke grinned. "Tough job raising tiny geniuses while running an empire. I bow."
"You're hired to bow," Selena replied without missing a beat.
A secretary poked her head in. "Miss Selena, Mr. Briggs from Alen Group called—he wants a meeting next week."
Selena's lips curved. "Perfect timing. I'll let him keep thinking I'm just the figurehead. Let him walk into the fire himself."
Luke whistled low. "Oooooh, planning the trap already."
"I never miss my traps," Selena said, leaning back, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Eight years of planning is paying off."
The twins ran into her office again, chasing each other around the desk.
"Mom! Mom!" Leo shouted, "Look at my new tower!"
Selena glanced down. "Impressive. But does it survive a dragon attack?"
Luke made a roar and stomped toward the tower. The twins shrieked in laughter, trying to defend it. Papers flew, a pen rolled across the floor.
Selena shook her head, smiling. "Eight years of building an empire… and my kids still teach me patience every day."
Luke leaned against her desk. "They're definitely making you softer, boss lady."
She looked at him, mock stern. "Soft? Never. They just make life… livelier."
"Lively is good. Keeps us on our toes," Luke said, smirking.
Evening came. City lights flickered outside her glass walls. Phones buzzed, assistants wrapped up, the twins were finally asleep in the guest room. Luke leaned back in a chair, rubbing his eyes.
Selena looked out the window. "You know, when I first left… I never imagined it would end up like this. Kids, empire, friends who actually stick around…"
Luke smiled, nudging her shoulder. "Yeah, not bad. Not bad at all."
Her lips curved, thoughtful. "Now… it's time to go back. Back where it all started. Back to Adrian. Back to the city. Back to remind him… who I am."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Whoa. The boss is going back for business… and revenge?"
She turned to him, eyes glinting. "Exactly."
Luke chuckled. "Okay… this is going to be fun. And terrifying."
Selena smirked. "Mostly fun."
Outside, the city buzzed with life. Cars honked, voices carried in the streets, a helicopter whirred somewhere far above. And somewhere, Adrian had no idea that the woman he once humiliated was now the one controlling an empire that could make or break his Alen Group.
Eight years had passed. Selena was ready.
And this time, she would win.