Chapter 54: Eye for an eye



A blood red moon dipped below the horizon as Rose accompanied by her trusted guards; Reggie, Randal, and Gunther pulled up to Elena's sprawling seaport company.

Rose's once beloved sister clearly enjoyed the fruits of slandering Shelley Tech's reputation in her poisonous tabloid exposes. Lush landscaped plants and tinkling marble fountains mocked Rose's seething fury.

Twin panther statues flanked the gated entrance but Rose barely spared them a glance, intent on her personal mission. Elena's thuggish security detail materialized from the shadowy pillars, brandishing semi-automatics warily. How quickly they recognized the glinting menace in Rose's expression despite her diminutive stature and designer heels.

Rose smiled thinly, relishing their growing unease as she and her guards strode forward. Raw bloodlust crackled in Rose's veins and shimmered from her skin in a crimson haze. These muscled brutes were used to inspiring fear, not confronting an apex predator wearing Valentino and vengeance like lethal couture.

"Hey, stop there!!"

They postured aggressively, barking demands for identification and approved entry permissions. Fools. Rose had neither time nor patience for pointless obstructive displays tonight.

Ruthlessly, Reggie and the two other guards unleashed their hypnotic vampire thrall, staggering their simple minds into sluggish compliance.

Jaws slackened and gazes turned glassy while they filled their heads with lulling static. Parting before Rose's diamond-hard resolve, the armed lackeys cleared an unobstructed path meekly. Stronger men than they had crumbled into whimpering submission under the supernatural might before.

Rose breezed past them contemptuously, and headed straight towards Elena's executive office. Without wasting her precious time, she looked around the place with distaste and unleashed a wave of power, like an aura blast colored red that resounded like thunder and sparked like lightening, it struck the entire building to burning flames.

She passed through the fire in a flash and left the building in one piece.

Reggie and the others were waiting for her outside the building already and she met up with them in the car. They all watched with satisfaction as the whole building collapsed to the ground.

"Randal, Gunther, you can head home now. I intend to pay a surprise visit to someone tonight" instructed Rose with an evil smirk on her face.

While Randal and Gunther alighted from the car and practically disappeared out of sight, Reggie drove Rose to Elena's mansion.

High heels clicking on polished travertine. The massive wrought iron doors swung open at her approach, silent servants anticipating their mistress's whim.

Inside, vaulted ceilings and lavish antiques assaulted Rose's senses - all obnoxiously expensive but lacking warmth or taste. Fitting decor for Elena's avaricious personality.

"Rose darling, what an unexpected treat!"

A familiarly cloying voice rang out as Elena herself appeared on the imperial staircase. Despite the saccharine welcome, Elena sized Rose up like a circling shark through eyes hard and cutting as flint. Of course it didn't go unnoticed by Rose. Shelley's knew better than to trust any honeyed words between them.

Ignoring her less than sincere pleasantries, Rose took in the entourage of shirtless Adonises clustered around the indoor infinity pool with distaste. Vapid young men draped themselves across lounge chairs, all gleaming muscles and empty gazes.

Elena's phone began buzzing insistently but she made no move to answer, locked in her sister's mesmerizing thrall.

Distant crashes and piercing sirens reached Rose's preternaturally attuned ears, as Elena's company wasn't too far from her home. Her little object lesson was proceeding nicely then, she thought.

Comprehension dawned in Elena's wild staring eyes. Triumph surged through Rose basking in her shock morphing to horror. The bully never expected her victim to hit back definitively.

"You see, dear sister," Rose purred silkily, "Shelley Tech is more than glass and concrete. It's a global famille rising above the ashes stronger each time. And I protect my own."

Shoving Elena back roughly, Rose turned on her heel while Elena stood rooted still processing Rose's whispered promise. She could hear from her house what had gone down at her port. No need picking the calls coming into her phone, she knew what Rose had done.

Rose had razed her precious shipping docks to smoldering cinders tonight. An eye for an eye, a family legacy for a family legacy. The message would not be lost on Elena.

And as for her shadowy collaborators orchestrating these vicious campaigns against Rose? Now they too tasted her vengeful wrath and would think twice before threatening her tight circle again.

Blake's unwavering loyalty and Reggie's formidable skills proved this Shelley queen was anything but alone facing enemies on all sides.

Rose could handle treacherous sisters, business rivals, or even anonymous players manipulating from the shadows.

With a final imperious backward glance, Rose strode out once more beneath velvet night skies illuminated with victory. Let Elena rebuild her small-minded kingdom from the rubble. Rose had an empire to defend.

Nobody crossed Rose Shelley without reckoning. And those who dared stood no chance surviving her beautiful red thorns.

*****

Reggie skillfully guided the car through the night, leaving behind the flaming wreckage of Elena's seaport company. The air hummed with the echoes of power as Rose, accompanied by her loyal guards, journeyed toward the next chapter of her intricate vendetta.

Upon arrival at Blake's house, Reggie brought the car to a halt. Rose stepped out, the aura of determination still lingering around her. As she entered the familiar abode, the transition from chaos to relative calm was palpable.

In the soft glow of Blake's living room, Rose sought solace in the embrace of the man who had weathered the storm alongside her. With a gentle yet resolute step, she approached Blake, ready to share the weight of the night's events. Arms outstretched, she went in for a hug.

However, a peculiar stillness enveloped Blake. His gaze, usually warm, held an unusual intensity as he stared at Rose. The anticipated reciprocation of the embrace was conspicuously absent.

Confusion flickered across Rose's face as she withdrew slightly, meeting Blake's enigmatic gaze. In the charged silence, she sensed something amiss, a shift in the equilibrium of their connection.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Rose apologized with regret in her voice.

Yet, Blake's gaze remained fixed, a silent storm brewing in his eyes. The unspoken words hung heavy in the air, creating an uncharted territory between them.