The Wrathful Temptation of the Scorned Billionaire

“All set, Mr. Nikolaus,” James, his secretary, began, his voice smooth, a hint of satisfaction hanging in the air. “The order has been settled. You now control the majority of shares in Miss Marwa’s company. Every last detail is in place.”

Ravik Nikolaus stood behind his desk, the soft hum of the city below reverberating through the walls of his sleek office. His fingers, long and steady, rested on the surface of the desk as he stared out at the skyline, his expression unreadable.

The moment had come. The pieces were in place. Everything he had worked for, the meticulous planning, the subtle manipulation, all led to this.

Ravik’s lips parted into a slow smirk as he looked up at James, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a deliciously dark promise.

He took the file from James with a deliberate motion, opening it without haste. The pages inside confirmed exactly what he had hoped to see. The ownership transfer was complete. Every last detail is meticulously executed.

“Good,” Ravik muttered, his voice low and filled with venomous satisfaction. He leaned back in his chair, letting the file rest on the desk. “How’s she handling it? Still pretending everything’s fine?”

James stood still, his posture perfect, his hands clasped behind his back. “She’s trying to maintain control, as expected. Publicly, she’s acting like nothing’s changed. But internally? It’s already starting to crumble. The board’s starting to turn. There’s talk of a vote of no confidence.”

Ravik’s smirk deepened. “A vote of no confidence? That’s rich. She thought she could run that company forever, without anyone daring to challenge her. She’ll never see it coming.”

James nodded, the smallest of smiles tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ve also heard that she’s been meeting with some of the other shareholders. She’s trying to buy them off, offering them deals she can’t possibly keep.”

Ravik chuckled darkly. “Of course she is. Always so desperate. Let her try. She doesn’t realize yet that she’s already lost.” His fingers drummed lightly against the desk. “Has she contacted any of our people? Tried to make a deal?”

“Not yet,” James replied, his voice unwavering. “She’s still in denial. But I’d expect that to change soon. She’s nothing if not predictable.”

“You’re sure there’s no chance she’ll find out what we’ve done?” Ravik asked, his tone almost casual, but there was an edge to it, a sharpness that demanded an answer.

James shook his head firmly. “No chance. The transfers were done under the radar. No one will be able to trace it back to us, and any investigation into the shares will only lead her further into her own self-destructive choices. If she doesn’t act quickly, it’ll be too late.”

“Perfect,” Ravik murmured, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the skyline. “I want to watch this unfold. Slowly. Let her burn. Let her feel the weight of her own failure. She won’t be able to do a thing to stop it. By the time she realizes she’s lost, everything will be over.”

James stepped forward, his hands still behind his back. “You know she’ll fight back. She’s not one to go down quietly. She’ll try to expose us, go public with the accusations.”

Ravik’s smirk remained, his eyes dark with amusement. “Let her. She can scream to the heavens, but it won’t matter. I have the media in my pocket, and I have connections in all the right places. Any attempt she makes will be spun in our favor. She’ll only look more desperate.”

James hesitated, then spoke again, his tone cautious. “And the public? Will they buy it? What if she has some allies in the media or other places who might help her?”

Ravik’s expression hardened slightly, but only for a moment. He turned to face James fully, his eyes cold and calculating. “No one can save her now. People like Marwa, they think they can control everything, manipulate the narrative, but they fail to understand that power isn’t about control, it’s about timing. And the timing is perfect. The public will see her as she really is… just another failed CEO who overestimated her position. They’ll turn on her faster than she can blink.”

James nodded, clearly satisfied with the explanation. “Understood, sir. I’ll continue to monitor her movements. If anything changes, I’ll let you know immediately.”

Ravik’s eyes flicked back to the file on his desk, and he allowed a moment of quiet satisfaction to wash over him. His plan was in motion, and nothing could stop it now.

“What’s her next move, you think?” Ravik asked, his voice now thoughtful. “She has to know things are slipping away from her. What will she do when the pressure hits?”

James seemed to consider this for a moment before answering. “She’ll try to take the offensive. Perhaps she’ll reach out to some of the other investors, offer them deals she can’t back up. Or maybe she’ll even make a public announcement, act like nothing’s wrong. But deep down, she’ll know. She’ll know she’s outmatched.”

Ravik laughed softly, the sound rich with dark humor. “Oh, I’m counting on that. Let her spin her wheels. The longer she fights, the worse it will get for her. The moment she shows weakness, it’s over.”

“And then?” James asked.

Ravik’s smirk returned, sharper than ever. “And then, we move in. We take control. And when she’s finally out of the picture, I’ll own what’s left of her company… and her legacy.” He let the words hang in the air, heavy with promise.

James gave a slight bow of his head. “I’ll prepare everything accordingly.”

“Do that,” Ravik said, his voice suddenly colder, more commanding. “I want her to feel every second of it. Every loss. Every misstep. And when she falls, I’ll be there, watching it all. The end of Marwa’s empire. He paused, contemplating his next question.

“What about her husband, Stephen? Where’s he been hiding?”

“He’s been… mostly absent. He’s not involved in any of the corporate dealings lately, and as far as we know, he hasn’t made any significant moves to interfere with the takeover.”

Ravik’s brow twitched ever so slightly, his lips tightening for a moment before relaxing into his usual, controlled expression. He was careful not to show too much of a reaction, but his mind was already at work, processing the information. “Absent, huh?” Ravik repeated, his tone casual, though there was an unmistakable edge to his words. “That’s strange. He was always the type to stick by her side in the public eye.”

James nodded, flicking a glance at Ravik’s unreadable face before continuing, “Yes, that’s true. But from what I can gather, he’s been spending most of his time at their private estate. He’s not attending any meetings or speaking to the board about the ongoing crisis.”

Ravik’s fingers drummed on the desk in a steady rhythm, though his mind was far from calm. He had always thought of Stephen as a quiet figure in the background, someone who rarely stepped into the spotlight. And yet, here he was… nowhere to be found at the very moment Marwa needed him most.

It wasn’t that Ravik cared for the man’s role in Marwa’s life… he didn’t.

“So, he’s just… gone? No public statements, no sudden interest in saving his wife’s sinking empire?” Ravik’s question was casual, but his tone was sharp enough to cut through the air between them.

James hesitated for a moment, then responded, “He hasn’t made a move, no. It’s almost like he’s deliberately distancing himself. He hasn’t even been reaching out to Marwa, which isn’t typical for him.”

Ravik’s smirk flickered, though it was more a shadow than a genuine smile. His eyes narrowed as he considered the situation, his thoughts swirling with the implications. He shouldn’t care. It was a business deal, after all, nothing personal. Yet the silence from Stephen left an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Interesting,” Ravik murmured. “You’re sure he’s not planning something on the side? Marwa’s not the type to go down without a fight. I’d expect her to try anything to turn things around.”

James nodded, seemingly unaware of the undercurrent of tension in the room. “I’m keeping an eye on all angles, sir. But I’ve found nothing linking Stephen to any attempts at interference. As it stands, he’s been completely uninvolved.”

“What about their personal life?” Ravik asked, his tone slipping back into its usual cold, detached rhythm. “Has there been any sign of trouble there? Some kind of falling out between them? Could he be tired of playing the dutiful husband?”

James glanced at Ravik with a sharpness that betrayed his own curiosity. “I’ve heard rumors, though nothing verified. Some say they’ve been growing apart over the years. It’s hard to tell, but… Marwa’s focus on her business has always come at the expense of their relationship. Maybe it’s starting to show now. There are whispers that Stephen might be…” James hesitated for a second, clearly weighing his words. “… stepping back entirely from the company, as if he’s no longer interested in it or in saving her.”

Ravik’s lips curled into a thin smile, though there was no warmth in it. “Let him step back. Let her see what it’s like to stand alone for once. I’m sure she’ll find out soon enough that even the people closest to her can’t save her.”

James nodded, but his voice carried a slight hesitation as he responded. “If Stephen truly is distancing himself, sir, then that’s one less complication to deal with. But we should still keep an eye on him, just in case he decides to make a play.”

Ravik waved a hand dismissively, though his mind was far from at ease. “I’ll deal with him if he becomes a problem. For now, let’s focus on what’s coming next. Marwa is only the first step. Once she’s out of the picture, I’ll have everything I need.”

James bowed his head respectfully. “Of course, sir. I’ll ensure we stay on course.”

As James left the room, Ravik stood by the window, his gaze distant once more. He could feel the weight of the questions he hadn’t answered yet, the uncertainties that lingered just beyond his reach. But he didn’t let them show. Not to James, not to anyone.

Marwa…

The woman whose face had haunted him for years. He had once admired her…

But that admiration had long since turned to something darker, something twisted. Every memory of her smile, every glance she had ever cast his way, felt like a betrayal now.

“Mom! I finished building the tower!”

Rafael, Marwa’s eight-year-old son, was sitting on the floor, his toys scattered around him as he played. The innocence of the moment felt like a breath of fresh air in the midst of everything crumbling around her.

Marwa’s heart clenched as she watched him, his excitement so pure, so unaffected by the world’s chaos. She bent down beside him, her hands resting on her knees as she gazed at the colorful tower.

The world outside had felt suffocating, the failure of her company pressing in from all sides. She didn’t know how to keep fighting, how to keep pretending like everything would be okay when it was falling apart.

“That’s amazing, Rafael,” she said softly, her voice breaking for a moment. She didn’t want him to see the worry in her eyes, the exhaustion that was weighing on her.

Rafael beamed, his small hands grabbing hers. “You wanna play with me? We can make a bigger tower together!”

She nodded, her lips curving into a tired smile. “Sure, sweetie. Let’s build the biggest tower ever.”

As she helped him pick up the pieces, his laughter filled the room, light and carefree. The sound was a balm to her aching soul, a moment of peace amidst the storm of her life. In this moment, nothing else mattered. No collapsing company, no board meetings, no betrayals. Just Rafael and the joy of building something together.

“Mom, I know you’re worried,” Rafael said suddenly, his voice small but earnest. “But everything’s gonna be okay, right? You’ll make it better, I know you will.”

Marwa froze for a second, her heart skipping a beat at his innocent words. She could feel the tears threatening to spill, but she fought them back. How could she explain to him that things weren’t okay? That she wasn’t sure if she could fix anything?

Instead, she smiled and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Rafael. I’m gonna do my best.”

She watched his bright blue eyes, the same piercing shade that had once haunted her thoughts, the same eyes that had belonged to someone she never wanted to think about again.

Ravik…

The name slipped into her mind before she could stop it. His eyes… dark, calculating, and fierce mirrored those of her son, strikingly similar in their intensity. It was as if every piece of Rafael, every little movement, was a reflection of Ravik. She could see it now, the sharpness, the quiet strength that echoed in both of them.

Her breath caught in her throat. No…

She quickly shook her head, forcing the thought away. It wasn’t worth it anymore. Now, as the pieces of her life shattered around her, the last thing she needed was to bring him back into her thoughts.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the blocks in front of Rafael, trying to regain her focus. She couldn’t afford to dwell on Ravik. Not now. Not when everything was already slipping through her fingers.

“You’re doing a great job, Rafael,” she said, her voice steady but her mind still racing. “This is going to be the best tower ever.”

Rafael smiled up at her, his eyes bright with innocence, and Marwa couldn’t help but smile back. He was her everything.

——

The soft chime of her phone ringing pulled Marwa from her restless sleep. She had barely managed to get any rest the night before, her mind replaying the events of the day, the weight of her failing company, and the quiet moments with Rafael that felt like the only solace in the storm.

She blinked at the screen, noticing the name of her secretary flashing. With a sigh, she answered.

“Good morning, Ms. Lander,” her secretary, Lisa, greeted with her usual efficiency. “I’m calling to inform you that someone has requested a meeting with you at Marthel’s Tower today. They’ve asked to meet at 10:00 AM.”

Marwa paused, the fog in her mind beginning to clear as she processed the unexpected message. A meeting?

“Who is it?” she asked, confusion lacing her voice.

Lisa hesitated for a moment. “They didn’t leave their name, but they insisted it was urgent. I can send the details to your email, but I thought I should give you a heads-up first.”

Marwa’s mind raced. Who would want to meet with her right now? She hadn’t arranged anything with any of her business contacts recently.

“Did they say what it’s about?” she pressed, sitting up in bed now, the weight of the morning sinking in.

“No, Ms. Lander. They were very vague, but they seemed insistent on meeting in person. Should I confirm the meeting for you?”

Marwa chewed her lip, uncertainty gnawing at her. The last thing she needed was another distraction. Yet, it felt strange to ignore this request… especially when it came with a sense of urgency she couldn’t place.

“Fine, confirm it for me,” Marwa said, after a long pause. “I’ll be there. But tell them to send me the details as soon as possible. I don’t like surprises.”

“Understood. I’ll send everything over right away,” Lisa replied.

“Who would want to meet with me?” she muttered under her breath, her thoughts a mix of dread and curiosity. The unanswered question lingered in her mind as she started getting ready, her thoughts divided between the unknown meeting and the crumbling empire she was desperately trying to hold together.

Marwa arrived at Marthel’s Tower feeling a gnawing sense of unease. The sleek, modern building loomed before her, its glass exterior reflecting the late morning sun. The lobby was quiet as she entered, the hum of soft conversations and clinking coffee cups barely reaching her ears.

As the elevator doors closed behind her, Marwa pressed the button for the top floor, tapping her fingers against the metal railing. The ride seemed to take longer than usual, the weight of her thoughts pushing against her chest with each passing second.

When the doors finally opened, the quiet buzz of the building was replaced by silence. The hallway was empty, but a tall, stern-looking security guard stood at the entrance of a private elevator. His eyes met hers as she approached, and he nodded, indicating she should follow.

“Ms. Lander,” he greeted her without warmth. “You’ve been expected. The meeting is on the last floor, the penthouse. Please follow me.”

Marwa raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She followed the guard as he led her down the sleek, modern corridor, the polished floors gleaming beneath the soft light. They stopped at a door at the end of the hall, which opened with a soft swish as the guard motioned for her to enter.

The space inside was unlike anything Marwa had expected. The penthouse was expansive, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a sweeping view of the city.

There, standing by the windows, was a figure she hadn’t expected.

The man turned slowly, his blue eyes locking onto hers. A slow, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corners of his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Her heart dropped to her stomach.

His dark, calculating eyes locked onto hers with the same intensity she remembered, the same unwavering focus that had once made her blood run cold. The faintest of smiles tugged at the corner of his lips, but it was empty, devoid of any warmth.

Her pulse quickened as her mind reeled. This was impossible. She hadn’t seen him in eight years. Eight long years, and yet here he was, standing right in front of her as though no time had passed at all.

She stood frozen, her breath catching as her eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign that this wasn’t real. But everything… the view, the space, even the air… felt too real, too sharp.

“R-Ravik… What is this?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was laced with disbelief. “Why are you here?” The words tumbled out, sharp and frantic. She had to get control, but how could she when everything she knew about the world had just shifted?

Ravik didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he moved toward her with the same eerie calm she remembered, his steps deliberate and measured, each one sending a shiver through her. He was closer now, standing right in front of her, his presence suffocating.

“I thought you’d be more pleased to see me,” he said, his tone almost teasing, as if they were two old friends catching up after a brief separation. But the gleam in his eyes told a different story… one of dominance, control, and power.

Marwa couldn’t tear her gaze away. She felt like a deer caught in the headlights of a speeding car. The years between them didn’t seem to matter. She hadn’t seen him for so long, and yet everything about him felt the same… the air around him, the way he looked at her, the way her heart pounded in her chest like it was eight years ago.

“You… You shouldn’t be here.” The words slipped out, a mix of confusion and a deep-seated fear that she hadn’t felt in years.

Ravik stepped closer, his piercing blue eyes never leaving hers, an unsettling smile still playing at the edge of his lips. “Why? Because you thought I was gone? Because you convinced yourself that you could escape me? That you could escape what we had?”

The air between them crackled with unresolved history, things she’d buried deep inside, things she hadn’t wanted to remember.

“W-What do you want?” Her voice was a mix of frustration and confusion, barely masking the flicker of fear that she tried to suppress.

Ravik’s smirk spread across his lips, the kind of smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He leaned in slightly, his gaze never wavering from her face.

“I can help you,” he said simply, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. “I can fix everything.”

Her breath caught in her throat, a sliver of hope sparking within her. She couldn’t help it. The thought of her company salvaged, of everything she had worked for coming back together, was too enticing. But something about Ravik’s tone didn’t sit right with her.

“You can help me? W-Why would you want to do that?”

Ravik took another step closer, his dark gaze never leaving hers. “Because, Marwa,” he said, his voice low and commanding, “I always get what I want. And this… this is what I want.”

Her pulse quickened again, but now it was more from caution than fear. “What is it that you want?” she asked, her voice hardening, trying to mask the growing unease inside her.

Ravik didn’t immediately answer. Instead, he stepped back, his smirk deepening. The room seemed to shrink as he spoke, each word deliberate and calculated.

“I want you to understand the price of this help. I’ll fix your company, bring back the investors, remove the threats… all of it. But there’s one condition.”

She frowned, her mind racing. A condition? She had no choice but to listen, but a feeling of dread began to rise in the pit of her stomach.

“What condition?” she asked, though she had a sinking feeling she knew the answer.

Ravik’s smirk never faltered. “You will be my sex slave,” he said, his tone cold and clinical, as if it was the simplest request in the world. “Only then will I help you save your company.”

The words hung in the air like a sharp, cruel slap.

Her eyes widened, disbelief washing over her. Her heart raced, but not with hope anymore. It was a feeling of repulsion, of disgust, that overtook her in an instant.

“Excuse me?” Her voice was barely a whisper, her throat tightening with the effort to keep calm.

Ravik stepped forward again, his presence looming over her, his confidence unshaken. “You heard me. I’ll fix everything for you. But I want complete control over you in return. No strings attached, no more games… just you and me, bound by this… arrangement.”

Marwa recoiled, her hands instinctively pushing against the desk behind her for support. “You’re insane,” she spat, her voice trembling with anger. “There is no way I’d ever agree to that. You think I’d sacrifice my dignity and everything I’ve worked for just for your help?”

Ravik’s gaze hardened, the faintest flicker of something darker passing through his eyes. “Then you’ll lose it all, Marwa. The company. The investors. Everything. It’s simple. You need me more than you’re willing to admit.”

She stood there, frozen for a moment, the weight of his offer crushing her. She could feel the pull of temptation, a way out, a lifeline for her company but at the same time, the repulsion of the price he was asking.

“I would rather lose it all than give you that power over me,” she said fiercely, her voice shaking with rage, her chest tight.

His smirk never faded as he looked at her, his eyes dark with unspoken history. His voice, though calm, held a bitterness that seemed to saturate every word he spoke.

“It’s not like we haven’t done it before. You played me very well, Marwa,” he said, his gaze piercing through her like a blade. “I didn’t even notice at the time. You were so good at pretending that you wanted me. That you loved me. You were a master at it.”

The words struck her like a slap. She had never expected him to say something like this, not now, not when they were so far apart from the people they had once been. But the past, with all its venomous weight, was coming to the surface.

Ravik’s voice lowered as he continued, almost as if savoring the painful truth he was unraveling. “Oh right, why would a rich, spoiled young lady like you even want a dirty, poor man like me, right? You had everything, Marwa. You could’ve had anyone. But instead, you came to me, desperate and hungry for something you couldn’t get from your precious little world.”

Marwa’s breath hitched in her throat, but she refused to show the cracks forming in her composure.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said sharply, but her voice was thin, the facade of control slipping just a little.

“Oh, but I do,” Ravik shot back, his voice tight with a mixture of anger and something else, something raw and bitter. “You used me, Marwa. Used me for whatever you thought I could give you, then you tossed me aside like I was nothing.”

“I never used you. I—” She stopped herself, the words hanging in the air as she struggled to form a response. “I was young. I made mistakes. But I never meant to hurt you.”

Ravik’s lips twisted into a cynical smile. “You didn’t have to. You just had to be pretty, be charming, and pretend to want me. It worked. I was a fool for thinking you actually cared. For thinking you’d stick around when I had nothing.”

His words hit harder than anything she had ever heard from him. The truth of what he felt, betrayed, used, discarded was laid bare in front of her.

The haunting reminder of a time she had tried to forget.

He stepped back, his cold smirk still in place as he looked at her. “But don’t worry, Marwa. I’m willing to help you. You know where I’m coming from, and you know what it costs. You’ve always known.”

“I won’t do it,” she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. “I won’t sacrifice myself just for your help, Ravik.”

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with something dark. “We’ll see how long you last when you’ve lost everything. And then, maybe you’ll realize that it’s not just about what you want anymore. It’s about what you’re willing to give.”

Marwa clenched her fists, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. And now, she was faced with the consequences of her past actions, and the choices she would have to make in the present.

But no matter how much he tried to make her bend to his will, she would not break.