Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 – Blacklisted

When Seraphine left Ravyn’s office weeks ago, she had walked out with her spine straight and her head held high, but deep inside, she knew exactly what she had stepped into. War.

Not the kind fought with claws and blood, but the colder, more merciless kind factoring numbers, contracts, influence, and power wielded behind polished glass walls.

Ravyn had drawn the first line, and Voren Ashkael had made sure the battlefield was tilted against her before she could even take her second step.

Still, Seraphine was not built to cower. She had survived humiliation, and betrayal so a corporate storm, no matter how vicious, would not be the thing that broke her.

Her first move had been deliberate and calculated. To redirect the check Ravyn sighed into another company. The moment profit began to rise, the ripple would be felt. Walker Global Enterprises’ stock would react, and investors would notice. Panic would follow, and Ravyn would feel it.

That had been the plan. ”So what next?” Corvine asked as they sat in the car, the city skyline stretching endlessly ahead of them.

Seraphine didn’t look at him immediately. Her gaze was fixed on the passing buildings, her mind already three steps ahead. ”Which company is ranked closest to Walker Global Enterprises on the Forbes list?”

Corvine hesitated. He had been out of the city for years, just like her, and the corporate landscape had shifted without him. He pulled out his phone and made a call to his parents, his expression slowly tightening as the conversation dragged on longer than expected.

When he finally hung up, the brightness in his eyes had dulled.

”Lyrix Global,” he said slowly. ”But there’s a problem. From the first to the tenth spot, all of them have ties to Ashkael Holdings.” He exhaled. ”They won’t take your money.”

Seraphine turned to him sharply. ”That doesn’t make sense.”

Business was business. Profit didn’t care about grudges, vendettas, or personal feuds. Money spoke a universal language, and eighty billion was not something sane people refused.

”Take me to their CEO’s office,” she said decisively.

Corvine studied her for a moment, then nodded. He had seen that look before, the one that meant she would rather walk into a wall than retreat.

Getting in without an appointment was almost impossible, but fate, or irony, had a sense of humor that day.

The receptionist looked up as they approached, her professional smile freezing for half a second before recognition flickered in her eyes. ”Lu—” She stopped herself quickly, lowering her voice. ”Sorry. Seraphine. How may I help you? And... what are you doing here?”

”I want to see your boss,” Seraphine replied calmly, her tone confident, unshaken.

The receptionist’s lips curved into a sad, apologetic smile. ”You can’t see Mr. Banks without an appointment.”

”Then make one for me.”

The woman hesitated, then sighed and turned to her computer. Her fingers moved quickly over the keyboard, the faint clicking filling the space between them. When she was done, she looked back up. ”It will take two weeks before your turn comes.”

Two weeks? Seraphine’s jaw tightened. Voren Ashkael would have tightened his grip even further by then. Ravyn would have adapted, and momentum would be lost.

”No,” she said flatly. ”Make it urgent. Tell him I want to invest.”

That got the receptionist’s attention. Her brows lifted slightly as she typed again, slower this time, more cautious. After a few moments, she paused. ”He’s with his lawyer right now. Wait a while and let’s see what he says.”

They didn’t have to wait long. The office door opened, and two men stepped out. One of them was familiar. ”Sera,” Augustine said with an easy smile as he approached her. ”This is my second time bumping into you today. Must be fate.”

Seraphine returned the smile briefly, but her attention was already elsewhere, on the man standing beside him.

Marshall Banks.

He was human, powerful, and calculating but Seraphine stepped forward. ”I’m here to see Mr. Banks. Do you have a moment?”

Marshall’s gaze lingered on her longer than professional courtesy allowed, interest flickered in his eyes, but the moment her name fully registered, his expression shifted.

”I’m sorry,” he said smoothly. ”I’m very busy.”

”This is business,” Seraphine replied without missing a beat. ”And it’s important. I want to invest eighty billion.”

That stopped him. Marshall paused mid-step, long lashes lowering and lifting as he studied her anew. For a brief moment, she thought she had him but when he spoke, it was rather cold. ”Sorry,” he said coolly. ”You’ve been blacklisted. Perhaps you should speak with Mr. Ashkael first.”

The words landed like a slap. Seraphine’s fingers curled into fists at her sides. So Voren had moved exactly as promised, fast, ruthless, and thorough. Her name had become poison in the corporate world overnight.

She could have gone elsewhere, another country, perhaps, or another business market but she wanted Ravyn down.

And she wanted Voren Ashkael to choke on his own confidence. ”Marshall,” she called as he turned back toward his office.

He stopped, clearly surprised by her persistence, and faced her again. ”I’m giving you a chance to partner with me today,” she said steadily. ”Tomorrow might be too late.”

Marshall’s lips curved into something almost amused. ”Honestly,” he said, his tone casual, ”I would have asked you out on a date. But no one offends Mr. Ashkael. His worth is nearing trillions, and he owns shares in my company.” He tilted his head slightly, eyes glinting. ”Still, maybe if you become my girlfriend, I could work something out for you.”

The air shifted instantly, Corvine stiffened, and Augustine’s smile vanished but Corvine was the first to speak. ”If you can date her,” he snapped, ”then why can’t you partner with her?”

Marshall frowned, finally acknowledging him properly. ”And who are you?”

Corvine straightened, shoulders squared, his presence suddenly commanding. Years away from the city had not dulled his authority, but rather refined it.

”You’re looking at the heir of the Stone Empire,” he said confidently, silence fell. Marshall’s eyes widened slightly, and Augustine stared openly.

”The Stone family’s mysterious heir?” Augustine asked.

Corvine nodded once, but Seraphine wasn’t surprised. She had met his parents, knew exactly who he was.

Marshall recovered quickly, though his curiosity sharpened. ”Then why don’t you help her?” he asked calmly. ”Let her invest in your company, and see if it survives.”

The challenge hung heavy in the air. Corvine pursed his lips, considering it. Then he turned to Seraphine. ”I’ll speak to my parents. Don’t let people like him humiliate you.”

Seraphine shook her head slowly. Marshall’s words echoed in her mind. If Voren Ashkael truly had his claws in everything, then the Stone family would suffer for standing beside her.

”No,” she said firmly. ”There has to be another way.”

Augustine, who had been quietly observing, smiled faintly. ”I think,” he said calmly, ”I know someone who might be willing to help remedy this situation.”

All eyes turned to him. ”Who?”