Ashley was pacing near the exit when Arthur reappeared, her impatience palpable as she whirled around to face him.
Arthur slid his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. "We’re leaving."
Ashley narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What did he want?"
Arthur glanced back toward the balcony where the mayor still loomed like an ominous shadow watching their every move.
"To make me an offer I’d be a fool to accept."
Ashley opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by Arthur shaking his head firmly, no discussion here.
He led them out of the ballroom while the weight of Veyne’s words clung heavily in the air behind them.
The sleek black Hyperion GT20 glided soundlessly through Neo-Luminara’s neon-lit streets, its tinted windows reflecting vibrant colors from billboards and streetlights alike, an electric pulse that matched Arthur’s racing thoughts as he gripped the steering wheel tightly.
Ashley sat beside him in silence for too long before breaking it with frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior: "So?"
Arthur kept his gaze fixed ahead and replied coolly: "So what?"
"Don’t play dumb," Ashley scoffed sharply. "What did Veyne want?"
The car glided effortlessly around the corner, the city’s towering spires casting jagged shadows across Arthur’sface.
He tightened his jaw just enough to hint at tension, but his expression remained a carefully crafted mask.
"A business proposal," he stated flatly.
Ashley rolled her eyes dramatically. "Right. And I’m the Empress of the Eastern Isles. Try again."
Arthur let out a controlled exhale, his grip on the wheel tightening noticeably. "He wants an alliance."
"What kind of alliance?" she asked, curiosity piqued.
Ashley froze mid-sentence, turning to him fully with sharp eyes that could cut glass. "He offered you Jessica?"
A humorless smirk tugged at Arthur’s lips. "With sixty percent of Osborn Holdings as her dowry."
"Damn," Ashley breathed, letting out a low whistle. "That’s not a proposal, that’s a *hostile takeover!*"
"Does he think that stupid woman is made of gold or diamonds?!" Ashley was momentarily speechless.
"That’s what I said." Arthur cast her a fleeting glance and chuckled softly.
She studied him for a long moment before asking, "And you told him to shoveit, I assume?"
Arthur hesitated as they descended into the lower districts where neon lights flickered like dying stars and the city’s hum transformed into the distant murmur of nightlife.
"I told him no," he finally replied.
Leaning back in her seat, Ashley tapped her fingers against the armrest with impatience. "And how’d he take that?"
Arthur’s knuckles turned white before he forced himself to relax. "About as well as you’d expect."
Ashley snorted derisively. "So... poorly."
A muscle in Arthur’s jaw twitched withsuppressed frustration. "He implied there would be consequences if I refused."
Ashley’s fingers stilled; her voice dropped an octave, losing its usual edge. "What kind of consequences?"
Finally meeting her gaze, Arthur’s dark eyes were unreadable yet intense. "The kind that complicates business, puts families like ours in danger."
Her lips pressed into a thin line as realization dawned on her. "He’s threatening us."
"He’s reminding me that my allies in this city are few and far between," Arthur clarified.
Turning to look out the window at blurred lights streaking past them, Ashley asked quietly, "And do you have enough?"
Arthur didn’t respond immediately; they slowed down for a security checkpoint where automated scanners flashed green before granting them passage.
"Not enough to go to war with the mayor," he admitted quietly.
Taking a slow breath, Ashley asked pointedly, "So what’s our play?"
Arthur flexed his fingers against the steering wheel as if preparing for battle itself. "We find leverage."
Ashley arched an eyebrow, skepticism dancing in her gaze. "You really think there’s something out there that can pressure Damien Armitage*?"
Arthur’s lips curled into a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "There’s always something lurking beneath the surface. No one climbs to his level without leaving a trail of bodies behind."
Ashley mulled that over for a moment before nodding decisively. "Alright then, where do we start?"
Arthur glanced at the rearview mirror, ensuring they were alone before returning his focus to the road ahead. "First, we need to keep our heads cool and avoid any reckless moves."
Ashley shot him a playful smirk. "Good luck with that!" But Arthur’s expression turned serious, darkening like storm clouds gathering overhead. "I mean it. If the mayor decides to make a move against us, second uncle will be his first target."
The weight of his words settled heavily on Ashley; she knew he was right.
"Second," Arthur continued, determination etched on his face, "we dig deep. Veyne didn’t claw his way up without some skeletons rattling in his closet, we just need to find the right one."
Ashley tilted her head curiously. "You really think he’s hiding something big enough to take him down?"
Arthur tightened his grip on the steering wheel as if bracing for impact. "I believe he wouldn’t be pushing this hard if he wasn’t desperate."
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Desperate for what?"
His voice dropped to a low murmur, each word deliberate and heavy with meaning. "Power. Control... Me."
Ashley blinked in surprise and leaned forward slowly, processing the implications of his statement. "Wait, are you saying this isn’t just about Osborn Holdings?"
Arthur clenched his jaw tightly as if holding back more than just words. "Damien doesn’t need my money; I think he needs something more, something to give him an edge or assurance ".
A spark of realization ignitedin Ashley’s eyes as she pressed further, her tone sharp with curiosity: "Why?"
Finally meeting her gaze with intensity, Arthur replied firmly, "Because something is brewing on the horizon,and he wants to ensure he’s standing on the winning side."
Silence enveloped them as Ashley connected the dots: The mayor’s sudden interest in Arthur... The aggressive buyout offer... The thinly veiled threats, it all pointed toward something much larger at play.
"You think he’s gearing up for war," she said slowly, almost incredulously.
Arthur nodded grimly; there was no humor left now in their conversation. "I believe he’s already fighting one,and just tried to draft me into his army."
As they descended further into the cityscape,the glittering towers fading into shadow.