Heaven or Hell: Loving My Twisted Billionaire novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Hannah’s POV

I reached for the Sterling Group official badge hanging around my neck and held it up for everyone to see. The laminated card displayed my photo alongside the words “Hannah Lancaster – Personal Secretary to Finn Sterling.” The golden Sterling family crest gleamed in the

corner, an unmistakable symbol of authority.

The atmosphere in the office shifted instantly. Eyes widened, whispers erupted, and several employees who had been casually observing the confrontation suddenly straightened their postures. A few hurried back to their desks, fingers flying across keyboards.

Coco, the woman with the red–framed glasses, crossed her arms and scoffed. “Anyone can make a fake ID these days.”

I smiled politely and walked toward the electronic door leading to the executive suite. I placed my badge against the scanner. The light flashed green, and the door unlocked with a soft click. The collective gasp behind me was immensely satisfying.

“I need those quarterly reports in an hour,” I repeated over my shoulder as I pushed the door open. “All departments, last twelve months.

Financial summaries, audience metrics, and production schedules.”

“That’s impossible!” Coco’s voice rose an octave. “We can’t possibly gather all that information in an hour!”

I turned slowly, keeping my expression neutral. “Mr. Sterling was appointed acting CEO two days ago. The Sterling Group notified all department heads immediately. You’ve had forty–eight hours to prepare basic briefing materials.” I glanced at my watch. “fifty–nine

minutes now.

Coco marched toward me, her heels clicking aggressively against the floor. “We don’t work based on predictions of who might visit which office on which day. We have actual jobs to do, not mind–reading exercises.”

The other employees watched our exchange with a mixture of fear and fascination. Some were already frantically gathering documents and sending emails, while others remained frozen, waiting to see what would happen next.

“I understand the challenge,” I said, my voice deliberately calm. “But Mr. Sterling expects to be fully briefed on the current state of Sterling Entertainment when he arrives in one hour. Anyone unable to meet that expectation should consider whether they’re in the right

position.”

“Is that a threat?” Coco’s eyes narrowed behind her red frames.

“It’s a reality check,” I replied. “Sterling Entertainment hasn’t produced a successful show in three years. The company’s market share has dropped fifteen percent since Ms. Sophia took over.” I was glad I’d memorized those statistics from my research. “Mr. Sterling is here to change that trajectory, and he needs a team that can keep up.”

Coco laughed, the sound sharp and dismissive. “You’ve been here what, five minutes? And you’re lecturing us about the company? Sophia is the rightful CEO. She’s on a well–deserved vacation after working herself to the bone for this company.”

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I maintained eye contact with her. “Ms. Sophia’s status is not my concern. My job is to ensure Mr. Sterling has what he needs to succeed. Now, will you be providing those reports, or should I note your refusal in my briefing?”

“Note whatever you want,” Coco snapped. “This is ridiculous. We can’t possibly-”

“Ms. Renault, I interrupted, glancing at the employee badge clipped to her blazer, “I’m officially relieving you of your duties, effective immediately, citing Sterling Group Employee Handbook, Section 27: Refusal to execute reasonable directives from a direct superior.

The room went completely silent. Even Coco seemed stunned by my decisiveness.

I walked back to the reception desk and pressed the security button beneath it. Within moments, two security guards appeared.

“Please escort Ms. Renault from the building,” I said calmly. “Her building access has been revoked.”

Coco’s face flushed deep red. “You can’t do this! You have no authority! Finn is just the acting CEO! Sophia is the real boss, and when she

gets back, you’ll all be sorry!”

The security guards approached her professionally, one gesturing toward the exit while the other collected her employee badge.

“My personal belongings- she protested.

“Will be boxed and sent to your home address,” I finished for her. “Standard procedure.”

As the guards led her away, her voice echoed through the suddenly silent office. “Sophia will hear about this! You won’t get away with

this!”

When the doors closed behind them, I turned to face the remaining employees. Their expressions had transformed from skepticism to fear tinged with respect. I didn’t enjoy seeing the fear in their eyes, but I understood its necessity. In the Sterling world, respect followed

power.

“Fifty minutes, I announced, then walked through the executive door.

The CEO’s office was exactly as Victoria had described–spacious, with floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan, but surprisingly empty. The mahogany desk was bare except for a computer monitor and keyboard. No papers, no personal items, not even a pen. I opened

the drawers one by one: empty.

The bookshelves lining one wall held business textbooks and industry reference guides, but nothing personal. The walls were decorated with framed awards and bland corporate artwork. The space felt more like a model office than a working one.

I nodded to myself. Sophia had cleared out thoroughly, leaving no trace of her work behind. The cleaning job looked complete, but appearances could be deceiving.

From my tote bag, I began removing the materials I’d prepared: folders of market research, competitive analyses, and creative strategies. I arranged them neatly on the desk, creating the appearance of an organized workspace.

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I arranged the last folder precisely on the desk, my hands moving with a confidence that surprised me. A flash of memory hit me–my

classroom at Sunshine Center, arranging colorful learning materials while Mikey, my student with autism, carefully lined up toy cars by

color.

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How different this felt. My heart raced slightly as I surveyed the executive office I’d just claimed. My palms tingled with a strange mix of power and unease. Was this really me? The woman who’d spent countless hours helping children pronounce difficult words was now firing

executives without hesitation.

A soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. A young man entered, carrying a stack of folders.

“The quarterly reports, Ms. Lancaster,” he said, his voice slightly breathless. “We’ve included everything we could gather in the time

available.”

I accepted the files with a smile. “Thank you. What’s your name?”

“David Chen, Marketing Analytics.”

“Thank you, David. Your promptness is appreciated.”

After he left, I began reviewing the materials, making notes for Finn. The office still felt cold and impersonal, but it was beginning to take shape as a workspace where real decisions could be made. When Finn arrived, he would find everything prepared, organized, and ready for

him to take control.

I reached into my bag and pulled out a small electronic device–a camera detector. I walked slowly around the room, sweeping the device in methodical patterns. Almost immediately, the detector began beeping.

Within five minutes, I had located five hidden cameras: one in the lighting fixture above the desk, one in the air conditioning vent, two in

the bookshelf, and one behind the office chair.

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