The Emerald Heiress (Aurelia) novel Chapter 2

The night air hit my face as I stepped outside the Blackwell estate.

My phone buzzed. Twelve missed calls from the same number.

I called back.

“Mrs. Grayson.” The voice on the other end was clipped, professional. “We’ve been trying to reach you. The board is waiting for your final confirmation.”

“It’s Ms. Ashford now,” I corrected. “And yes. Proceed with the acquisition.”

“Understood. The Blackwell Industries takeover will be finalized at market open. Shall I notify the press?”

“Not yet. Let them enjoy their last peaceful night.”

I ended the call and stood in the driveway, staring at the fleet of luxury cars parked outside — Porsches, Range Rovers, a Bentley.

My car was parked at the far end. A simple black sedan. Nothing flashy.

What the Blackwells didn’t know was that the “nobody orphan” they had mocked for five years was the sole heir to Ashford Capital — the largest private equity firm on the East Coast.

My father had built it from nothing. When my parents died in a plane crash during my senior year of high school, I had inherited everything. The lawyers, the board, the billions — all held in trust until I turned twenty-one.

Then I typed back: *”The house is in my name. Check the deed. You have 48 hours to vacate.”*

I hit send, silenced my phone, and drove away.

Tomorrow, Derek Blackwell would wake up and discover that his wife — his boring, invisible, powerless wife — had just bought his family’s entire company.

And she wasn’t feeling merciful.