Chapter 4 Broken at Dawn

Elira groaned.

Her eyes cracked open only for searing sunlight to stab straight through her skull like knives. She immediately shut them again and buried her head into the pillow. "Why does it feel like I got trampled by a truck?"

Everything ached-her head, her eyes, her throat... her heart. The heaviness in her chest wasn't just from the hangover. It was grief, rage, humiliation... all wrapped in the kind of ache no painkillers could cure.

She finally forced herself up, wincing as her legs touched cold marble flooring. Her gaze swept around the room, slow and disoriented.

Then it hit her. Wait... this is-

She turned her head sharply. The pale lavender curtains. The sleek white vanity. The photo of her and her sister laughing at Lily's first birthday party.

This was her room at Sabrina's house, "How did I even end up here?" She asked no one in particular while rubbing her temples hard, as if squeezing them could force her memory to reboot.

Bits and pieces drifted back.

The club.

The drinks.

The man-no, the dangerously good-looking man-the one she thought was an escort.

"Oh Gosh... I- I called him pretty! A pretty escort! Did I grab his tie?" She paused, "...Did I offer to pay him?"

A groan tumbled out of her throat as she fell back onto the bed, draping her arm over her eyes.

"You have got to be kidding me, Elira..." she muttered aloud.

A quiet beat passed before the real memory-the one she'd shoved down all night-slammed into her with the force of a wrecking ball.

Jason.

Talia.

Together. In bed.

She sat up again, chest heaving.

Tears welled and spilled before she could stop them. She clenched the comforter in her fists and began to rock slightly.

"Why does it hurt this bad? Why do I feel like I lost everything in one night?" She beat her hand lightly against her chest. "Damn it... damn it, damn it!"

Her voice broke.

She buried her face in her palms. "Why didn't I listen to Sabrina? She warned me so many times..."

But it hadn't just been about love.

This wasn't just heartbreak.

It was betrayal.

"Six years. I had devoted six years to Jason-only for him to toss me away for my best friend like I was nothing. But what hurt even worse,"she paused as she wiped the snot off her face with the back of her hand, "They tried to steal my company."

Her jaw clenched as she inhaled deeply.

She slowly stood and walked toward the mirror in the bathroom, staring at her disheveled reflection. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy. Her lips cracked. Her once-pristine curls were now half-flat.

"You trusted them," she told herself, voice shaking. "You gave them everything."

She thought of MonroeTech-her baby. Her brainchild. The company she built from scratch in the corners of her apartment with only her laptop, coffee, and a dream. She worked days and nights, sleepless and alone, building a system the world hadn't seen before.

A startup that grew into a giant-quietly, because she wanted it that way.

She wanted peace. Privacy. Control.

So she placed Jason and Talia in the public eye-figureheads, stand-ins. "And what did they do? They took the fame. They smiled for the cameras. They made speeches using words I wrote." She gritted her teeth, "And now they want to cut me out entirely."

A bitter chuckle escaped her lips.

"They don't even know whose company it really is," she whispered.

Then she looked at herself harder in the mirror.

Maybe it's time they did.

If she came out as the real CEO of MonroeTech, she'd instantly become the country's youngest self-made female billionaire. It would make headlines. Shatter the internet.

But it would also draw heat-media attention, scrutiny, and more betrayal.

She closed her eyes and exhaled.

"I've let them enjoy the spotlight long enough."

She turned from the mirror with fire blooming in her chest.

"It's time to take it all back."

-

Washing her face, grabbed a towel from the rack, wiped her face, and forced her legs to move. The house was quiet-almost too quiet. Elira padded softly down the hallway and descended the curved staircase, her bare feet brushing against polished wood.

Each step still hurt.

Not physically-but emotionally. Her thoughts were spinning again.

"Should I make a public announcement? Call a press conference? Contact the board members first?"

She barely rounded the corner into the kitchen when something small and soft collided into her.

"Whoa!"

Elira looked down-and a wave of warmth swept over her.

"Lily!"

The five-year-old's face lit up, her wide brown eyes sparkling with delight. "Auntie 'Lira!"

Before Elira could respond, Lily had wrapped her little arms around her knees like a koala. Elira bent down and scooped her up without hesitation, burying her face into her niece's soft curly hair and peppering her cheeks with kisses.

Lily squealed with laughter. "That tickles!"

"I'm allowed to tickle you," Elira said playfully, carrying her to the couch. "You ran into me like a tiny human cannonball!"

Lily giggled as she leaned in to whisper, "You look like a sleepy panda."

Elira gasped dramatically. "How dare you! I am a majestic lioness."

"You're a panda," Lily declared, giggling even harder. "But a pretty one!"

Elira laughed. Genuinely. For the first time in hours, her chest felt light. This tiny human had no idea the weight Elira was carrying-and that, somehow, made her feel stronger.

"You hungry?" she asked.

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Can I have warm milk with honey?"

"Coming right up," Elira said, gently setting her down and walking toward the fridge.

But before she could even reach the door, a voice cut through the air like a warning shot.

A throat cleared softly-but deliberately.

Elira turned slowly. Lily turned too.

Standing at the entryway was Sabrina-arms folded, one brow raised, lips pursed. Her no-nonsense expression said everything: we need to talk.

Elira's heart sank a little.

Lily, however, beamed. "Mommy!"

Sabrina's posture softened just for her daughter. "Go find Daddy, sweetheart. He's in his study."

Lily grinned. "Okay!" She turned to Elira and blew a kiss. "Bye, panda-lioness!"

Elira caught it mid-air and grinned. "Bye, cannonball."

The nanny entered a moment later, giving Elira a polite nod and then walking Lily away by the hand.

And just like that, the air shifted.

Elira felt it settle on her like a weight.

She turned back to face the kitchen, opening a cabinet just to give her hands something to do. She could practically hear her sister's thoughts boiling.

Sabrina walked in behind her slowly. Just as she opened her mouth, Elira beat her to the punch. "Before you start lecturing me," she blurted, "yes-I was wrong, and I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday."

Sabrina said nothing.

"I should've listened," Elira continued, not turning around. "I know you were trying to look out for me. And I pushed you away. I-I'm just..."

Her voice cracked.

"I'm just so angry. And ashamed. And broken. And hurt."

She turned then, blinking rapidly, eyes wet again. "You were right, Sab. About everything. Jason. Talia. I was blind."

Sabrina's face softened.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her sister's shoulders. Elira didn't hesitate this time-she leaned into her older sister's embrace, tears falling freely once more.

This time, Sabrina didn't say "I told you so." She just held her.

"It's okay," she whispered. "You don't have to carry it alone."

And that broke something inside Elira again.

"He betrayed me," she sobbed. "Six years, Sabrina. Six fucking years! We built a life-I thought-I thought I mattered to him."

"You do," Sabrina said fiercely. "Just not to him. But you do. You matter to me."

Elira cried harder.

"He and Talia... they weren't just lovers. They were schemers. They knew. They plotted to take everything. Not just my heart. My company."

Sabrina froze. "Your what?"

Elira took a step back and sniffed, wiping her face. "I should have told you about this sooner..."

Sabrina tilted her head. "What now?"

Elira hesitated, then walked to the bar stool and sat.

"I own MonroeTech."

Sabrina blinked.

"Come again?"

"I'm the founder. The real CEO. I own 52% of the shares. I started it from scratch, worked behind the scenes, and let Jason and Talia be the public faces so I could protect my privacy."

Sabrina's lips parted. Her face froze.

"Y-what?" she asked.

Elira nodded. "That's why I always stayed home. I wasn't unemployed, Sabrina. I was running a billion-dollar company from the shadows."

Sabrina sat across from her, absolutely stunned.

"You... own MonroeTech?! The one that just landed the biggest energy contract this year? You say you made Jason and Talia T- the stand ins?"

Elira nodded. "And I let them play house at the top while I pulled the strings. But they wanted more."

Sabrina looked like she'd just been hit by a train.

"They wanted to push you out."

"Yes," Elira said bitterly. "They've been buying small shares behind my back. Convincing board members. I thought I could trust them. But I was wrong."

Sabrina's shock turned to anger. "I'll kill them."

Elira laughed weakly. "You'll need a queue."

Sabrina slammed her hand on the table. "What's the plan now?"

"I'm going to let them keep climbing," Elira whispered darkly. "Let them enjoy the fame, the spotlight... let them believe they've won."

"And then?"

Elira's eyes burned. "Then I'll pull the rug. Reclaim everything. And make them watch as I drag their reputations through the same mud they tried to bury me in."

Sabrina exhaled slowly. "Damn."

"But first," Elira added, "I need to secure more shares. If the rest of the board sides with them, they could technically overthrow me if I lose even a few percent."

"That won't happen," Sabrina growled. "I'll help you. We'll make sure you stay at the top."

Elira smiled-exhausted, but comforted.

Then Sabrina's expression changed.

"That reminds me..." she said slowly. "About that man who brought you home last night."

Elira flinched.

"Who...?" she asked hesitantly.

"You seriously don't remember? He was tall. Intense. Dressed like he owned half of Europe. He looked like danger and smelled like a problem."

Elira felt her cheeks flush.

"I remember... someone. But not his name. Or much else."

Sabrina crossed her arms. "He carried you to bed, Elira. Then drove off in a matte black Pagani."

Elira blinked. "A what?"

"A car that screams, I'm rich and probably a mafia boss."

Elira coughed. "I... might have called him an escort."

Sabrina choked. "You what?"

"I thought he was one," Elira groaned, "He looked so hot! And I was drunk too. Plus he didn't refute my claims!"

Her sister stared at her in stunned silence. Then she sighed deeply.

"Elira Monroe... what the hell did you get yourself into?"