Chapter 119: The Uninvited Guest

Chapter 119: The Uninvited Guest

Diane walked through the halls of the building, she clicked her heels aggressively against the marble floors on purpose.

The unease in her stomach hadn’t settled since Laura’s announcement.

A man. Older. Powerful. Waiting in her father’s office.

That wasn’t random.

And if Leon had allowed him in without warning her? That meant it was important.

Or dangerous...

As she reached Leon’s office, she didn’t knock—just pushed the door open.

Leon was seated behind his desk, he had a calm face, but the tension in his shoulders was visible.

Across from him sat a man Diane didn’t recognise.

Tall. Silver-haired. Expensive suit.

His presence alone carried a lot of weight.Leon looked up, eyes meeting hers. "Diane."

The man turned, and his piercing gaze assessed her immediately.

Diane stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. "I wasn’t aware we had a meeting."

Leon’s expression remained the same. "This is Mr. Calloway."

Calloway. She knew that name.

A powerful political donor. Connected to multiple industries. Connected to Senator Malcolm Raines.

Her stomach was ready to turn to the opposite side.

Diane walked forward, extending her hand. "Diane Hoffman-Frost."

Calloway took her hand, he had some strength in his hold. "I know who you are."

Diane arched a brow. "Then that saves us some time."

Calloway smirked. "You’re just as sharp as they say."

Leon exhaled. "Diane, sit down."

She didn’t move. "Why is he here?"

Calloway leaned back in his chair. "Straight to the point. I like that."

Diane’s patience thinned. "And I don’t like wasting time. So talk."

Calloway exchanged a glance with Leon before turning back to her. "I have a proposition."

Diane crossed her arms. "For me?"

Calloway smirked. "For both of you."

Diane sat, but her suspicion remained the same.

Calloway tapped his fingers against the armrest. "I have a business opportunity that requires... discretion. A high-stakes deal that could benefit all of us."

Diane tilted her head. "And why would we be interested?"

Calloway’s smirk widened. "Because it involves power. The kind of power that ensures long-term control over people like Senator Raines."

Diane’s pulse quickened.

Now she was listening.

Leon remained silent, watching her reaction carefully.

Calloway continued. "I know about your history with Raines. I know about your personal war with Adrian Ravenhood. And I know you’re looking for ways to tip the scales in your favor."

Diane raised her eyebrow again. "And you want to offer me a shortcut?"

Calloway chuckled. "I want to offer you an advantage."

Diane studied him. "What’s the catch?"

Calloway’s smirk didn’t fade. "There’s always a catch, Miss. The question is—are you willing to pay the price?"

Later That Evening – Diane’s Penthouse

Diane poured herself a glass of wine, still processing everything Calloway had said.

She had options now.

Dangerous ones.

And she had to decide if she was willing to take the risk.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing.

She glanced at the screen..

Diane’s lips curled into a smirk. "Of course, it’s you..."

She answered. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Isla’s voice was too sweet. "Diane, we need to talk."

Diane leaned against the counter. "That’s funny. Last time we saw each other, you were perfectly happy watching your father insult me."

Isla sighed dramatically. "Oh, don’t be so sensitive. That’s just how he is."

Diane exhaled. "What do you want, Isla?"

A pause. Then—

"I think we should work together."

Diane blinked. Now that was unexpected.

She laughed. "I’m sorry, did I hear you right?"

Isla’s voice was stable enough for her to pretend she meant it. "I’m serious."

Diane frowned. "Why?"

Isla hesitated. "Because my father is going to cut me out."

Diane’s brows lifted. Now it made sense.

Victor Frost had always favored Gabriel. He had made that very clear at dinner too.

And Isla? She wasn’t used to losing.

Diane swirled her wine. "So let me get this straight—you spent weeks, trying to make my life miserable, and now that you’re losing your father’s favor, you want to form an alliance?"

Isla’s voice was cool. "We both know how this world works, Diane. People like us? We adapt."

"And what exactly are you offering?"

Isla smirked. "A shared enemy."

Diane’s heart skipped a beat. "Go on."

Isla’s voice lowered. "Victor isn’t just cutting me out. He’s making moves. Big ones. And if you’re not careful? He’ll come after Gabriel next."

Diane gripped the edge of the counter. "And you just happened to develop a conscience?"

Isla laughed. "Oh, darling, I don’t have a conscience. But I do have information."

Diane was silent for a moment.

Then—

"Send me the details."

Isla smirked. "Now we’re talking."

Diane hung up, setting her phone down.

Victor Frost was making moves. And now? So was she.

One Hour Later -

Gabriel stepped out of the shower, rubbing a towel through his hair when he noticed his phone vibrating.

He picked it up.

A small smirk tugged at his lips as he answered. "Miss me already?"

Diane’s voice was serious. "We have a problem."

Gabriel’s smirk vanished. "What happened?"

"Your father is planning something."

Gabriel frowned. "And how do you know that?"

Diane hesitated. Then—

"Because Isla just tried to switch sides."

Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightened.

That was never a good sign.

Diane set her phone down, exhaling for a long moment.

She wasn’t sure if Isla was telling the whole truth, but if Victor really was making moves?

She needed to be three steps ahead.

She grabbed the black ledger Leon had given her, flipping it open again.

And this time?

She wasn’t just looking.

She was hunting.

For anything that could tell her what Victor was planning.

And how to avoid him before he even had the chance.

But then—

A name jumped out at her.

A name she never expected to see.

Her breath paused in her throat. Her hands trembled slightly.

Because on one of the oldest pages, written in Leon’s own handwriting, was a connection—

Between Victor... and Rachel Hoffman.

Diane’s blood ran cold.

Her father and Gabriel’s father had worked together.

And suddenly?

Everything made even less sense.

Diane stared at the page, her heartbeat was thudding in her ears.

She had known Richard had connections to Victor.

That part wasn’t shocking.

But Leon? Her own father?

Her fingers traced the ink, as if trying to force the words to change. As if her mind would somehow accept that this was a mistake, an old record that meant nothing.

But it wasn’t...It was real.

Leon Hoffman and Victor Frost had worked together.

And not just casually.

This ledger—her father’s personal notes—showed financial records, dealings, and backdoor negotiations that stretched back years.

Diane let out a long sigh, and closed the book.

She needed answers.

Diane stormed into the study without knocking.

Leon looked up from his desk, his face calm—too calm.

"Diane," he greeted, setting down a glass of whiskey. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Diane placed the ledger on his desk, her eyes narrowing. "Why is Victor Frost’s name in here?"

Leon’s expression didn’t change. "Because we used to be partners."

Diane clenched her jaw. "Since when?"

"A long time ago. Before Gabriel was even born."

Diane crossed her arms. "And you never thought to tell me?"

Leon gave her a tired look. "Would it have changed anything?"

Diane’s stomach twisted. "Why were you working with him?"

Leon leaned back, watching her carefully. "Because Victor and I had the same goal once."

Diane narrowed her eyes. "And what goal was that?"

Leon tapped his fingers against the desk. "To control the city."

"You were trying to rule together?"

Leon chuckled. "Not exactly. We were trying to divide it."

Diane’s mind raced.

"Explain."

Leon stood up, walking to the large window overlooking the estate.

"Back then, Richard was running his gang empire, and the city was a mess. There were too many people fighting for power, too much chaos. Victor and I thought the smartest way to take control was to split it."

Diane frowned. "Split it?"

Leon nodded. "Victor handled politics. I handled business."

Diane’s lips pressed into a thin line. "And Richard?"

Leon’s jaw tightened slightly. "Richard handled the dirty work."

"So you were all in this together."

"At one point, yes."

Diane’s stomach churned. "And what happened?"

Leon was silent for a moment. Then—

"We disagreed."

Diane’s pulse quickened. "About what?"

Leon’s eyes darkened. "Richard wanted more. He wasn’t satisfied with his cut. He started making deals behind our backs."

Diane swallowed. "And Victor?"

Leon smirked. "Victor saw an opportunity. He always does."

Diane frowned. "So Victor betrayed you."

Leon chuckled. "We betrayed each other."

Diane clenched her fists. "And now he’s trying to take everything back."

Leon nodded. "That’s how men like Victor work. They wait. They plan. They strike when you least expect it."

Diane exhaled, trying to process everything. "And now you think he’s coming after Gabriel?"

Leon’s smirk faded. "I know he is. He’s a competitive person, and the fact that Gabriel married my daughter is what makes it triggering for him."

Diane’s blood ran cold.

Leon walked back to his desk, refilling his whiskey. "Victor never lets go of things, Diane. And now that I’m stepping back from power, he sees an opening."

Diane’s jaw clenched. "So what do we do?"

Leon smirked. "We play the game better than he does."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read