Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 132

Chapter 132

The moaning son casa oh glow throgh the curtains as adjusted my cufflinks, my movements flow and defiberate

hy stood behind me, smething out the creases in my shirt with gentle hands.

Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.

You look good,” she murmured, stepping in front of me to fix my tie. Her fingers brushed against my skin as she adjusted the knot, lingering just a

cond longer than necessary. “Strong in control”

i exhaled through my nose. I wish I felt that way.”

She placed her palm flat against my chest, right over my heartbeat. “You are that way. No matter how overwhelming things get, you always find a way”

1 looked down at her, at the quiet confidence in her eyes. “I wish the board saw it that way. They’re circling like vultures, waiting for me to slip so they can tear me apart, Investors are already wary because of our affiliations with the mafia, and now I had to cut ties just to give them a reason to stay.”

She nodded, her fingers still resting on my chest. “And you did it. You made the tough call.”

“I don’t know if it was enough.” I sighed, my jaw tightening. “The mafia doesn’t just let things go. I don’t know how they’ll take it… or how they‘!!

retaliate.”

My took a step closer, wrapping her arms around my waist. “We’ll handle it,” she whispered against my chest. “Whatever happens, we’ll get through it together.”

I closed my eyes for a second, letting her warmth seep into me. “I don’t want you anywhere near this, Ivy.”

“You don’t get to decide that,” she countered, her voice firm but filled with love. “I’m your wife, Asher. Where you go, I go.”

1 let out a shaky breath, my hands resting on her lower back. “I don’t deserve you.”

She smiled up at me, tilting her head slightly. “Maybe not. But you have me anyway.”

A small chuckle escaped me, the tension in my chest easing just a little. “I love you.”

She brushed her lips against mine in response, a slow, lingering kiss meant to reassure me. “And I love you.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding, just as a sudden knock at the door interrupted us. A second later, Janine barged in, her face pale with

urgency.

“I’m sorry for barging in, but you need to turn on the news. Now.”

Something in Janine’s voice made my stomach clench. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. The moment the screen lit up, my blood ran cold.

Asher Sterling, Heir to a Business Empire, Allegedly Linked to Human Trafficking

A grainy picture of me standing next to a known fugitive filled the screen. My lips moved in the image as if in conversation. Beneath it, an audio recording played, a distorted version of my voice discussing “business” with a man infamous for trafficking.

The world tilted.

No.

Janine’s mouth was slightly open, shock evident in her eyes. “Asher… how did this happen?”

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Chapter 132

I sank onto the bed, the words on the screen blurring as they repeated in my head. What have I done?

Ivy knelt in front of me, placing her hands on my knees. “Asher, listen to me. This is fake. We know that. But whoever did this–they’re trying to destroy you.”

I could barely hear her. My mind was racing, trying to process the sheer scale of the attack.

“I knew they’d retaliate, but this…” My voice was hollow. “They went after my reputation. They went after everything.”

Janine crossed her arms, still staring at the screen. “They didn’t just want revenge. They wanted to ruin you.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to push through the haze of panic. “I have to fix this.” I shot to my feet, adjusting my suit. “I need to get to the office.”

Ivy followed me as I moved toward the door. “Asher, wait. You need a plan before you rush into this.”

Before I could answer, my father stepped into the hallway, his face grim. “I saw the news.”

I stopped in my tracks. “Dad, I don’t have time for-”

“Think,” he said, his voice firm. “These people want you rattled. They want you to react emotionally, to make a mistake. If you let them dictate your next move, you’ll fall right into their trap.”

I clenched my fists. “Then what do I do?”

“Call a meeting. Get your people on your side. You’ll need their support to fight this.”

I stared at him for a moment, then gave a sharp nod. “You’re right.”

Pulling out my phone, I dialed my secretary, Evelyn. The line barely rang before she picked up.

“Mr. Sterling, I assume you’ve seen the news.”

“I have,” I said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Call for a meeting immediately. Get the board together and try to keep them calm.”

She hesitated. “Sir, the board is already restless. They were looking for reasons to doubt you before. This… this is exactly what they needed.”

“Then I’ll give them something stronger,” I said, gripping the wheel. “Call the meeting, Evelyn. I’m on my way.”

At the Office

By the time I arrived, a gnawing unease settled in my gut. The last meeting had left me on edge, and now, I was walking into a warzone. But I forced my expression to remain neutral.

Evelyn was waiting outside the conference room door. “They’re inside. They’re angry. And they’re scared.”

“Understandable.” I adjusted my tie, wiped my forehead, and stepped in.

The moment I entered, the board members turned to me with a mix of frustration and concern.

“Sterling, what the hell is going on?” one of them demanded.

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