Chapter 17 - A Ghost from the Past
While Seraphina was building the future, the past refused to die quietly.
Arthur Sterling called her into his office on a rainy Tuesday morning. He looked grim, leaning heavily on his silver cane.
"We have a slight problem, Sera," Arthur said, tossing a tabloid newspaper onto the desk.
The headline read: THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET: Was the Iron Heiress Abusive?
Seraphina frowned, picking up the paper. It was a trashy, low-tier publication, but the story was gaining traction online. The article quoted an "anonymous source" claiming that Seraphina had orchestrated Julian's downfall to cover up her own corporate espionage and that she had violently manipulated the Vance family.
"Chloe," Seraphina sighed. "She must have found someone willing to pay for a fabricated sob story."
"It's a nuisance, but nuisances can impact stock prices," Arthur warned. "Our PR team wants to issue a cease and desist."
"No," Seraphina said, her eyes narrowing. "A cease and desist makes it look like we have something to hide. We don't hide, Grandfather. We eradicate."
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She pulled out her phone and dialed her head of intelligence. "Trace the wire transfers to that tabloid. Find out exactly where Chloe Sterling is hiding. And contact the legal department. I want every NDA she signed during her time with Julian enforced. If she breaches them, sue her for every dime she ever makes."
Seraphina hung up. "She wanted a war in the press. I'll give her a massacre."
