Chapter 74
DIANA
I step through the elevator doors that take me up to bàba’s office one last time.
I close my eyes, my fingers tightening over the Go game board box in my hands.
From Sophia’s screenshot of bàba’s agenda, Uncle Frederik discovered that he and Matthias were meeting this morning at the HMG office.
Luckily, I’m not coming here alone.
Andrea and Kai stand beside me, while the others are outside providing…additional support.
Honestly, scheming with my uncle, three hockey players, a CEO of a tech company, my morally reformed sister, and my former nemesis is a crossover I never would’ve imagined.
But it’s exactly the team we need to take down bàba and Matthias Valdis.
The elevator doors open.
Bàba and Matthias pale in shock the second Kai, Andrea, and I walk into the office, but Bàba recomposes himself just quick enough to glare at Kai. “I thought I got rid of you.”
“Guess you gotta do a better job next time.” Kai shrugs.
Matthias’s lips curl in distaste when he notices Andrea standing with us. “And what are you doing here with them?”
Andrea smiles, nice and sweetly. “Oh, I’m here for you, Mr. Valdis.”
He fidgets and looks slightly disturbed enough to make me smile, too. I step forward with the Go game board box. It catches bàba’s attention.
“You taught me how to play this game as a child, remember? I thought we could play one more round for old times’ sake.”
Matthias rolls his eyes. “We don’t have time for this—”
“One round,” Bàba agrees.
Unlike Matthias, he senses the calculating undertone in my offer. He knows this won’t be an ordinary game. As always, he won’t shy away from beating someone.
Bàba gestures for Matthias to vacate the chair. I smooth my hands over my skirt and sit down. I take out the bowls and the stones from the box and lay the game board down. Bàba watches me like a predator seizing up his prey.
“You first.”
My clammy hands unwind in my lap. I reach for the bowl and place the first white stone onto the board. He snorts before adding a black stone beneath mine.
I make my next move with an arch of my brow.
“You know, bàba, I always wondered how you kept the HMG afloat despite every scandal that comes out.”
He places another black stone down. “Regardless of what you think of me, I’ll always work hard to make sure the public gets access to the most pertinent news about the city.”
“I’m sure manipulating situations in your favor is very hard work.”
His eyes, dark with displeasure, snap up at me. “What are you getting at?”
“I just think it’s interesting how major news stories from the HMG conveniently break out the second our reputations are under scrutiny.” My pretense falls. “Deny it all you want, bàba. Uncle Frederik told us everything and showed us proof.”
Kai slaps the documents down onto the table. They reveal bàba conspiring with hitmen and hackers to orchestrate a series of disasters that would make headlines shocking enough to distract the public from our scandals.
Bàba sits so still, he almost looks calm. Only the slight bob of his throat gives away the panic festering inside of him.
I don’t hide my smile this time. I place another stone on the board and claim a small piece of his territory.
Bàba hisses out a curse before he fumbles for another black stone. “None of that matters,” he dismisses.
“You attacked innocent people and their establishments to cover up your own mistakes,” I accuse.
“They were fledglings. Anyone would’ve come and brought them down eventually. What difference does it make if I’m the one who does it?”
Matthias laughs. “Honestly, Diana, this is a waste of time. You can play your board games all you want, but whatever you do, your father will always have an influence that you will never be able to achieve.”
“Mmm, I doubt that,” Andrea says, “especially since he’s going to lose a major business partner.”
Matthias’ smile falls. He stiffens, gritting the words through his teeth. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Andrea holds up her phone. Photos and videos of Simon doping in his room flash on the screen. Color drains from Matthias’ face. He storms forward and rips the phone out of her hands.
“I know Simon is on steroids,” Andrea declares. “I’ve spent the last few months pretending to support him. In truth, I’ve been using that as an opportunity to document him using it.”
“That’s why he’s been acting out on the ice,” Kai accuses. “You knew the whole time and never did a damn thing.”
Matthias bursts out laughing. His hand trembles as he holds up the phone.
“You think that junk on your phone is enough to take down my son? He’s a Valdis!
He could desecrate the goddamn Cup if he wanted to and still walk onto the ice.
When are you going to understand that it will always be my word over yours? ”
“If you’re trying to blackmail us, it’s useless,” Bàba seethes. “I will keep hunting down Kai, Matthias will have his way with the NHL, and no one will want anything to do with either of you. Your hands are tied.”
I chuckle. “So are yours.”
The doors burst open.
“President Huang!” Bàba’s assistant hurries in, panting hard. “President Huang, y-your conversation—it’s all over our radio!”
“What?” Bàba snaps to his feet, fists banging against his desk. “That’s impossible!”
“I-I don’t know either,” she stammers. “We tried to come in and tell you, but these boys were interfering!”
Behind her, I can see the boys being pushed back by security with mischievous grins on their faces.
“We’re too late now,” the assistant laments. “Our listeners heard everything you’ve just said.”
She plays back the last couple minutes of the HMG radio broadcast on her laptop. In crisp and clear voices, bàba and Matthias come clean about their crimes.
They go white with shock.
I smile, removing Kai’s old earpiece that Stella had hacked and connected to the HMG radio news.
“I’ll always be grateful for what you’ve taught and given me, bàba. But I'm not going to let you use that to manipulate and control me anymore.” I take a white stone and set it down, claiming the last bit of territory bàba built. “I am done being your pawn and I am done playing your games.”
I rise onto my feet. Kai’s hand weaves through mine. Together with Andrea, they stand at my side as I walk away from the HMG for good.