Chapter 253: Chapter 37 Her Own Destruction

Gemma’s POV

Dominic’s Bentley pulled up to the Thorne family’s legitimate front building Monday morning, the engine purring like a predator at rest. Our weekend had been intoxicating, filled with stolen moments and whispered promises, though the shadow of his father Marcus’s venom still poisoned our happiness. I could see the tension in Dominic’s jaw, the way his fingers drummed against the steering wheel when he thought I wasn’t looking.

The mysterious letter I’d received felt like a lead weight in my purse, but I refused to burden Dominic with another threat. His father’s schemes had already caused enough damage to our relationship.

"I’ll pick you up tonight," Dominic murmured against my ear as I gathered my things, his breath sending shivers down my spine despite the lingering dangers surrounding us.

Walking into Thorne Enterprises, I felt energized despite everything. Caleb had given me a mission that morning to gather the staff from our money laundering front operation. Ivy was making her triumphant return to the family, and we needed to control the narrative before loose tongues created problems for our operations.

"What fresh hell are you dragging us into now, bitch?" Monica’s voice dripped with her usual venom as I approached her desk. Our pet names for each other had become a twisted ritual of mutual hatred, though she had no idea how close she was dancing to real danger.

"Boss’s orders, whore. Just smile and pretend you’re useful for once," I shot back with saccharine sweetness, watching her face flush crimson. In the Thorne family’s world, disrespect could be lethal, but Monica was too stupid to understand the game she was playing.

Xavier’s arrival interrupted our verbal sparring match, his easy smile masking the deadly enforcer beneath. "Morning, ladies. Everything alright here?"

"Just peachy," I replied smoothly. "Xavier, Caleb wants everyone in the reception area. He’s got an announcement about family business."

When Don Caleb walked through those glass doors with Ivy beside him, I watched Monica’s face transform into a mask of barely contained fury. Her knuckles went white as she gripped her coffee mug, and I could practically see the wheels turning in her calculating mind. She had no idea that questioning the boss’s woman was a death sentence in our world.

Ivy’s warm greeting to me as an old friend was the final nail in Monica’s coffin. The woman looked ready to combust on the spot, her professional facade cracking like cheap paint under pressure.

After the crowd dispersed, Monica cornered me near the reception desk, her eyes blazing with malice. "So the little bitch is friends with the boss’s queen? How convenient for you."

"Jealousy really doesn’t suit you, whore," I said, turning toward the break room with deliberate nonchalance. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

That’s when I heard it - the soft beep of her phone dialing an extension. I ducked behind the corner, listening as she whispered frantically into the receiver. Roman’s extension, no doubt. My pulse quickened with anticipation as I realized she was about to make a fatal mistake.

"Well, well," I said, emerging from my hiding spot as she hung up. "Making unauthorized calls about family business?"

"Mind your own damn business," she hissed through clenched teeth.

"Tell me, do you always run to your boyfriend with confidential information?" I asked with mock concern. "What would Don Caleb think about his employees sharing intelligence with outside contacts?"

Her face went pale, then flushed red. "Don’t threaten me, you little bitch. You have no idea what I’m capable of."

"Oh, I’m terrified," I said, pulling out my phone with theatrical flair. "But since we’re sharing secrets, let me show you something interesting."

The blood drained from her face as I turned my screen toward her, showing the video I’d captured of her intimate encounter with Roman. I’d been careful to frame it so his face wasn’t visible - couldn’t have her figuring out that I knew exactly who her mystery man was or his connections to rival families.

"Delete that right now!" she shrieked, lunging for my phone like a desperate animal.

I pulled it back smoothly. "Sorry, already backed up to our secure servers. Amazing technology, right? Though I have to say, your technique needs work. The poor guy looked bored out of his mind. Maybe you should consider a career change - you’re not even good at being a whore."

That did it. She launched herself at me like a rabid creature, her manicured nails raking across my arms as we crashed to the floor. I forced myself to stay defensive, letting her land her wild, ineffective slaps while I screamed for help. Every bruise would be worth it to watch her destroy herself in front of the family’s inner circle.

Xavier and Jude came running, but Monica was in full hysteria mode, clawing and slapping like a woman possessed. Other employees gathered in the reception area, their shocked faces creating the perfect audience for her complete downfall.

Caleb’s commanding voice cut through the chaos like a blade, but it took several men to finally pry the deranged woman off me. I stood up slowly, letting everyone see my disheveled appearance, the scratches on my arms, the cut on my lip - all evidence of her complete loss of control.

"She showed me some disgusting video," I said breathlessly, playing the victim perfectly. "I told her she shouldn’t be making unauthorized calls about family matters, and she just snapped."

Caleb’s face was granite as he delivered the killing blow. "Monica, you’re finished here. Security will escort you out permanently."

Watching her stumble toward the elevator, mascara streaking down her cheeks, I felt a surge of pure satisfaction. We’d been planning her removal for weeks, and she’d handed us the perfect excuse on a silver platter.

Soon after, Dominic burst through the reception doors like an avenging angel, his face dark with the promise of violence. "Gemma, Christ, look at you. I’m going to destroy that woman."

"It’s not as bad as it looks," I said, though I could feel the bruises forming along my ribs.

"Not as bad? You’re bleeding, your face is swollen, and there are scratches all over your arms. Where is she? I’m calling in the cleaners right now."

"No, you’re not," I said firmly, catching his wrist before he could reach for his phone. "We need her gone, not martyred. Dead bodies create investigations we don’t need."

Dominic’s jaw worked silently, his protective instincts warring with family pragmatism. "This is insane, Gemma. Look what she did to you."

"And look what it accomplished," I pointed out. "She’s gone, and she made herself look completely unhinged in front of the entire operation. Sometimes the best revenge is letting people destroy themselves."

Caleb emerged from his office, taking in Dominic’s thunderous expression with dark amusement. "Your woman is tougher than she looks, Dominic. Though I have to admit, she has a real talent for provoking the right reactions."

"This shouldn’t have happened," Dominic said tightly. "Gemma shouldn’t have to deal with unstable elements in our organization."

"Hey, at least buy me lunch before you two start planning my funeral," I interrupted, trying to lighten the murderous tension in the room.

Xavier appeared with his usual perfect timing. "Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Let’s take these ladies somewhere safe for lunch."

The rest of the week passed in a blur of moving boxes and nervous energy. Mom and I had finally relocated to our new apartment in Thorne territory, and while the change of scenery was refreshing, that mysterious letter still haunted my thoughts. I’d traced the return address to a generic post office box, which told me absolutely nothing useful but everything dangerous.

But as I looked around our new living room, boxes still stacked in corners and my mother humming happily in the kitchen, I felt a small spark of hope. Maybe we were finally moving toward something better. Maybe the shadows from our past would stay buried where they belonged.

The bruises from my fight with Monica were already fading to yellow, but the satisfaction of watching her self-destruct remained fresh and sweet.