Chapter 9 – The Rise and the Rattling
Dominic's POV
By sunrise, Dominic was back in motion.
He never stopped.
His life ran on ruthless efficiency and immovable standards. Between the various divisions of his empire—real estate, private banking, global tech, and high-end luxury ventures—Dominic Vierra had his fingers in everything that could make or break a nation's economy.
This week, it was a game-changing merger between two logistics firms in Dubai—brokered entirely under his terms.
By noon, headlines across financial platforms were ablaze.
> "Vierra Empire Expands Again: Dominic Vierra Closes Multi-Billion Dollar Deal in 72 Hours"
— Global Finance TV
> "The Golden Hand of Vierra – Everything He Touches Turns to Power"
— Wealth Magazine
> "Dominic Vierra: More Than a CEO—He's the Standard"
— BusinessWorld Daily
His face was everywhere—on screens, in magazines, and in mouths of every corporate analyst across three continents. Even his old rivals grudgingly admitted it: he was untouchable.
He flipped the channel absently from his office at one of his luxury hotels, watching as reporters droned on about his calculated genius, dominance, and "notoriously private lifestyle."
They had no idea.
Behind all the tailored suits and public applause was a man whose empire was too wide to control on his own. He trusted very few—and right now, one name kept circling in his head.
Kirah Evans.
---
Back at Vierra Holdings HQ
At the main tower of Vierra Holdings—an architectural wonder that kissed the clouds above the financial district—the atmosphere crackled with quiet panic.
Not because of Dominic's success.
But because of Kirah's presence.
She had only been officially introduced days ago, yet she walked the halls like she'd been born from the foundation. She didn't smile unnecessarily. She didn't tolerate incompetence. And she never missed details.
Which was exactly why a few executives were currently sweating in their glass-walled offices.
"She pulled the client data records this morning," murmured Jackson, one of the older partners with a sharp tie and a sharper addiction to numbers manipulation.
"She's going to notice the margin shifts if she's already that deep in the system," replied Morgan, his partner in crime—or fraud, rather.
The two had been padding expenses and rerouting micro-charges through internal vendor accounts for almost a year. Not massive sums, but over time? It added up to millions.
And now?
Now the woman who carried herself like a wolf in lipstick had arrived and sniffed too close to their door.
"She doesn't even blink when she finds something," Morgan muttered. "It's like she knows."
"She's not the problem," Jackson muttered darkly, "It's Dominic. He trusts her."
---
Kirah's POV
Kirah stood in the analytics division, arms folded as three junior staff tried to explain why the Q2 reports had inconsistencies.
They stuttered.
She stared.
"You're either stupid or lying," she said coolly. "And I don't think Vierra Holdings has room for either."
The youngest, a fresh graduate who clearly wasn't part of the scheme, blurted, "It was forwarded from Morgan's department, ma'am. We weren't allowed to adjust any of the figures."
Kirah's eyes didn't waver. "Send me everything. Raw logs. No filters."
She turned and walked off without another word, her heels echoing with quiet authority across the polished marble.
The corridors whispered about her now.
Some admired her.
Most feared her.
But no one dared cross her.
In her office, Kirah dropped her purse beside her desk and immediately pulled up a hidden tab she'd been building—a private audit trail of every flagged discrepancy since the day she stepped in.
She wasn't paranoid.
She was prepared.
Her phone buzzed.
It was her mother.
Kirah stared at the screen for a second before swiping it away. She'd call her tonight. Right now, the hunt was on.
---
Meanwhile, in another wing of the building, Dominic arrived unannounced.
Heads turned. Spines straightened. Conversations stopped mid-sentence.
He didn't need to say a word. His presence alone was a command.
"Sir," murmured his secretary, trailing after him with updates. "Your press team has requested a short interview later. Also, there's a scheduled investor briefing tomorrow and—"
"Postpone it. For now," he said briskly. "Where's Kirah?"
"Her office, sir. She's been… focused all morning."
"Good."
He didn't say more. He didn't need to.
---
Kirah didn't look up when he walked into her office.
She was leaning over two screens, scanning spreadsheets like a war strategist scanning maps. She clicked. Scrolled. Then finally turned, her expression flat.
"Should I be surprised you're here?"
Dominic smirked slightly, watching her.
"Should I be concerned you've scared half the executive board into silence?"
Kirah raised an eyebrow. "Then maybe you need a new board."
He chuckled, walking in fully and closing the door behind him. The tension in the air immediately shifted—charged, unspoken.
"I saw the headlines," she added. "Congratulations. I'd offer a toast but some of us are busy cleaning up embezzlement."
"I heard," he said, leaning against the desk. "Already causing fear and obedience. I'm impressed."
"You should be worried," she shot back. "I'm not just good at numbers, Dominic. I'm good at uncovering what people think they've buried."
He tilted his head, watching her closely.
"And what have you uncovered about me?"
There was a pause.
She stared at him, unflinching. "That you're dangerous."
He grinned. "That's not a secret."
"No," she replied coolly. "But I think you're more dangerous when you're quiet. And lately… you've been very quiet around me."
Dominic's smile faded slightly.
He stepped forward, closing a bit of the distance.
"Careful, Miss Evans," he said softly. "If you look too deep, you might start seeing what I don't show anyone."
"I already do," she said. Then turned back to her screen, dismissing him with the most subtle but powerful move possible.
He laughed under his breath and left the room.
She didn't even look back.
And yet, she was all he thought about for the rest of the day.