Chapter 11 — Blood Runs Cold, Fire Burns Hot
The sun dipped beyond the horizon as King Albanian's car rolled back into the city. He sat in stoic silence at the back of the steering of Mahindra XUV700, the quiet hum of the diesel engine and the distant cityscape doing little to soothe the fire raging inside his mind.
He hadn't even unclasped his wristwatch when Wayne's voice crackled over the line.
"Sir… You might want to get back to the office quickly. There's a… situation."
King's tone was icy. "What kind of situation?"
"It's Sophia Hudson, She's here. Trying to force her way into your office."
His brow twitched.
Wayne added, "Security stopped her, but she's creating a scene. And… Morgan reminded me she might have ties to the woman who was with you that night."
That stopped King cold.
"…I'll be there in ten minutes."
---
Albanian Corporation — Executive Tower
By the time King entered the building, the chaos had mostly calmed. Employees pretended to mind their business as tension hung in the air like smoke.
Sophia sat in the executive conference room now, legs crossed, red lips curled in a smirk that didn't reach her eyes. When the double doors opened and King stepped in, the temperature dropped ten degrees.
"Lady" he said coolly. "You seem to misunderstand the difference between business hours and begging hours."
She rose slowly, brushing down her dress with dramatic grace. "I came to see you about the Hudson contract. I was supposed to meet Mr. Han. But he has been ignoring us and we don't have the full knowledge of what is going on."
King's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
Sophia's voice lowered into something sultry. "I came to offer you… a solution. I'm willing to make things right. Personally."
King stepped closer, towering above her. "If you think seduction will earn you a deal, then you're dumber than I thought."
She flinched. "But —King— What do you want?" I will do anything to get this deal.
Wrong move.
"Okay, I am looking for someone. I heard the person is closer to you."
"Who? Do you have a name or a picture?"
King rubbed his throbbing temples.
"I don't even know what she look like but she has a calming bag with her always. Can you get that person."
Sophia walked to King side seductively
King's hand slammed against the table, echoing through the room. "Don't get me started, go sit down or out of this room. I only allow you in becuse you have a close contact with the person i am looking for"
Sophia paled, her confidence crumbling in the face of that flash of fury. For a moment, she thought she saw a different man—one she couldn't manipulate.
She walked back to her seat. Her mind in chaos...
Only one person always carrying this calming pills, King is looking for Valerie but why? Where did they meet? And King is only given me face because of her.
No, this is a huge opportunity since King did not see her face.
"Are you possibly--- taking about this?" She brought out the exact Calming pills. Valerie gave it to her as a birthday gift even though She despises her and see that cheap thing as irritating but it still calm her nerves when she is agitated.
She brought it with her when she heard about Valerie not showing up to Mr Han Hotel and Mr Han promise to let the deal slips off the Hudson family.
Not knowing this is going to pave the way.
"Yes, where did you get this from?" King quickly collected it from her and smell it.
That bag
The pills
The Scent
The Peace
It all pointed to that strange woman
Could Sophia be that woman?
"I made this, I use it as a calming pills when i am agitate." King look deeply into Sophia's eyes. He wanted to see _ was she lying, of playing her usual games?
He saw sincerity and sheppiesness. All her face is red from King just looking at her.
Is the woman last night
The woman voice sound different
Maybe it is alcohol
Why does she not come to him herself
Have she forgotten all about last night
Even if Sophia is not that woman, he has to keep her to get to that woman.
"Can you let me keep this, in exchange the deal is yours." King muttered holding onto the Calming bag with everything.
"Oh, thank you so much King. This is like given me freebies, I appreciate it." Sophia smiled brightly.
"Go to my secretary office and get the paper work done.And Thank you for this." Sophia walked out of the office smiling brightly.
She won
She won
without even touching the King's bed.
She has to know how King and Valerie met.
Their connection
And why King is looking for her.
Her useless stuff just got her a billion contract from the Albanian Group that will change the Hudson family situation.
She can't wait to share it with her parents...
---
Albanian Mansion, That Night
The mansion stood grand and cold, marble shining beneath the chandeliers. King walked in alone, not in the mood for company, dressed in black like a ghost of war.
He hadn't been back here in weeks.
In the great dining hall, Ortega Albanian, the family patriarch, sat at the head of the table, flanked by advisors and silent maids.
"Grandfather," King said with a bow of respect.
"You're late," Ortega muttered without looking up. "But not unexpected. Sit."
King did.
Before any further words could be spoken, the doors burst open.
Kwok stormed in like a wolf denied meat. "So this is the family now? You call one son and leave the other in the dark?"
Ortega sighed, pressing his fingers to his temples. "I didn't invite you."
Kwok sneered. "Of course not. You only have one son now, isn't it? The golden boy."
King didn't move.
"Everything he gets, he throws away! And you praise him for it!"
"You wouldn't last a day in my shoes," King said quietly, finally lifting his eyes.
"Try me," Kwok barked. "Just one day without your bodyguards, without your billions, let's see who's standing."
"You'll be on your knees," King answered. "Begging, like always."
Chairs scraped as the two brothers stood, the room crackling with unspoken threats.
Then—
"Grandpa!"
A small voice echoed into the room.
Little Michelle, dressed in her tiny school uniform and clutching her teddy bear, walked in innocently.
Her wide eyes froze as she saw her father and uncle standing like warriors ready for blood.
"Why are you fighting?"
Silence.
Ortega stood slowly, his aged voice cutting through the tension. "Because pride makes fools of powerful men."
Michelle ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Kwok looked away in shame. King's jaw flexed, but his gaze softened as Michelle looked at him with confusion.
"We're not fighting," King said finally, kneeling to her level. "Just… talking too loud."
She nodded innocently. "Okay. Can you talk softer next time?"
King glanced at his grandfather, then at his brother. "I'll try."
Kwok's footsteps echoed down the corridor as he stormed off, his pride wounded and his rage barely contained. Silence filled the grand dining hall of the Albanian estate, now littered with tension and unspoken wars. Ortega leaned back in his chair, gently patting little Michelle's head as she nestled against him. Her presence had been the only thing stopping him from unleashing the full weight of his fury.
King adjusted his cuffs, turned toward the exit, and gave a stiff nod to his grandfather. He had no intention of being dragged into Kwok's petty spiral again.
He was halfway to the door when Ortega's cold voice pierced the air.
"King."
He froze. The tone alone demanded attention.
King slowly turned back.
Ortega's ancient eyes—wise, weary, and razor-sharp—studied him for a moment. Then:
"I heard you're looking for a girl…"
He paused, letting the weight of the words linger.
"Who is she?"
King's jaw twitched. For the first time in years, the unshakable Albanian was shaken.
He said nothing.
Only the distant ticking of the antique clock answered.