Cross responded.
Not with a statement.
With a lawsuit.
He was suing Damien and Christabel for defamation.
And he was asking for $100 million.
---
The papers arrived at dawn.
Same process server. Same cheap suit. Same nervous hands.
"Damien Moreau, you've been served."
"Served with what?"
"Defamation. Victor Cross is suing you and your wife for $100 million."
Damien took the papers.
His face didn't change.
But his hands tightened around the envelope.
---
Christabel read the lawsuit over breakfast.
"He's claiming we ruined his reputation."
"We did."
"He's claiming we lied about him."
"We didn't."
"He's claiming we cost him business opportunities."
"He cost himself those opportunities."
Sterling arrived within the hour.
Eli was behind him, carrying a stack of files.
"This is actually good news."
"How is a $100 million lawsuit good news?"
"Because now we can force him to testify. Under oath. About everything."
---
Eli opened his laptop.
"Defamation lawsuits require the plaintiff to prove damages. Cross has to show that your statements directly caused him financial harm."
"Can he?"
"No. His finances were already destroyed. Before your statement. Before the merger. Before any of this."
"So he's going to lose."
"He's going to lose spectacularly."
Sterling smiled.
"And we're going to be there to watch."
---
Jax walked into the room.
"So, boss, we've got another situation."
"Another lawsuit?"
"Worse. The press is calling this the 'Battle of the Billionaires.' They're treating it like a reality show."
"Let them."
"They're camped outside. Like, actually camped. Tents. Sleeping bags. A food truck."
"A food truck?"
"Apparently, someone is selling 'Team Moreau' and 'Team Cross' merchandise."
Christabel laughed.
Despite everything, she laughed.
---
Zoe appeared in the doorway.
"Maya tried to buy a 'Team Moreau' t-shirt."
"Did she?"
"She tripped over a tent. Fell into the food truck. Knocked over the merchandise stand."
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She's currently arguing with the vendor about the quality of the t-shirts."
Damien shook his head.
"This is my life now."
"Welcome to the circus," Jax said.
---
Tara walked in with a tray of coffee.
"I don't know much about defamation lawsuits," she said. "But I do know that caffeine helps. Drink."
She handed a cup to Damien.
He took it.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Also, Lena took her first steps."
The room went silent.
"What?"
"Lena. Your daughter. She took her first steps. About ten minutes ago. The nanny is freaking out."
Damien stood.
Christabel stood.
They ran to the nursery.
---
Lena was standing in the middle of the room.
Her arms were outstretched.
Her legs were wobbling.
Her eyes were focused on her mother.
"Come on, little one," Christabel said. "Come to Mama."
Lena took a step.
Then another.
Then she fell.
But she didn't cry.
She laughed.
---
Damien knelt beside her.
"You walked."
"Da," Lena said.
"You walked!"
"Da, da, da."
Christabel was crying.
Damien's eyes were wet.
Jax appeared in the doorway.
"So, about the lawsuit..."
"Not now."
"But Cross's lawyers are—"
"Not. Now."
Jax held up his hands.
"Okay, okay. Family first."
---
They stayed in the nursery for an hour.
Watching Lena try to walk again.
And again.
And again.
Each time, she got a little farther.
Each time, she laughed.
"She's going to be unstoppable," Christabel said.
"She's going to be just like you."
"God help the world."
"God help anyone who tries to slow her down."
---
That afternoon, Sterling held a strategy session.
Eli had spread documents across the conference table.
"Cross's defamation lawsuit is weak. He has no proof of damages. His reputation was already destroyed. His finances were already in shambles."
"So we win?"
"We win. But winning takes time. He's going to drag this out. He's going to use every delay. Every motion. Every technicality."
"How long?"
"Months. Maybe longer."
---
Christabel was quiet.
"We don't have months."
"We have as long as it takes."
"The Syndicate is still out there. They're still attacking. They're not going to wait for the lawsuit to finish."
"Then we fight on two fronts. Legal and physical."
"How?"
Sterling looked at Damien.
"Your security team. Your army. Use them."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was exhausted from her walking practice.
She fell asleep almost immediately.
"Good night, little one," Christabel whispered.
Lena didn't stir.
"You took your first steps today. Your father and I were both there. We both saw it."
She touched Lena's cheek.
"We're going to remember this day forever. Not because of the lawsuit. Because of you."
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's asleep."
"She's exhausted."
"She walked."
"She walked."
He put his arm around her.
"Today was a good day."
"Today was a hard day."
"Same thing."
"Different intention."