Chapter 42: The Hidden Company

While Freya's careers developed, Louis quietly moved the next part of his own plan into place. One of his dormant holding companies, Northstar Capital, had survived the collapse because its ownership structure had never been publicly connected to him. Through it, Derek had begun acquiring discounted assets from businesses that assumed Louis could no longer compete.

The strategy required patience. If the market discovered Louis controlled Northstar, prices would rise and his enemies would stop making careless moves. For now, the company operated through trusted executives while Louis appeared to spend his days searching for opportunities.

Derek entered the private office carrying a report. "The first acquisition closed this morning." Louis scanned the figures. "Below target price?" "Eight percent below. Knox Group didn't bid because they think the asset is worthless without your old distribution network."

"Good." That distribution network hadn't disappeared. Parts of it had simply been transferred months before the public collapse.

Derek sat opposite him. "How long are you planning to keep Freya in the dark about Northstar?" Louis looked up. "Why?" "Because she's already figured out you're not broke. Eventually she'll notice that your version of 'some backup assets' is slightly understated."

Louis closed the report. "She doesn't need to be involved in this." "That isn't what I asked."

Derek had known him too long to be intimidated easily. "You used to treat the marriage like an obligation. Now you're reading her novels, reviewing her contracts, tracking who sends her jewelry, and going home for lunch because she put you on a refrigerator schedule."

Louis's expression cooled. "Do you have actual work?" "Plenty. I also enjoy observing miracles."

Back at the apartment, Freya was experiencing a much smaller financial victory. One of her design clients had approved a revised plan without requesting another round of changes. The payment would cover several months of her personal expenses.

She updated her spreadsheet and calculated how close she was to her goal of supporting herself entirely through earned income. The luxury sales still formed most of her available cash, but that was changing.

When Louis returned, she proudly announced that she could now cover her monthly expenses with projected writing and design income. "Congratulations," he said.

"Which means you officially don't need to give me any allowance." "I haven't given you one since you refused." "Good. Keep practicing."

He placed a folder on the table and went to wash his hands. Freya wasn't trying to snoop, but the folder shifted and a page slid partly out. She instinctively reached to keep it from falling.

The visible header read NORTHSTAR CAPITAL. Below it were several acquisition figures large enough to make her eyebrows rise.

Louis returned before she could read further. Freya immediately released the page. "Your document almost fell." His eyes moved to the exposed header.

For one second, neither spoke. Then Freya asked casually, "Is Northstar one of those businesses requiring very little startup capital?"

Louis slowly pushed the page back into the folder. "No." "Thought so." She turned toward the kitchen with a small smile. She finally had a name connected to his secret activities. Louis watched her leave and realized the period in which partial truths could satisfy Freya was rapidly coming to an end.

Freya didn't ask about Northstar that night. Knowing the company's name was enough for the moment. She had promised herself not to pry into business secrets that didn't affect her, and she intended to keep that promise. Still, as a writer, she couldn't help appreciating the irony. The supposedly defeated villain had apparently hidden an entire second act from the protagonists who believed his story was finished.