Chapter 6 - The Foundation Cracks
By Monday, the reality of his situation had fully dawned on Daniel.
He didn't show up to the office.
Elena walked into my suite, carrying two cups of black coffee.
“I did some digging, like you asked,” Elena said, sitting across from me.
“And?”
“Chloe Vale has a pattern. Her last two jobs ended quietly after she got involved with middle management.”
“So she’s a professional,” I noted, sipping the bitter coffee.
“Worse. She’s an opportunist. But she usually targets men who actually have their own money.”
“She miscalculated with Daniel.”
“Big time,” Elena smirked. “She thought he was the golden goose. Turns out he’s just a pigeon.”
My phone buzzed. It was Marcus.
“We have a mediation meeting scheduled for tomorrow,” Marcus said over the speakerphone.
“Daniel has retained counsel. Some aggressive guy from a mid-tier firm.”
“Let them be aggressive,” I said.
“Are we ready to present the terms?” Marcus asked.
“Yes. He signs over his shares of the firm, walks away with nothing, and in exchange, I don't press criminal charges.”
“It’s a tight corner, Natalie. A desperate man might do something stupid.”
“Daniel is a coward, Marcus. Cowards don't fight when the lights are turned on.”
I hung up and looked at Elena.
“I need you to draft a termination letter for Chloe Vale. Cause: Corporate espionage and fraud.”
Elena grinned. “With pleasure.”
I looked out the window at the city skyline.
For the first time since I walked into my bedroom and saw them, the heavy weight in my chest was gone.
May you like
It wasn't just about revenge. It was about surgery.
I was finally cutting out a tumor that had been draining me for seven years.
