Chapter 5 - Unraveling the Visionary
The penthouse office of Pendelton & Associates overlooked the entire city, a glass cage suspended in the sky.
Arthur Pendelton was a man who looked exactly like his reputation: sharp, ruthless, and entirely devoid of warmth.
He slid a massive stack of manila folders across his mahogany desk.
"Your mother-in-law was a very thorough woman, Mrs. Carter," Pendelton said, lighting a cigar. "She suspected Daniel was mismanaging funds, but she lacked the physical proof. With your majority control, I've had auditors tear through Reed Tech's private ledgers for the past 48 hours."
"And?" I asked, leaning forward.
"Your husband is a fraud."
The words didn't shock me. Deep down, I had always known Daniel was more style than substance.
Pendelton opened the first folder.
"He's been using shell companies to inflate user metrics for his new AI project. The tech doesn't work. He's bleeding cash. Worse, he's been funneling corporate funds into private accounts."
Pendelton slid a photograph across the desk.
It was a picture of a massive, ultra-modern mansion in the hills.
"He bought this property for eight million dollars last year. Under Lila's name. Using R&D funds."
I felt sick.
While I was scheduling fertility treatments and crying in empty guest rooms, he was buying mansions for his mistress with stolen money.
"If this goes public," I said quietly, "the SEC will get involved. He'll go to prison."
"Exactly," Pendelton smiled. "But right now, only we know. Which gives you total leverage."
Back at my house, the media had already caught wind of the will.
News vans were parked at the end of the driveway. Headlines flashed across the TV screen:
REED TECH MATRIARCH LEAVES EMPIRE TO SCORNED WIFE. DANIEL REED OUSTED BY OWN MOTHER? THE TWO BILLION DOLLAR DIVORCE.
My phone buzzed. It was an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Ava? It's Lila."
Her voice didn't sound sweet or victorious anymore. It sounded thin. Panicked.
"What do you want, Lila?"
"Daniel is going crazy," she whispered rapidly. "He's throwing things. The investors are calling, demanding answers. He told me you hired Pendelton."
"He told you correctly."
"Ava, please. You have to stop this. The stress isn't good for the baby. You're ruining our lives."
I actually laughed.
It bubbled up from my chest, a dark, genuine laugh.
"Lila, you walked into my home, wearing my husband's shirt, and told me I'd heal eventually. You helped him try to throw me out onto the street."
"I... I didn't know he was going to be so harsh!" she lied, her voice cracking.
"You wanted my life, Lila," I said coldly. "You wanted the billionaire. You wanted the mansion. You wanted the spotlight."
I paused, letting the silence stretch out.
"Well, you can have him. But you aren't getting the billionaire. You're getting the man who is about to lose everything."
I hung up the phone.
I walked upstairs to my closet, pushing past the soft, pastel dresses Daniel always liked me to wear.
I reached to the back and pulled out a sharp, tailored crimson power suit.
May you like
Tomorrow was Friday.
I was calling an emergency board meeting.
