Chapter 11 - The New Normal
The transition was a whirlwind of lawyers, board meetings, and media scrutiny.
Evelyn, Nathan, and Claire were denied bail, awaiting trial in federal custody.
I moved out of the servant’s quarters and into a luxury penthouse Richard purchased for me downtown.
My role at the company wasn’t a token title.
I audited the internal structure, rooting out the executives who had been loyal to Nathan.
I was brutal, efficient, and completely unbothered by their excuses.
One afternoon, my secretary buzzed my office.
“Ms. Hayes? There is a Daniel Hayes here to see you. He says it’s urgent.”
I paused my typing, looking at the city skyline outside my window.
“Send him in,” I said smoothly.
The door opened, and Daniel stepped inside, looking completely out of place.
His suit was cheap, his posture nervous.
He looked around my massive office, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Emily… wow. Look at this place.”
“What do you want, Daniel?” I asked, not standing up from my mahogany desk.
“I… I lost my job,” he stammered, approaching the desk like a beaten dog.
“And my new girlfriend, she left when the money ran out.”
I stared at him, feeling absolutely nothing. No anger, no sadness. Just indifference.
“That sounds like a personal problem,” I said flatly.
“Come on, Em. We were married for twelve years. You have all this power now. You could give me a job.”
He forced a pathetic smile. “For old time's sake?”
“Margaret told me I’d learn how impossible life was without you,” I reminded him coldly.
“She was wrong. Life without you is spectacular.”
Daniel flushed red, his humiliation complete.
“You’re a cold bitch,” he muttered.
“Security,” I said into my intercom. “Escort Mr. Hayes out of the building. Permanently.”
Two large guards appeared almost instantly, dragging a protesting Daniel out of my office.
I went back to typing.
Five minutes later, the door opened again.
This time, it was Richard.
He walked in, closed the door, and locked it.
“I saw your ex being escorted out,” Richard said, a smirk on his face.
May you like
“Taking out the trash,” I smiled.
Richard walked around my desk and pulled me out of my chair.
