Chapter 4 - The Liquidation
The silence that followed was heavy enough to shatter glass.
Adrien dropped to his knees in the middle of the pantry. His charcoal suit pooled around him. He didn't even look at Vanessa. He looked at my cheap black flats.
"Clare... Clare, please," he sobbed, the visionary CEO completely dissolving into a pathetic, terrified man. "It meant nothing! She was just a distraction! I love you! I built this company's reputation! You can't just take it!"
"You were a mascot, Adrien," I corrected, looking down at him with ultimate, chilling indifference. "And your contract has been terminated."
I stepped around him and walked directly up to Vanessa, who was trembling so violently she looked as if she might faint. I didn't raise my hand. I didn't raise my voice. I simply held out my palm.
"My bracelet," I commanded.
Tears of absolute terror spilled down Vanessa’s cheeks as she frantically unclasped the diamonds from her wrist and dropped them into my hand.
"Marcus," I said, slipping the jewelry into my canvas bag. "Have security pack their desks. Cancel Mr. Bennett’s company credit lines, revoke his access to the penthouse, and hand the audit files over to the federal authorities waiting in the lobby."
"With pleasure, Madam," Marcus murmured.
May you like
Adrien screamed my name as the guards grabbed him by the arms. Vanessa wailed, trying to hide her face from the dozens of cell phones now recording them as they were dragged out of the executive suite.
I didn't watch them leave. I picked up the black water bottle, dropped it straight into the trash can, and walked toward the boardroom to take my seat.
