Chapter 4 - The Annulment of an Empire
A murmur rippled through the crowd as Emily stepped up to the microphone.
"Ten years ago, James and I started building a life together," Emily began, her voice echoing perfectly through the glass conservatory. "We built Kane Meridian Systems. I wrote the contracts. I secured the patents. I gave him half my life. And on Wednesday night, while celebrating his bachelor party, James explained to his friends exactly what that loyalty meant to him."
James's smile vanished. The color drained from his face so fast he looked ill. "Emily, what are you doing?" he hissed under his breath.
"He said I was like furniture," Emily continued, ignoring him entirely, her eyes scanning the front rows until she locked onto the lead investors. "He said you could treat me however you want, and I would still worry about your comfort. He bragged about this because he believed I would never find out that he is expecting a child with my former mentee, Jessica, who is sitting in the third row."
Complete, suffocating silence descended on the conservatory. Four hundred people turned their heads simultaneously to look at Jessica, who instantly burst into hysterical tears, burying her face in her hands.
"Emily, stop!" James demanded, his voice cracking with panic. He reached for the microphone.
May you like
Emily stepped back, out of his reach.
"But James forgot a very important detail when he decided to build a secret life on top of my loyalty," Emily said, her voice ringing with absolute authority. "He forgot that I still own the patents to the Meridian algorithm. I own the holding company. He doesn't own Kane Meridian. I do."
