Chapter 7 - The Desperate Plead
News travels through Los Angeles high society faster than wildfire. By Monday morning, Vanguard Capital had quietly terminated Grant Mercer’s employment contract following the incident at Ridgecrest. Without Julianne Vance’s influence and with his reputation tarnished among the senior partners, he was deemed an immediate liability.
Emily spent Tuesday morning finalizing her official resignation from Marlene’s management agency—not with bitterness, but with immense gratitude. Marlene had hugged her tightly, tears in her eyes, telling her that she had outgrown agency work years ago and that it was about time someone recognized her brilliance.
As Emily walked out of the agency’s West Hollywood office carrying a box of her personal belongings, a figure stepped out from behind a concrete pillar in the parking garage.
It was Grant.
He looked ruined. His suit was wrinkled, dark circles shadowed his bloodshot eyes, and the arrogant swagger that had defined him on the night at Bellamy had completely evaporated.
""Emily,"" he rasped, stepping forward with his hands out. ""Please. You have to talk to me.""
Emily stopped, setting her box on the hood of her car. She felt neither anger nor joy; she just felt tired of his drama. ""There's nothing to discuss, Grant.""
""They fired me, Em,"" he pleaded, his voice cracking with pathetic desperation. ""Vance dropped me from the account. Julianne blocked my number. The partners told me I’m blacklisted from every boutique firm in Century City. Stone destroyed my career with one sentence!""
""No, Grant,"" Emily said firmly. ""You destroyed your career. You treated people like disposable garbage and assumed your arrogance would buy you immunity. Caleb Stone simply held up a mirror.""
""You can fix it!"" Grant took another frantic step toward her. ""He listens to you! I saw how he looked at you that night! Just tell him it was a misunderstanding. Tell him we were engaged, that we were going through a rough patch! If you tell him to let it go, Vance will take me back!""
Emily looked at him with profound pity. ""Do you remember what you said to me at dinner? You told me that in the world you were entering, I was unwanted.""
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Grant flinched as if struck across the face.
""You spent six years using me as an emotional safety net while you climbed,"" Emily continued, her voice crystal clear. ""And the second you thought you reached the top, you threw me away to impress people who didn't even like you. I spent six years building you up, Grant. I will not spend a single second tearing myself down to save you. Go find your own way out.""
