Chapter 7 - The Desperate Ambush
Two months later, the pharmaceutical division of Chen Conglomerate announced the successful development of a revolutionary cellular stabilization drug—a project personally spearheaded and funded by Audrey and me. The announcement sent the Vance Group’s competing stocks plummeting into freefall.
I walked out of the downtown research laboratory late on a Thursday evening, carrying a thermos of ginseng broth for Audrey, who was wrapping up an audit at the corporate headquarters. The underground parking garage was dimly lit, echoing only with the sound of my dress shoes on concrete.
A pair of high beams suddenly flared to life thirty feet away. The engine roared, tires squealing against the epoxy floor as a black sports car lunged forward, screeching to a halt inches from my shins.
The door flew open. Willow stumbled out, looking completely unhinged. The glamorous heiress from the television screens was gone. Her hair was tangled, her eyes bloodshot with dark purple circles beneath them, and her expensive wool coat was buttoned crookedly.
""George,"" she choked out, rushing toward me with her arms outstretched. ""I know it’s you. I don't care what identity you bought, I don't care how you survived that hospital. You came back for me, didn't you? You're doing all this with Audrey Chen just to punish me for the red carpet!""
I stepped backward smoothly, keeping the thermos steady in my left hand. ""Miss Vance. You are trespassing on private commercial property. Back away, or I will signal security.""
""Stop calling me that!"" she shrieked, tears streaming down her hollow cheeks. She dropped to her knees on the filthy concrete, grabbing the hem of my trousers with bleeding, raw fingernails. ""Please... George, please look at me! I fired Makoto! I broke his contract, I ruined his career, he’s gone! Look, I have the locket! The one you burned your hands to save!""
She pulled a soot-stained silver medallion from her neck, offering it up with both hands like a condemned prisoner begging an executioner for clemency.
""I was stupid,"" she sobbed, her voice breaking into ragged gasps. ""I took you for granted because you were always there. I thought you would never leave me! But it hurts so much, George... I can't sleep, I can't eat, my chest feels like it’s being torn open every time I breathe! Just come home with me. I’ll give you everything. I’ll put the entire Vance Corporation in your name. Just hold my hand like you used to!""
I looked down at her wretched, weeping form. The system interface flickered in the corner of my vision: [Willow Vance Affection Meter: 100% (Absolute Obsession / Irreversible Madness). Note: Target is locked. No karmic rewards available.]
Seven years too late. When I was coughing up blood on the floor, begging for a single phone call, her affection was zero. Now that I was unreachable, her broken psychology finally registered my value.
""Do you know why I stayed with you for seven years, Willow?"" I asked softly.
She looked up, her tear-filled eyes wide with desperate hope. ""Why? Tell me, George! Why?""
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""Because I thought you were human,"" I said, my voice as calm as a winter morning. ""I thought if someone loved you enough, you would learn how to love in return. But you don't love me, Willow. You don't even know what love is. You only love what you cannot control.""
I pulled my trouser leg out of her grip, turned around, and walked toward the security elevator without looking back. Behind me, her screams echoed off the concrete walls until the heavy steel doors slid shut.
