Chapter 4 - Stripped Bare
Nathaniel lunged toward the table, his manicured fingers clawing at the documents before Samuel’s security team stepped into his path.
"You can't fire me!" Nathaniel screamed, his polished composure completely shattering into raw hysteria.
"I signed the major vendor contracts! I negotiated the hotel merger! This company bears my surname!"
"The company bears the name because Charles Bennett permitted your father to keep his dignity after bankruptcy," I said, stepping into the center of the lights.
Four years of feeling small, four years of being told I contributed nothing, vanished in a single, breath-taking second.
"You threw your ring at my feet, Nathaniel, and told me our marriage was worth exactly what I brought into it."
"You were right about one thing," I said, meeting his bloodshot, terrified eyes.
"A person's value is revealed by their actions. And tonight, you showed everyone in Chicago that you have none."
Samuel turned to the ballroom manager, who was standing frozen against the wall with his staff.
"Deactivate Mr. Ashford's master keys to the executive suites, cancel his corporate credit lines, and impound the company limousines outside."
"As of 9:15 PM, Miss Evelyn Bennett is the sole controlling trustee and primary voting shareholder of Ashford Global Holdings."
Vanessa suddenly let out a strangled sob, clutching her belly as she backed away from Nathaniel as if he were radioactive.
"You lied to me!" Vanessa shrieked at Nathaniel, tears cutting black mascara lines down her cheeks.
"You told me she was a penniless orphan living off your charity! You swore we would own the penthouse in Gold Coast!"
"Shut up, Vanessa!" Nathaniel roared, spinning around to face his mistress.
May you like
"I gave you two hundred thousand dollars last month from the operating fund!"
"Which will be audited and reclaimed by morning as unauthorized misappropriation of corporate assets," Samuel noted calmly.
