Chapter 7 - The Desperate Plea
Within ten minutes, David Cole was in handcuffs, being escorted down the central hallway of Moraway headquarters in full view of two hundred whispering employees. He didn't look at Lisa as he was led past her; he kept his head bowed, weeping quietly in utter ruin.
Lisa stood alone in the hallway, surrounded by coworkers who were now staring at her with a mixture of disgust and cold amusement. Everyone in the department knew she had spent months flirting with David, boasting about his impending promotion, and openly complaining about her broke husband. Now, the broke husband was their ultimate boss, and the slick executive was heading to state prison.
Desperation overtook every shred of Lisa’s dignity. She turned and ran toward the executive elevator bank, hitting the button for the penthouse floor.
When the elevator doors opened onto the fortieth floor, she was met with thick velvet carpets, floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the Columbus skyline, and a fortress of executive assistants.
""I need to see Michael!"" Lisa cried, pushing past the reception desk. ""I am his wife! Let me through!""
""You are his ex-wife, Ms. Vance,"" a stern secretary replied, pressing an internal security intercom. ""And you do not have security clearance for this floor.""
""Michael!"" Lisa screamed, rushing toward the heavy double doors of the Chairman's corner office. ""Michael, please! Just let me talk to you! Five minutes! That’s all I ask!""
Before the security guards could tackle her, the double doors swung open.
Michael stepped out.
He was no longer wearing the navy work jacket or the scuffed work boots. He wore an exquisitely tailored charcoal bespoke three-piece suit, an Egyptian cotton shirt, and polished black oxfords. His hair was neatly cut and styled. He looked every inch the powerful, commanding billionaire industrialist he had been born to become. The aura of authority radiating from him was so potent that the security guards immediately stepped back and bowed their heads.
""It’s alright,"" Michael said quietly to the guards. ""Give us a moment.""
Lisa collapsed onto her knees right there on the executive carpet, tears streaming down her face, ruining her makeup. She reached out toward the polished leather of his shoes.
""Michael, I made a mistake,"" she sobbed hysterically. ""A horrible, terrible mistake! David manipulated me! He fed me lies and poisoned my mind against you! I was weak, I was confused, but I always loved you! We spent six years together! You can't just throw that away because of one bad week!""
Michael looked down at her. There was no hatred in his expression, only a profound, immovable detachment. It was the look of a man inspecting a broken circuit that had melted beyond any possibility of repair.
""David didn't make you sign those papers, Lisa,"" Michael said, his voice deep, resonant, and entirely calm. ""David didn't make you look down on my work clothes. David didn't make you sneer at the grocery store salmon or resent the fact that I spent ten dollars fixing your favorite bag instead of throwing money away.""
""I was scared of being poor!"" she wailed. ""Can't you understand that? Anyone would want a better life!""
""A better life isn't about how much money is sitting in a vault,"" Michael replied. ""It’s about who is willing to sit with you in the dark when the power goes out. For six years, I gave you my loyalty, my respect, and every ounce of my effort. I protected you, cooked for you, and built a future for you. But the moment you thought I had nothing to offer you financially, you threw me in the trash for a man who flashed a fake Rolex.""
""I'll change, Michael! I swear I’ll change!"" Lisa cried, clutching at his trouser cuffs. ""Tear up the divorce papers! I don't care about the board or the money! Just take me back to our small apartment! We can start over!""
Michael gently stepped backward, breaking her grip.
""The apartment lease was terminated this morning, Lisa,"" Michael said softly. ""And the man who lived there doesn't exist anymore. You wanted an ambitious executive. Now you're looking at one. But this executive doesn't have a place for you in his life.""
He turned to the head of building security. ""Escort Ms. Vance off the premises. Her security badge is revoked. Have her personal belongings from the marketing department couriered to her parents’ address.""
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""Michael! No! Please! Michael!""
Lisa screamed and clawed at the air as two burly security officers lifted her by the arms and dragged her backward into the elevator. The silver doors slid shut, cutting off her cries and sealing her fate in the cold, unforgiving reality she had built for herself.
