Chapter 9 - The Pierce Fallout
The months that followed were a whirlwind of activity.
The Ledger Foundation became a massive success,
drawing attention from across the country.
I used my story—carefully edited—to show the power of financial independence.
The Pierce Group continued to struggle.
Without the hidden fraud to sustain them,
their profits plummeted.
Shareholders began to revolt.
I heard through the grapevine that Eleanor was trying to sell the estate in France.
Nathan was living in a small apartment in the city,
trying to rebuild his reputation as a consultant.
Nobody was hiring him.
One evening,
I received a package at the estate.
No return address.
Inside was a red dress,
torn to shreds.
Attached was a note in Eleanor’s elegant handwriting.
You think you won.
But you are alone.
I looked at the shredded silk and felt nothing but pity.
She was still trapped in the old world.
She still thought that being a Pierce was the only thing that mattered.
I walked to the fireplace and threw the dress and the note into the flames.
I watched them turn to ash,
the red color disappearing into the orange heat.
I wasn't alone.
I had a staff I respected.
I had friends I could trust.
And I had a purpose that went beyond a name.
I picked up my phone and called Elias.
“Eleanor sent a gift,”
I said.
“Should we be worried?”
Elias asked.
“No,”
I replied.
“It was just a ghost trying to haunt a house that’s already been exorcised.”
“Keep the copies of the ledger in the vault,
Elias.”
“She needs to remember that the fire is still burning.”
I hung up and walked out onto the terrace.
The sun was setting over the trees,
casting long,
golden shadows.
May you like
The world was quiet.
The world was mine.
