Chapter 4 - THE CORPORATE PURGE
I sat in my office until midnight,
the city lights sprawling beneath me like a carpet of diamonds.
I had the access logs for the company’s internal accounts.
Marcus had been using his executive position to authorize payments to "freelancers."
I traced the IPs.
They all led back to Vanessa’s home network.
He was paying her a salary for work she didn't do,
effectively doubling her "support" money.
I began the process of revoking his administrative privileges.
I did it slowly,
so it would look like a system glitch during the upcoming audit.
I then called my Chief Operating Officer,
a woman who had been loyal to my father for twenty years.
“Brenda,”
I said,
when she answered.
“I need a full forensic audit of the marketing department.”
“Effective immediately.”
“And I want Marcus’s expense reports flagged for review.”
She didn't ask why.
She knew me well enough to know that I never moved without reason.
“It will be done by morning,
Adeline.”
I hung up and looked at the framed photo on my desk.
It was from our wedding day.
Marcus looked so handsome,
so sincere.
I realized then that he hadn't just married me for the money.
He had married me for the safety.
He wanted the status of being a Thorne without the effort of being a man of character.
I picked up a pair of scissors from my desk.
I didn't cut the photo.
I simply laid the scissors across his face,
a silent promise of what was to come.
Next,
I drafted a letter to Vanessa.
It was an invitation to a "celebratory brunch" at our home this Sunday.
“To properly welcome the new arrival,”
I wrote.
I knew she wouldn't be able to resist.
She loved being in my house,
surrounded by the things she thought she deserved.
She loved the feeling of being the secret queen in my palace.
I sent the email and watched the "Sent" notification flicker.
Then I went to the safe in the corner of the office.
I pulled out the deeds to the property Vanessa was living in.
It was held in an LLC under my name.
The lease was month-to-month.
I printed an eviction notice,
dating it for Monday morning.
The silver gift bag was still in my car,
but the real gift was already being wrapped in legal tape.
I left the building,
May you like
the cool night air hitting my face like a benediction.
The architect of their ruin was going home to sleep.
