Chapter 2 - The Ascent
I didn't wait for him to come down to me,
I began to walk toward the staircase.
Every step I took was a declaration of war,
and the guests parted like the Red Sea.
Chloe tried to step in my way,
her face contorted with anger.
"I told you to leave!"
she hissed,
reaching for my arm.
I stopped and looked at her hand,
then back at her eyes.
"If you touch me,"
I said,
my voice a low,
dangerous rumble.
"I will make sure you never work in this city again."
"I will strip your name from every record,"
"and I will ensure you are a ghost before the night is through."
She froze,
stunned by the sudden shift in my aura.
I wasn't the quiet wife anymore,
I was a Sterling.
I bypassed her,
leading Sophia up the stairs,
one step at a time.
Sophia clutched her paper necklace,
her eyes fixed on her father.
"Daddy!"
she called out,
her voice echoing through the ballroom.
The woman in the red dress turned,
her smile faltering as she looked at us.
Dominic stepped forward,
his hands shaking.
"Vivienne,
what are you doing here?"
he stammered,
trying to maintain his composure.
"I asked you to stay at the cottage tonight."
"I wanted a surprise,
Dominic,"
I said,
reaching the top of the landing.
"But it seems I’m the one who was surprised."
I gestured to the woman and the boy beside him.
"Is this the 'urgent board meeting' you mentioned?"
The woman in red stepped forward,
her eyes narrowing.
"Dominic,
who is this woman?"
she asked,
her voice dripping with arrogance.
"And why is she calling you her husband?"
Dominic looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him.
"Elena,
I can explain,"
he started,
but I cut him off.
"There is nothing to explain,
Dominic."
"You married me seven years ago."
"You stood before a judge and swore your life to me."
Elena let out a sharp,
cold laugh.
"Married?"
"Dominic is the heir to this company,
he wouldn't marry someone who looks like...
this."
She gestured to my coat,
her lip curling in disgust.
"My father is the primary investor here,"
she continued,
preening.
"We are the ones who saved this failing firm."
"Dominic is marrying me next month to solidify the merger."
I felt a surge of cold laughter in my chest.
They really believed they were the saviors.
They had no idea that their 'primary investment' was a drop in the bucket compared to what I had given him.
"You think your money saved this company?"
I asked,
stepping into her space.
"You think your father’s pittance kept these lights on?"
"Dominic,
tell her,"
I commanded.
"Tell her where the secret loans came from."
"Tell her who signed the Sterling Trust agreements."
Dominic’s eyes went wide,
and he took a step back.
"Vivienne,
don't,"
he pleaded.
"Don't do this here."
"It’s too late for 'don't',
Dominic,"
I said.
May you like
"The Sterling brothers are already on their way."
"And they aren't coming to negotiate."
