Chapter 5 - AMANDA'S TRUE COLORS
The public fallout was swift and brutal.
By Saturday,
the tabloid headlines were screaming about the "Billionaire Love Triangle."
Photos of me dropping the roses in the lobby were trending on every social media platform.
I stayed in a hotel downtown,
away from the prying eyes of the press.
But Amanda couldn't stay away from the spotlight.
She held a press conference at the company headquarters,
trying to spin the narrative.
I watched it on the television in my suite,
sipping a glass of ice water.
She looked composed,
wearing a white dress that was clearly meant to symbolize innocence.
"This is a private matter that has been weaponized by a disgruntled ex-spouse,"
she told the reporters.
"Whitmore Holdings is a stable entity."
"The withdrawal of funds is a temporary setback that we are already addressing."
"Jake and I are committed to the future of this company,"
"and to each other."
But as the questions started,
her facade began to crumble.
"Dr. Voss,
is it true that your personal assets are currently being seized by the bank?"
one reporter shouted.
"Is it true that the engagement ring was purchased with embezzled funds?"
Amanda’s eyes widened,
her gaze darting to someone off-camera.
"Those are baseless allegations!"
she snapped.
The conference ended abruptly as she was escorted out by security.
Ten minutes later,
my phone rang.
It was a number I didn't recognize,
but I knew the voice.
"Emma,"
Amanda hissed,
all the professional polish gone.
"You're a sick,
bitter woman."
"You're destroying the lives of thousands of people just because your husband found someone better than you."
I leaned back against the headboard,
feeling a wave of calm.
"Better than me?"
I asked.
"Is that what you call a woman who helps a man steal from his wife?"
"Is that what you call someone who marries a sinking ship?"
"You don't understand him,"
she screamed.
"He loves me!"
"He loves my money,
Amanda."
"And since that's gone,"
"I wonder how long his love for you will last."
"He's at the penthouse right now,
isn't he?"
"Trying to figure out how to pay the lease?"
There was a long silence on the line.
"You're going to regret this,"
she whispered.
"I already do,
Amanda."
"I regret the last fourteen years."
"But the next forty?"
"I'm going to enjoy every second of them."
I hung up and blocked the number.
I knew Jake was listening.
I could almost smell his fear through the airwaves.
The engagement ring was a collar,
and I had just pulled the leash.
May you like
The woman he thought was his "visionary" partner was actually his final judge.
And I was the one who had written the verdict.
