Chapter 4: Fired, Betrayed, and Divorced

"Who gives you the right to fire me?" Petra asked in shock, tilting her head. "I brought in every client here. Now you're just tossing me out like trash?"

The entire hallway fell silent.

Staff who had been walking past slowed their steps. Some stopped completely, pretending to organize files while secretly watching the confrontation unfold.

Petra stood rooted to the spot, unable to believe what was happening.

Just yesterday, she had secured Brooks Construction its biggest contract of the year.

This morning, she was standing outside her own office with her belongings packed into a cardboard box.

Brian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he simply smiled.

The smile irritated Petra even more.

Beside him, Emma clung to his arm as though she had already become the lady of the company. Satisfaction radiated across her face.

She stepped forward confidently before removing a document from the file tucked beneath her arm.

"Because my Brian owns 100% of the shares." She said, smiling as she hold up the shareholder certificate to Petra's face. "So he can fire whoever he wants, including you."

Petra's eyes shifted to the document.

Her breathing became uneven.

The shareholder certificate was authentic and it clearly stated that Brian Brooks was the sole owner of Brooks Construction.

There wasn't a single percentage under anyone else's name.

Not even hers.

After everything she had sacrificed...

She owned nothing.

The certificate indicated clearly that Brian Brooks owned 100% of the shares of Brooks Construction.

Petra slowly reached forward.

Emma assumed she wanted to inspect the document more closely.

Instead, Petra snatched the certificate from Emma, her heart pounding. She threw it on the floor and started marching on it while her eyes rested on them fiercely, her lips curled into anger.

The crisp paper crumpled beneath her heels.

Emma gasped.

Brian, however, remained completely unmoved.

His smile never disappeared.

"I helped you build this company." Petra said, her voice filled with anger. "I worked my ass off without asking for a single share."

"I didn't ask you to, Petra." Brian shut back, his hands tugged inside his pockets, smiling. "It was your choice. I'm just exercising my rights as your boss."

The words struck harder than any slap ever could.

For years, Petra had convinced herself they were building a future together.

She never demanded ownership or even asked for legal protection.

She trusted her husband.

Now that trust had become the biggest mistake of her life.

A sad laughter escaped Petra's mouth.

She tilted her head. "Your right?" She snapped. "This company would be nothing without me."

She shook her head slowly, disappointment replacing the hurt in her eyes.

"How could I ever fall for someone like you? You know what? You want me out?"

She dipped her hand inside her handbag and brought out a pen, slamming it against Brian's chest.

He caught it effortlessly.

"Commissions and yesterday's deal." She said, tilting her head. "One million. Would that be Zelle or check?"

The hallway suddenly went silent.

Everyone knew Petra had personally secured the Briggs Corporation deal.

Some of the employees had even helped prepare the presentation.

There was no denying whose achievement it was.

Brian looked at the pen in his hand before lifting his eyes back to Petra.

"Hold on." Brian said. "That deal? That's Emma's work." He turned to stare at Emma beside him before returning to Petra. "Not yours."

Emma giggled excitedly, nodding, her body locked with his.

Petra stared at both of them.

For a brief second, she wondered if she had heard correctly.

Then she laughed.

It was the laugh of someone finally realizing there was no limit to another person's cruelty.

"You're giving my credit away to this bitch?" She snapped, pointing at Emma.

"Oh, Petra," Brian cut in, his voice filled with wicked smirk. "don't be such a street shrew. The deal is important for the company, and the contract isn't signed yet. Don't worry, Emma will take care of it. So it's none of your concern."

Petra's hands slowly curled into fists.

Every muscle in her body tensed.

She had spent months negotiating with Briggs Corporation.

Now Brian intended to hand the finished deal to Emma and erase Petra's name from it completely.

Emma stood beside Brian, smirking proudly, clearly enjoying every second of Petra's humiliation.

"But there is one more thing." Brian continued, turned and collected a file from Emma. "I need you to sign this."

Petra’s face twisted irritably as she collected the file from him.

The moment she looked at the cover page, her entire body stiffened.

Large bold letters stared back at her.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

For a long moment, she just silently stared at it.

Then she slowly lifted her head toward Brian.

Her expression had changed.

The pain was still there. But it had become quieter.

Colder.

She released a slow breath before a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

"Whatever." She said, holding the file well as she began signing. "Like I'd miss a limp noodle like you."

The pen moved steadily across the paper.

She signed each page without asking another question.

Emma's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Everything was unfolding exactly the way she had hoped.

Just as Petra reached the final page, she suddenly stopped.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hold on." Petra snapped, halting at a point as she turn back to him. "This is all I'm getting? You've been hiding money, haven't you?"

Brian didn't even pretend to deny it. Instead, he smiled casually.

"Even if I had, you wouldn't see a cent." Brian said casually. "Not even in court."

His confidence was infuriating.

Emma leaned even closer against him, unable to hide her victorious smile.

Petra looked from Brian to Emma then back again.

She finally understood.

This had been planned.

They had been preparing to throw her away long before she discovered them together.

Petra slowly nodded to herself. Her lips curled into fury.

Without another word, she opened the file again and signed the last part.

When she finished, she closed the file firmly. Then she threw it straight at Brian.

He caught it before it hit his chest.

"Don't get used to this." She said, her lips curled into fury. "Your time is coming."

Neither Brian nor Emma responded. They just stood there, watching her.

Petra turned around and without looking back, she picked up her handbag.

She walked past the employees who quickly stepped aside to clear a path for her.

***********

Petra walked through the lobby with her head held high.

She refused to let anyone see her cry.

Not here.

Not in front of the people who had watched her dedicate years of her life to this place.

She pushed through the revolving glass doors and stepped outside.

The warm afternoon breeze brushed against her face.

She stopped at the top of the company stairs, closed her eyes and lifted her head slightly to the skies, taking in a deep breath.

Everything she once called her life was gone.

Her marriage.

Her career.

Her home.

Her future.

All destroyed within two days.

Slowly, she reached into her handbag and removed her phone.

Her thumb hovered over one particular contact before pressing it.

The phone rang only once and the call connected.

Petra raised it to her ear.

"I've got a big deal for you." She said as the call connected. "Intrigued?"