Chapter 3

"They terminated the contract. They were the first to break off ties after the video went viral, and Mr. Holland announced a new wedding date," said the secretary.

My blood ran cold at the news.

Ewan knew full well that the video wasn't my fault. He knew that this company was something my mother had fought with her life to secure for me.

He knew that the Holland Group pulling out would have a far more devastating impact than all the other partners combined. Yet, he still chose to cancel the partnership, just to make Lilith happy.

I leaned against the wall to steady myself, then compelled myself to appease the restless shareholders and assure them we still had a chance to turn things around.

One shareholder snorted, shoving his phone screen right into my face.

"You mean this chance? Unfortunately, the core chip technology you spent six years developing has already been unveiled by the Holland Group ahead of us!"

I was struck dumb by the devastating news.

That breakthrough was something I had poured millions into, poaching top talents and weathering immense pressure to achieve.

I had shared the detailed specs with Ewan alone. I had even planned for a deep, long-term partnership with the Holland Group once development was completed.

But now, he had blocked my last path to a comeback.

"We always knew a female CEO couldn't be trusted. Who knows how she got that position in the first place?" a pot-bellied shareholder scoffed, a lustful glint in his eyes.

"Ms. Waller, the video online is making waves right now," a shrewd, calculating shareholder chimed in aggressively. "By hook or by crook, you have three days to solve this. Otherwise, we'll put someone else in that chair."

...

This was the company my mother and I had fought tooth and nail to reclaim, enduring years of insults and vicious gossip just to keep it alive.

I had poured half my life into it, and I wasn't about to watch it fall apart now.

I closed my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Fine. In three days, I'll give you an answer you can live with."

I started by going to the partners who had already asked to terminate their contracts.

"Ms. Waller, we've worked together for years, and I know you're willing to take a loss to keep this partnership alive, so I'll do what I can to meet you halfway," said one partner.

"But before we talk business, why don't we head upstairs and see just how serious you are about keeping us?"

I'd already thrown my handbag at every man who tried it, and now I didn't even have the energy to be angry. I simply turned around and walked out.

In the end, it was a small company I'd helped years ago that quietly pointed me in another direction.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Waller. The Holland Group has too much influence. There's nothing we can do."

I slumped over the steering wheel of my car, my whole body shaking. Memories of Ewan's old promises came rushing back.

Years ago, I handed one of the Waller Group's projects to the relatively new Holland Group. Ewan had been nervous about taking it on, but he'd looked me in the eye and promised.

"Alicia, I won't let you down. I won't give those shareholders another reason to tear you apart."

The project had gone on to become a huge success.

Ewan had been so excited that he'd picked me up and spun me around. "Alicia, just wait until the Holland Group gets on its feet. We'll have your back no matter what."

Those promises turned out to be lies. I was the only one who still remembered them.

I wiped away my tears, touched up my makeup, and drove to the Holland Group headquarters. Without a hitch, I rode the elevator straight to the top floor.

The moment I pushed open the door, soft moans came from inside the room.

Ewan barely lifted his eyes and made no effort to stop. Lilith turned to me with a teasing smile, licking her lips.

"Mr. Holland is seriously impressive. He's got the looks and the skills," she taunted. "I really don't understand why you ever paid other men to do what he does."

Nausea rolled through my stomach. I turned away before vomiting until I was weak.

"You can't handle that?" Ewan walked over and casually patted my back. "You should have seen how sick I felt watching those men have their way with you."

My ears rang at those words.

If I disgusted him that much, why had he once wrested the knife from my hands and turned the blade on himself when I was trying to hurt myself?

Why had he begged the best lawyer in the country to make sure the men who assaulted me spent the rest of their lives behind bars?

I wanted to scream at him, to demand an explanation, but the cold certainty in his eyes left me speechless.

In the end, I slowly pulled myself upright, my voice raw and trembling. "Ewan, what will it take for you to leave the Waller Group alone?"