Chapter 5

Emma’s POV

When morning the next day came, I was expecting to wake up to news that a few more investors had reached out, not to Marie shaking me repeatedly. “You need to see this. Wake up”

My eyes opened, slowly, I had all the time in the world. “What is it? So urgent that you had to wake me up. What even is the time”

“This is serious” Marie’s voice gave me chills. It held the depth of a seriousness she hardly ever portrayed. “You need to see this now!”

I sat up straight, cleaning the sleep from my eyes. “What happened?” I asked.

She handed the phone over to me, “I really don’t want you to see this but you will anyway” she turned the screen on and the video began to play.

My familiar face and body displayed on the screen and I felt the breath leave my lungs. The video continued to play but it felt like I wasn’t seeing it. The sounds continued but my mind was somewhere else.

I remembered very clearly what I was looking at.

Our sixth year anniversary and I had made the stupid initiative to seduce him again. My naked body displayed on the screen and when my eyes refocused, I saw something even worse.

Beneath the video there was an emoji of eyes, the numbers eleven thousand sat beneath it. All of it, everything that had been private and sacred was now on display for the world to see.

I wasn’t sure what happened next except that the phone had slipped from my hands. My eyes stared at the wall, the blurred awards and words looked like they belonged in another world.

“Emma?” I heard Marie’s voice but it sounded like it was far away.

It was only when she shook me that I came back to reality.

“You cant break down. Come on” her voice had risen.

“Ms. Carter, what do you have to say” the loud voice shook me and I looked outside to find the media waiting, like predators for prey.

I covered my ears, “Stop them” I begged.

Marie rushed to the window, locking it and muffling their voices. I could finally breathe for at least a while. She sat down beside me, pulling me into her. “I’ve got you” she whispered. “We wont let anyone in or close to you” she reassured me.

My phone buzzed and I picked it up. It was a message from the company’s email account, thirteen employees had turned in their resignation letter and another two investors had sent in emails, informing me that the deals were done for.

The next thing I heard were screams and I realized they were coming from me. Tears poured down my face in torrents, I wasn’t sure if I had ever cried so much. “This cant be happening” I managed to say.

“Sshh. Shh.” Marie said, patting my back and shoulders.

“Why would he do this to me?” I wasn’t deceived, I knew it was Alexander and he had been the last person I expected it from.

“He’s a piece of shit” she murmured.

My phone rang and without looking, I picked it up, an action I regretted just seconds later when his voice came through the speakers.

“Well, I didn’t think you would pick the call but anyway have you seen my little surprise?”

“How could you?!” Marie shouted.

His laugh came in through, mocking and loud, “You love her so much don’t you but did she tell you I gave her an option? She made her choice and unfortunately it had to come to this. That video turns me on to this day”

“Alex!” I shouted angrily.

“Ohh shush. I warned you and the consequences are now all yours to bear. All that if left for me is getting that company”

The beep signaled the end of the call as I pressed the red button.

“I cant believe this. You were married to such a man for damn near seven years? He’s a demon” Marie said, her voice raised in both anger and disbelief.

“It’s all ruined” I told her. “All of it. My company is never going to make it now.” I pushed away from her, starting to pace the room as my anxiety increased. “Fuck. Fuck Marie!”

“Calm down. We can think of something. Maybe say it’s ai generated or some nonesense” she suggested.

I looked at her, “Nobody is going to believe that, it’s clearly me. I’m doomed” it was the truth.

My phone rang but this time it was an unknown number and I found myself picking the call. “If it’s you-”

Another familiar voice that wasn’t Alex’s voice broke in, Mr. North, “What did I tell you? Maybe if you had taken my offer yesterday, you would have been rich and the burden of a falling company wouldn’t be yours. You’ve taken five steps down the index” his voice was proud and mocking.

“Why did you call me?” I said through clenched teeth.

He laughed, a rich chuckle that burned me, “Seven hundred million dollars, your company by new calculations will be worth only three hundred million dollars more a year from now. There’s no deal better than this”

“Leave me alone Mr. North” I told him before ending the call and throwing my phone to the bed.

“I’m ruined” I told Marie.

She shook her head, “Not unless you give up. Maybe you can use this to your benefit” her voice unsure.

“You know that isn't possible” I found myself falling back on the bed, tears starting to fall again. “I have to start afresh”

My phone began to ring and immediately I ended it, I didn’t want any more of their nonesense. “Can everyone just leave me alone”

It started to ring again and I ended it quickly but it started again and annoyance caused me to pick, “Who the hell is this?” I asked harshly.

“Ms. Carter” a deep, husky, rich voice broke through the speakers. It wasn’t a voice I had heard before but there was something in it.

“This is Aaron Blake”

My eyes widened, breath caught in my throat at the realization of who I was speaking to.

“I believe we can help each other”