Chapter 4

Mark Whitmore sat on the head chair in the conference room, rubbing his forehead.

The stress and pressure he was going through was evident on his face as he grinded his teeth against each other.

His hands were trembling as he flipped through the pages of the document that was in front of him.

The Whitmore group had taken a hit just hours ago and it turned into a crisis within seconds; stocks were falling and shares were being sold.

This was definitely going to end the Whitmore group.

“How… how did this happen?” his voice trembled.

The supposed goods that had been delivered recently were poisoned and now their competitors were using it to their advantage, dragging their reputation through the mud.

The members of the board were very displeased.

“This is preposterous! I had warned about continuing the production of this new product but you were blinded by greed and went ahead with it. Is this the profit you were talking about?”

“This won’t do! We better agree to the acquisition offer while our stock still has any value.”

Mark’s heart was beating fast and in disarray. He gulped down hard. “No!” he shouted.

How can he stand to hear that his company was going bankrupt and had to depend on being bought off to survive?

He was the one everyone had to beg to buy them not the other way around.

Never the other way around! He would never accept such disgrace.

The room turned heated as they started arguing; throwing insults and threats.

The door to the board room pushed open from the outside. “There will be no need to sell.”

Everyone’s gaze moved to the door to see the person who had just walked in.

Mark’s eyes brightened up instantly. Yes! How could he forget he had Tessa?

“Tessa!” He hurried to her and was about to lead her out of the room so they could discuss the solution she had come up with. “Come with me.”

She avoided his hand and walked past him, “No need,” she sat down on the chair Mark had left.

The vein in Mark’s head twitched, “Tessa, stand up.” He scolded through his gritted teeth, lowering his voice in a way only they could hear.

She paid no attention to him as she passed a document around.

The expression on his face was hard to read as he stared at her in disbelief. When did she become stubborn?

“This document contains a solution to the Whitmore group’s crisis. This is just a chapter one to show I know what I am talking about.”

The eyes of the board members brightened as they nodded their heads in delight.

“This… this is remarkable. We really wouldn’t need to sell.”

Mark clenched his hands tightly as he forced a smile. “Indeed, my wife is remarkable. We had drafted this solution together.”

Tessa laughed coldly, “Together?” she arched a brow as a smirk curved her lips.

Mark’s smile faltered.

“Come in,” she ordered. A man on suit walked into the boardroom.

He passed a document to her.

She placed it in front of Mark, “Mr. Whitmore, as long as you can sign this, the full solution will be yours.”

Mark’s brows furrowed deeply as he read the heading. “Di… divorce agreement?” his eyes snapped to her, “What do you mean by this?”

Tessa smiled, “Don’t you want to get back with Vanessa and be a complete family? This is your chance to. Are you signing or not?”

Mark gulped down as his eyes moved from side to side avoiding her gaze. “That’s not true, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The board members instantly hurried him.

“What is there to think about? Just sign it already! Who can’t marry more wives whenever they want to?”

“Loosing a wife is better than loosing the group. Sign it quickly so we solve this.”

Mark scoffed as he stared at her in conceit, “Do you think I will beg you? You will be the one crawling back after today, Tessa.” He ridiculed before putting his signature down.

Tessa cleared her throat as she pulled the document back, making sure everything was still intact.

She passed it over to the man, “Arrange everything properly.” She ordered and the man left.

“Now give us the full solition and get out!” Mark shouted as he glared at her.

Tessa leaned her back on the chair, relaxing in ease. She slowly raised her gaze to him.

“Giving the solution is something I must do to save my company, but getting out? That will be you.” She stated solidly.

Mark snickered, “Your senses have been tampered with. You regret divorcing me now, right?” he mocked.

He leaned in closer, “Don’t worry, I understand. Since you already lost your womb through that hysterectomy years ago it is normal that no man will want you. I can still keep you as my mistress.”

Tessa’s palm met his cheek in a heartbeat, sending gasps flying through the air.

Mark’s eyes reddened instantly. “Are you mad?” he barked out as his chest rose and fell rapidly.

She smiled; unfazed. “If you want more, keep talking.”

He clenched his jaw hard as he glared at her like a beast, “Security! Get this woman out of here, now!”

The men were about to drag Tessa away when the clinging sounds of phone notifications filled the room.

It was the business news announcing that the Whitmore group’s crisis had been resolved and there was a new chairperson.

“Don’t! Don’t touch the Chairwoman!”

Mark was about to lose his mind, “What did you do?” he furiously demanded.

She shrugged her shoulders in nonchalance. “I simply bought 20% of the company shares and plus your 50% I became not only the highest shareholder of the Whitmore group, but the Chairwoman.”

She slowly smirked, “Mr. Whitmore, you should get out now.”

Mark staggered back as he stared at her like he was looking at an alien. “Who are you?” He could not recognise the meek Tessa he had always known anymore.

Tessa shrugged her shoulder, “Your Ex-wife.” She signaled the security and they dragged Mark out from the premises immediately.

“How dare you! How can you do this to your husband!” his voice faded as they went away.

“Husband?” she scoffed. “Who said they had no blood relations before?”

“After six years of sacrificing myself for the family and swallowing all those humiliation, this is what you owe me.”

Her gaze never left the doors they had left through till the robotic voice sounded again.

{Mission one accomplished – 6 weeks and 5 days to pathogen outbreak – priority asset’s condition is still stable}

{Mission two – purchase a reinforced industrial loft on the city’s edge and build a fortress}