Chapter 3

Two days later, the Westfield Group was falling apart.

Joseph sat at the head of the conference table, rubbing his forehead as the board members argued around him.

The company’s newest product had been found to contain a dangerous chemical and their business partners were cancelling contracts causing the company’s stock price to fall continuously.

“This is your responsibility!” one of the board members shouted. “You insisted on releasing the product before the final test results were completed.”

“If this continues, the Westfield Group will be bankrupt within a week.”

“We need emergency funding.”

Joseph clenched his jaw. “The funding is coming.” He responded.

The board members slowly became quiet. Everyone knew Sasha had agreed to invest part of her parents’ inheritance in the company.

She had also prepared an emergency plan in case the new product failed.

Joseph checked his phone again nervously; Sasha had not answered any of his calls. 

He was going to dail her number for the umpteen time when the door to the conference room opened.

His eyes immediately brightened. “Sasha.” He called out quickly.

Sasha walked in with a folder in one hand and her lawyer beside her.

Joseph stood and walked toward her. “I knew you would come.” He deliberately reduced his voice, “We can discuss what happened at home later. Give the financial department permission to complete the transfer first.”

Sasha avoided his hand. “I didn’t come to complete the transfer.” She informed as she signalled her lawyer.

Joseph stood still in shock. He watched as her lawyer handed a document to every board member.

Sasha remained standing at the end of the table. “The investment agreement has been cancelled,” she stated. “My inheritance will no longer be used as emergency funding for the Westfield Group.”

The room exploded.

“What?”

“Mrs. Westfield, you cannot cancel at a time like this!”

“This company will collapse!”

Joseph grabbed Sasha’s arm and pulled her toward the side of the room. “What are you doing?” he demanded in a low voice.

“Taking back my money.” She responded calmly.

“You promised to invest it.”

She nodded her head, “True, but I changed my mind.”

Joseph stared at her. Then his expression slowly changed to realisation “This is about Cassie.” He pointed out with restrained anger.

“No.” Sasha stated.

He scoffed, “You don’t need to keep pretending. My mother told me what happened.”

Sasha pulled her arm out of his hand.

Joseph lowered his voice as though he was speaking to an unreasonable child. “If Cassie living in the mansion makes you uncomfortable, I can ask her to leave for a few days.”

Sasha looked at him. “A few days?”

“She is the children’s mother. I cannot stop them from seeing her. But I can make sure she does not interfere with you.” He sounded as though he was offering her something valuable.

In Joseph’s mind, Sasha had always wanted one thing.

A place in his family.

He believed she had withdrawn the money because she was jealous and wanted him to prove she was more important than Cassie.

Sasha held back a scoff, “You don’t need to send Cassie anywhere for me. I already told you what I want.”

Joseph raised a brow. “A divorce?” 

“Yes.” She bit out.

He laughed coldly. “You expect me to believe you would end a six-year marriage because of one argument?” 

“It wasn’t one argument.”

“Sasha, you are almost thirty. You cannot have children, and you have no family other than us. Think carefully before you destroy your own life.” He ridiculed.

Sasha’s fingers curled around the medical folder in her bag. She did not show him the report yet.

Not until she had everything.

Joseph looked toward the board members and forced himself to soften his voice.

“Come home. I will ask Cassie to move out. My mother will apologize. Once you calm down, we can solve the company crisis together like we always do.”

There it was.

He was not afraid of losing her. He was afraid of losing her money and her ability.

“In my previous plan, there was a way to stop the company from collapsing,” Sasha revealed with a smile.

Joseph’s eyes lit up. “I knew it.”

“I withdrew that plan too.”

His smile disappeared. “You would let my company die because you are jealous?” he uttered through his gritted teeth.

Sasha stepped away from him. “You call it your company whenever people praise it. But every time it needs money or someone to save it, you call it ours.”

“Sasha!” He pressed on.

Her eyes on him became serious. “I’m finished saving you.”

She turned toward the board members.

“My lawyer has already submitted notice that none of my money, medical research, or personal work may be used by the Westfield Group without my written permission.”

Joseph’s face darkened. “You will regret this.” He threatened.

“No. You will.” Sasha dropped and walked out of the conference room.

Her phone vibrated before she reached the elevator informing her the bank had cancelled the scheduled transfer and her inheritance remained untouched.

Thirty million dollars.

In her previous life, she had used almost all of it to protect Joseph’s company.

This time, it would protect her.

{Mission completed.}

{Independent funds secured.}

{Six weeks and five days until pathogen outbreak.}

{Suggested mission: obtain a defensible shelter.}

Sasha stepped into the elevator.

Behind her, the conference room had become chaotic again and for the first time, it was not her responsibility.

***

Joseph returned home late that evening.

Hera was sitting on the sofa while Cassie complained about Sasha’s behavior.

“She called me a mistress in front of the children,” Cassie reported tearfully. “I only wanted to take care of them.”

Joseph loosened his tie. “Pack your things.” He ordered.

Cassie stopped crying. “What?” she stared at him dumbfounded.

“Move back to your apartment for now.”

Hera stood up. “You cannot be serious. This is your children’s home.”

He sighed out, “It is temporary.”

Cassie’s eyes reddened. “You are choosing Sasha over us?” her voice broke.

Joseph rubbed his forehead impatiently. “I am stopping Sasha from making another stupid decision.” He explained in a frustrated voice.

He knew his wife.

Once she heard that Cassie was gone, she would calm down. She would return home and transfer the money.

Then everything would return to normal.