Chapter 8

On monday morning, Valerie's eyes snapped open at precisely 5:29 AM, a full minute before her alarm was set to sound. She silenced it immediately, almost flinging it across the wall.

She willed herself to be calm. Breath in. Breath out. She couldn't afford to be angry on a Monday morning, or the millions of staff under her would be rendered jobless in a split second.

The weekend had left her in a foul mood. First was Rick's rejection, then Aaron's unwelcome visit - both men had gotten under her skin in very different ways.

She threw back the covers and strode to her bathroom. Today was not about either of them. Today was about reminding everyone - including herself - exactly who she was.

The Duchess of New York.

By 6:15, she had completed her morning workout, a punishing routine that leaves her muscles sore. Yes, she loved the pain - physical discipline bred mental discipline - a lesson she'd learned quite early. Besides she needed to punish herself for letting a common man dismiss her like she was nothing.

"No, Valerie," she cautioned herself, "remember, today is not about him."

As Clara laid out her breakfast, Valerie scrolled through overnight reports from her Asian markets. A property acquisition in Japan was facing unexpected issues. She made a note to address it during her 9AM call.

"Your coffee, Ms. Valerie," Clara said, placing the steaming cup beside her.

Valerie nodded without looking up.

"I noticed a stain in the bathroom floor. The next time I see that, you better be gone from this house immediately."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Valerie. It will never happen again." Clara said, trembling slightly.

"Have you checked on the car??

"Yes ma'am. It'll be ready downstairs in ten minutes."

Valerie took a sip of her coffee, "Good."

By 7:30, she was dressed in a custom Chanel suit - navy blue with a touch of gold, and a four-inch Jimmy choo shoes that added to her already intimidating height. She accessed herself in the mirror... Yes, she looked ready to look down on every man today. The shoes were perfect.

At 8:30 sharp, she stepped out of the penthouse elevator into the private parking garage. Her driver and new head of security, Joe - Billy's replacement - stood at attention beside the Lamborghini.

"Good morning. Ms. Calder."

"Morning." She slid into the back seat, immediately opening her laptop. "Take the park route. Avoid Fifth Avenue construction."

The drive to Calder Tower took exactly twenty-three minutes, during which Valerie went through three international calls and revised a proposal for her Arab investors.

By the time the Lamborghini pulled up to a stop at the private entrance of the grand Calder Skyscraper, she had already accomplished more than most executives would in a full day.

Immediately she stepped into the lobby, the security team stood at attention. Her heels clicked sharply against the floors as she walked, head high, expression hardened.

Employees scattered like frightened birds as she passed. She could hear their whispers.

"The Duchess looks pissed."

"Someone's getting fired today."

"Don't make eye contact."

Fear was useful. It kept people in line, yes. But she didn't give a fuck about all that today. She just wanted to bury herself in work, and make more billions.

Melissa hurried alongside her, tablet in hand. "Your coffee is on your desk. The executive team is waiting in the conference room for the Monday meeting. And Mr. Sutton called three times already this morning."

"Sutton can wait," Valerie said coldly. "What's on the agenda for the meeting?"

"Market expansion, the Japanese deal status, and Mr. Morrey wants to discuss his department's budget again."

Valerie almost smiled. Ben Morrey. Executive Vice President of Operations. The man had been with the company for twenty years, hired by Dominic himself. He thought that made him untouchable.

He was about to learn otherwise.

"Perfect," Valerie said. "Let's not keep them waiting."

The conference room fell silent the moment she entered. Ten executives sat around the long table, each with folders and laptops open before them. Anxiety was written all over their faces as they took in her hardened expression. Well... all except Morrey, who leaned back in his chair with the confidence of a man who believed himself untouchable. Indispensable. Permanent.

"Good morning," Valerie said, taking her seat at the head of the table. "Let's begin."

For the next hour, she listened as each department head presented their reports. She asked strategic questions that exposed weaknesses in their plans, and corrected with smart decisions. Decisions that would have taken Dominic's board weeks of failed solutions. She also approved two expansion projects that had been stuck in limbo for awhile.

Then it was Morrey's turn.

"As I've been saying for months," he began, his tone sounding condescending, and belittling. "my department needs additional funding if we're expected to meet these targets. The budget you've allocated is simply insufficient."

Valerie studied him for a moment. Ben Morrey, fifty-seven, with thinning hair and an expanding waistline. He'd been one of Dominic's drinking buddies, one of the old guard who still saw her as the small weak wife rather than the CEO.

"I've reviewed your budget requests, Ben," she said calmly, opening a folder in front of her. "They're denied."

Morris blinked rapidly in surprise. "Denied? But that's..."

"Not only denied," Valerie continued as if he hadn't spoken, "but your department's budget will be cut by fifteen percent effective immediately."

The room went dead silent. No one even dared to breathe.

"That's outrageous!" Morrey roared, his face turning red. "Operations is the backbone of this company! You can't possibly..."

"I can and I have," Valerie interrupted. "And do you know why, Ben? Because I've spent the past three months having a forensic accountant go through every department's finances."

She pushed a document across the table. "Care to explain why your department has been allocating funds to a shell company called Morrey Enterprises? A company that happens to be registered to your son-in-law?"

Morrey went pale. "That's a legitimate business partnership."

"Oh really?" Valerie raised an eyebrow. "Because our investigation shows that Morrey Enterprises provides no actual services to Calder Industries. It's merely a way for you to funnel company money into your family's pockets."

"These accusations are..."

"Not accusations," Valerie cut him off. "Facts. Documented, verified facts that I've already shared with our legal team."

She looked around the table at the shocked faces of the other executives. "Let me be perfectly clear. This company belongs to me now. Not to Dominic's memory, not to the Calder family, and certainly not to the old boys' club that used to run it into the ground."

Her eyes returned to Morrey, who now looked like he might be sick. "You're fired, Ben. Security is waiting outside to escort you from the building. The company will be pressing charges for embezzlement."

Morrey jumped to his feet. "You can't do this! I've been with this company for twenty years! I helped build it with Dominic!"

"And you've been stealing from it for at least ten of those years," Valerie replied coldly. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? Did you think I was just some stupid girl who wouldn't understand the numbers?"

"The board won't stand for this," Morris threatened. "I have friends..."

"The board serves at my pleasure," Valerie reminded him. "And as for your friends? They should be very careful about which side they choose. I don't think they'd want to get on my bad side."

She pressed a button on the conference phone. "Security, please escort Mr. Morrey out. He is no longer employed here."

Two security guards entered immediately. Morrey frantically looked around the table, clearly expecting someone to defend him. No one did. No one even met his eyes.

"You can't do this!" he protested, as the guards approached. "You think you can just discard me as you please? The Calders still own half this company. Aaron will hear about this."

Valerie smiled coldly, a dangerous smile that made several people at the table shift uncomfortably in their seats. "Aaron already knows. He approved the forensic audit."

That was a lie, but Morrey didn't need to know that. Let him waste his time running to Aaron, who would only use the information for his own benefit.

As Morrey was led away, still shouting threats, Valerie turned back to the remaining executives. "Now, shall we continue? I believe we were discussing the Japanese expansion."

The meeting proceeded without further interruption, with each executive suddenly happy to remain within their budges and meeting targets. By the time it ended, Valerie had approved three major initiatives, streamlined two departments, and set aggressive new ground rules: Challenge me next time, and you're fired with immediate effect.

Back in her office, she kicked off her heels and poured herself a small glass of whiskey.

Melissa entered with piles of papers needing signatures. "That was... shocking," she said cautiously.

"That was necessary," Valerie corrected. "Morrey thought he was untouchable because of his history with Dominic. So did half the executive team. They needed a reminder of who's in charge now. It's been ten freaking years for crying out loud."

"Well, they certainly got the point." Melissa placed the papers on her desk. "By the way, Aaron Calder called while you were in the meeting."

Valerie's hand tightened around her glass. "What did he want?"

"He didn't say. Just that it was important you call him back."

"I'll bet he did," Valerie muttered. "File it under 'never happening.'"

"And there's one more thing." Melissa looked hesitant. "The mechanic... Mr. Cameron. He called."

Valerie froze, suddenly loosing her composure for the first time that day, "What did he want?"

"He said there was a problem with the tire he installed. Something about it being the wrong specification for your car. He insists on replacing it."

For a moment, Valerie said nothing, her mind rapidly accessing this unexpected situation. Rick Cameron, volunteering to see her again? Was he finally coming to his senses? Perhaps this was a ruse to see her again and accept her proposal. Well, she won't give in that easily... he'll have to beg for her attention like the others.

"Ms. Calder?" Melissa's voice cut through her thoughts. "Should I tell him you'll take the car to dealership instead?"

"No," Valerie decided, her composure already restored. "Tell him he can come to the penthouse tomorrow evening. Eight o'clock."

Melissa nodded.