4

SPENCER’S POV

"What do you mean, 'frozen'?"

I slammed my palm onto the glass conference table, the vibration rattling the expensive Italian water bottles lined up for the board of directors. Every eye in the room was on me—some filled with pity, others with a growing, predatory hunger.

"The Chandler National Bank has suspended our operational accounts, Spencer," Marcus, my CFO, said without looking up from his tablet. He looked like he hadn't slept in forty-eight hours. "They’re citing a 'liquidity risk' following the Sterling merger announcement. Apparently, our debt-to-equity ratio isn't meeting their new... aggressive standards."

"Then find another bank!" I roared, pacing the length of the room. My reflection in the window mocked me. My suit was perfect, my hair was immaculate, but underneath, my skin was crawling. "We are Knox Industries. We are the backbone of this city's development!"

"Every bank we’ve called has given us the same answer," an older board member said, his voice dry as bone. "They’ve been told that anyone who funds Knox is an enemy of the Chandler Group. Nobody is willing to risk Silas Chandler’s ghost for a sinking ship, Spencer."

"It’s not a sinking ship!" I snarled. "The Apex Gala is in six days. The ticket sales alone will—"

A knock at the door interrupted me. My secretary, Sarah, entered, looking pale. She was carrying a sleek, expensive-looking black box tied with a silver ribbon.

"This just arrived for you, Mr. Knox," she whispered. "The courier said it was... urgent. A gift for the new CEO."

The board members shifted, their interest piqued. A gift? Perhaps a peace offering from a rival? Or a gesture from the Sterlings?

"Finally," I muttered, straightening my tie. I felt a surge of relief. "Someone with some sense."

I snatched the box from her hands and placed it on the table. With a smirk at the board, I pulled the ribbon. "You see? This is how business is done. Respect. Recognition."

I flipped the lid open.

The room went silent. I stared down into the box, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing. It wasn't a gold watch. It wasn't a bottle of aged scotch.

It was a rolls of heavy-duty, black trash bags. Premium quality.

Resting on top was a small, cream-colored card with elegant calligraphy. I picked it up, my fingers trembling slightly.

'For the office cleaning, Spencer. You’re going to need them when I evict you. Go back to the trash you love so much. — E.'

My heart stopped. E. Everly? That mousy, pathetic girl wouldn't have the guts to send this. She didn't even know how to order a courier. She was probably sitting in that rotting shack right now, wondering how to turn on the stove.

"Spencer?" Marcus asked, leaning in to see the box. "What is it? A contract?"

I slammed the lid shut, but it was too late. Several board members had already seen the bags. A stifled snicker came from the back of the room.

"It’s a joke," I hissed, my face turning a deep, humiliated red. "A tasteless joke from a disgruntled ex-employee. Sarah, throw this garbage away!"

"Actually, Mr. Knox," Sarah said, her voice trembling even more. "The courier... he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by a legal team. They’re in the lobby right now. They say they represent the new owners of the Knox Building."

"New owners?" I felt the floor tilt. "I own this building!"

"You had a lease-to-own agreement with Sterling Holdings," Marcus interjected, his voice flat. "But Sterling sold the paper to a shell company yesterday. If the new owners want to evict us for a breach of the moral turpitude clause..."

"The moral turpitude clause?" I screamed. "Because I got a divorce? That's ridiculous!"

"Because you were seen being forcibly removed from the Meridian Hotel last night," the older board member said, standing up and grabbing his briefcase. "It’s all over the blind items this morning, Spencer. 'Titan of Industry Tossed Like Trash.' It’s bad for the brand. Very bad."

One by one, the board members stood up and began to leave.

"Where are you going?" I shouted at their retreating backs. "We have a meeting! We have a Gala to plan!"

None of them looked back.

I was left alone in the massive boardroom, the black box of trash bags sitting on the table like a tombstone. I reached out and touched the card again. Everly. I took out my phone and dialed her old number. It was disconnected. I tried the emergency contact for the shack. No answer.

"You think you can play with me?" I whispered to the empty room, my grip tightening on the phone until my knuckles turned white. "You think some lucky break is going to save you? I made you, Everly. And I can break you again."

I turned to the window, looking out at the city I thought I owned. But for the first time, the skyscrapers didn't look like trophies. They looked like a cage.

"Sarah!" I buzzed the intercom. "Call Hailey. Tell her we’re going to the Sterling Estate tonight. I don't care if her brother is there or not. We need her father to sign that merger agreement tonight."