THE EX-WIFE MAKES A COMEBACK のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 61 - チャプター 70

(Serena's POV)Emma was on the floor building a tower out of blocks that I was certain would fall over in the next few seconds.I was on the sofa with my phone, scrolling through business articles I had no real reason to be reading except that Julian's name kept appearing in them lately and I'd learned a long time ago that knowing what Julian was doing meant I could prepare for whatever chaos he was about to bring into my life.That's how I found out about her.Not through Julian or that goody-two-shoes Daniel. But through an algorithm that decided I might be interested in a Forbes article about BioGen Dynamics' New York expansion because it mentioned Hart Industries.The article had photos. The CEO on stage. Burgundy suit. A fascinator covering most of her face. With only her jaw and mouth visible.But I'd seen that mouth before. The owner used to be my best friend. Seven years ago when she was still married to Julian and I was the other woman who thought she was doing something bold

(Lena's POV)"They're ready to meet."Elena announced over the phone. She had called an hour later, and I was still at the lab. It was past seven in the evening and most of the team had gone home, but I still had to finish up the task. "When?" I asked."Tomorrow morning by Ten o'clock. I've arranged meetings with two journalists — one from The Guardian, one from Financial Times. They’re both credible. And will do their jobs properly.""Good. You'll handle it.""You're not coming?" She asked, surprised."No. You know what to do.""You're sure about this? Once we hand over that file—”"Elena, hand them the documentation. Tell them the facts are the facts and we're not asking for commentary or opinion. We're just making sure the public record is complete. That's all.""Alright. I'll call you after."I hung up and returned to work. That mattered more than whatever Elena was doing tomorrow morning.***The next day I arrived at the lab by seven.Dr. Obi was already there running tests whe

(Elena's POV)"The integration timeline seems aggressive."I said during the quarterly planning meeting without looking up from the document in front of me. Daniel was presenting Hart Industries' post-acquisition integration data to the BioGen board, and I'd been listening for the last twenty minutes while taking notes that I didn't really need because I'd already read the entire report twice."It's ambitious, not aggressive. The infrastructure is already in place. We're not building from scratch,” he replied, without pausing."Still. Q2 to Q3 leaves very little margin for complications.""I've accounted for complications in the emergency planning. It's on page seven."I flipped to page seven even though I already knew what was there. He had accounted for it, of a truth.This has been my life for the last six months. Daniel in London for meetings. Me representing BioGen at industry events where Hart Industries also had a presence. Emails back and forth about partnerships, projections

(Elena's POV)We were standing too far apart in the room, like people observing social distance.I'd stepped inside and Daniel closed the door and now we were both just standing, while I fiddled with my fingers clueless on why the hell I even asked to come in.I could just take a walk of shame and leave. Lie I had something to do at the Lab. Anything. Anything to escape this awkwardness.While I was still contemplating, he suddenly broke the silence."For the record, I've never texted Camille."I looked up at him sharply."I've barely spoken to Camille beyond that dinner," he continued. "I was thinking about something you said about the expansion model the entire time she was talking."I stared at him. "Seriously?"He nodded and put the document down on the desk and took off his reading glasses."I've been thinking about things you've said in meetings for about fourteen months," he added. "In case you were wondering.”The air in the room changed, and I suddenly felt warm. I continued

(Lena's POV)"This came through the legal department this morning."Elena said, dropping a folder on my desk while I was reviewing the latest ALS trial data. It was early. Just past seven and the lab was still quiet.I picked up the folder and opened it.“CONFIDENTIAL PROPOSAL: MERGER DISCUSSION BETWEEN HART INDUSTRIES AND BIOGEN DYNAMICS.”I read the first page. Then the second. Then I put it down and looked at Elena."Hart Industries wishes to propose a merger," I said flatly."That's what it says."I picked it up again and read through the executive summary. The proposal was professionally written, outlining potential synergies between Hart's biotech division and BioGen's research capabilities. Market projections. Integration timelines. Revenue forecasts. All of it was signed by Julian's legal team."This is not about biotech," Elena said."Obviously.""What do you want to do?"I closed the folder and looked at her directly. "I want to make him regret asking."***I spent the next