All Chapters of Ashes Of His Regret : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

DAMIEN'S POVThe board member's question comes during our quarterly review."Mr. Hale, given the recent... publicity surrounding your marriage, do you feel it affects your judgment as CEO?"I look at Richard Thornton. Seventy years old. Been on this board for twenty years. Never liked me."No," I say simply."No? The entire city is speculating about whether your marriage is legitimate. Your wife—""My wife is sitting right here. You can address her directly."Esmeralda doesn't flinch. Just looks at Thornton with perfect composure."Ms. Morrison—apologies, Ms. Hale—do you feel qualified to hold the position of co-CEO given that you've only been with this company for four months?""Yes," she says. "My qualifications speak for themselves. The Morrison integration is ahead of schedule and under budget. Our Q4 projections are up twelve percent. I've brought in three major clients this quarter alone. Would you like me to continue?"Thornton's jaw tightens.Marcus hides a smile."That won't

ESMERALDA'S POVWe don't talk in the car.Don't talk in the elevator.Don't talk until we're inside the penthouse with the door closed and locked.Then Damien turns to me."We're having the conversation. Tonight. No more avoiding it.""I know.""Good."We stand there. Neither of us moving."So talk," I say finally."You first.""Why me first?""Because I asked you to."I almost smile. "That's not a reason.""Fine. Because I'm terrified and I need you to go first."The honesty catches me off guard."Terrified of what?""Of you saying this isn't real. That you're only staying until Julian's destroyed. That once the plan is finished, you're leaving."I stare at him."Is that really what you think?""I don't know what to think. You've been pulling away for two weeks. Avoiding me. Working late. Making excuses not to talk.""Because I'm scared too!""Of what?""Of the same thing! That you want this to end now that the contract is over. That you're only keeping me around until the revenge i

DAMIEN'S POVShe has been quiet throughout the drive home, staring out the window, bending her head downwards thinking.I want to ask what Julian said.Want to know every word.But I wait.Give her space to tell me when she's ready.We get to the penthouse. She pours wine. I pour scotch.We sit on the couch.Finally, she speaks."He apologized. For everything.""And?""And he asked if there was a chance we could get back together."My hand tightens on the glass."What did you tell him?""I told him I love you. That it's too late. That we're done."The tension in my shoulders eases slightly."But then he brought up the contract. Said if our marriage wasn't real, maybe there was still a chance for us.""What did you say to that?""I said the marriage started as a contract but it's real now. That I love you."She said it. To Julian.Claimed me in front of him."And how did he react?""He fell apart. Completely. He's desperate, Damien. Broken." She takes a sip of wine. "I almost felt so

CELESTE'S POVThe invitation arrives in the morning mail.Cream cardstock. Embossed lettering.the Metropolitan Museum GalaAnnual Benefit for the ArtsI've attended this gala for thirty years.I'm on the committee.I helped plan it.But this year, my name isn't on the list.I call Margaret Sinclair immediately."Margaret, darling. I think there's been a mistake. I didn't receive my invitation to the gala."Pause."Celeste. Yes. About that."My stomach drops."What about it?""The committee felt it would be best if you sat this year out. Given everything with Julian and the... situation."The situation.My son being removed as CEO. The scandals. The federal investigation.Me."I see.""It's not personal, you understand. It's just—optics.""Optics.""Yes. We have to be careful about our association with certain... controversies."Controversies.I've spent thirty years building my reputation in this city.Thirty years of charity work and social connections and carefully curated influen

ESMERALDA'S POVMarcus spreads the files across the conference table.Eight months of work.Hundreds of documents.All the evidence we need to destroy Julian Voss."This is everything," he says. "Offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. $87 million hidden from federal taxes. Wire transfers showing the sabotage payments to Morrison company insiders. Emails proving he knew about the fraud. Securities violations. Insider trading. All of it."I pick up one of the files.Read through it.It's damning. Completely damning."How did you get the emails?""We have someone on the inside. Someone Julian fired six months ago who was very motivated to help.""And it's all admissible?""Legal team says yes. We obtained it through proper channels. No illegal hacking. No stolen documents. Everything can be used."Damien's standing at the window. Silent."When do we release it?" I ask.Marcus looks at Damien."That's your call," Damien says without turning around.Mine.The decision is mine.I look at