Chapter 3
Good evening,
distinguished guests,
investors,
and friends.
Eleanor spoke with a voice that was smooth as velvet,
yet laced with an unmistakable edge of pure steel.
I apologize for my late arrival,
but I simply could not miss the opportunity to celebrate my brilliant husband,
and the incredible success of Ether Innovations.
Julian felt a cold bead of sweat roll down the back of his neck,
wishing the floor would open up and swallow him whole,
because her polite words were far more terrifying than any angry accusation.
She turned her head slightly,
acknowledging Isabella with a brief,
chilling nod.
And of course,
we must applaud the tireless efforts of Isabella Rossi,
who has worked so intimately with Julian,
spending countless late nights ensuring that this launch was an unforgettable climax.
A few people in the audience chuckled nervously,
missing the lethal double meaning hidden in her elegant phrasing,
while Isabella turned a deep,
embarrassing shade of red.
Eleanor placed her free hand over her pregnant belly,
a gesture that immediately drew every eye in the room to her unborn child,
solidifying her image as the devoted,
expectant matriarch.
When Julian and I started this company in a dusty garage,
we made a promise to build something based on trust,
loyalty,
and unwavering partnership.
She paused,
letting the heavy words hang in the silent air,
making sure Julian felt the crushing weight of his betrayal.
I provided the capital,
and he provided the charm.
But as any successful venture capitalist knows,
investments must be carefully monitored,
and toxic assets must be ruthlessly liquidated to protect the core portfolio.
The energy in the ballroom shifted instantly,
as the seasoned business leaders in the crowd recognized the corporate terminology,
realizing that this was not a simple toast.
This was a public execution.
Julian opened his mouth to speak,
desperate to interrupt her before she destroyed his reputation entirely,
but his voice failed him completely.
Effective as of one hour ago,
Eleanor continued seamlessly,
I have exercised my executive rights as the majority shareholder of the holding company that actually owns Ether’s intellectual property.
A collective gasp echoed through the room,
because nobody,
not even the board of directors,
knew that the patents were held in a separate entity entirely controlled by his wife.
Therefore,
I am announcing a massive restructuring of our executive leadership,
to ensure the moral and financial integrity of our future.
She turned back to Julian,
her eyes completely devoid of the love she had once held for him.
I raise my glass to new beginnings,
she said softly,
even though she held no glass at all.
She handed the microphone back to a stunned Julian,
May you like
leaving him standing frozen under the blinding stage lights,
as she turned and gracefully walked away.
