Chapter 5
Arthur gestured to the security guards,
who immediately stepped forward,
effectively cutting off any path between Brendan and myself.
"Mr. Morrison,
Mrs. Morrison,
and Miss Vale,"
Arthur announced,
his voice echoing off the high ceilings of the foyer.
"You have exactly ten minutes to gather your personal electronic devices and any essential medication."
"All other items inside this house,
including the clothes in the closets,
the jewelry in the safes,
and the artwork on the walls,
were purchased through corporate expense accounts and are now considered frozen assets under investigation."
"If you attempt to remove any corporate property from this premises,
the local police department—who are currently waiting at the edge of the driveway—will arrest you for grand larceny."
Jessica didn't even wait for Brendan to reply;
she grabbed her designer handbag from the side table,
avoids looking at anyone,
and practically sprinted out the front door into the cold night air.
"Jessica!"
Brendan called out,
but his voice was met only by the sound of her high heels rapidly fading down the long gravel driveway.
Diane looked around her beautiful,
opulent dining room,
her eyes lingering on the crystal chandelier,
the fine china,
and the massive oil painting of her late husband that hung over the fireplace.
"This is my home,"
she whispered,
tears of pure frustration and defeat finally spilling over her wrinkled cheeks.
"You can't take this away from me,
I am Diane Morrison,
I belong here."
"You belonged here as long as you showed respect to the people who provided it for you,
Diane,"
I said,
turning my back on her as I walked toward the entrance.
"But you forgot that the money didn't belong to your name;
it belonged to the company,
and the company belongs to me."
As I stepped out onto the grand stone portico,
the cool night air hit my face,
but I didn't feel cold anymore,
shielded by Arthur’s thick wool coat and the warmth of a massive victory.
A sleek,
black bulletproof corporate limousine was idling at the bottom of the steps,
its headlights cutting through the dark estate grounds.
The driver quickly stepped out,
opening the rear door for me with a deep,
respectful bow.
"Where to,
Chairwoman?"
he asked softly.
"To the downtown headquarters,
Marcus,"
I replied,
settling back into the plush leather seat as Arthur climbed into the front passenger side.
"We have a lot of work to do before the markets open at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
As the limousine pulled away from the grand mansion,
I looked out the tinted rear window and saw Brendan and his mother being escorted down the steps by my security detail.
Diane was clutching a small plastic bag of prescription bottles,
her expensive evening dress dragging through the wet grass,
while Brendan walked behind her,
his head bowed,
his shoulders slumped,
looking like a ghost of the wealthy man he had pretended to be.
They had no cars,
no money,
no corporate network,
and within twelve hours,
they would have no reputation left in the city they thought they owned.
I placed both hands over my pregnant stomach,
feeling the gentle,
steady movement of my son within me.
"We did it,
little one,"
I whispered into the quiet darkness of the car.
"No one will ever look down on us again."
Arthur turned around from the front seat,
his expression serious but proud as he handed me a tablet displaying the morning’s global press release schedule.
"The board has been fully convened via emergency digital link,
Cassidy,"
he stated,
his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"They are waiting for your opening statement,
and the public relations team has prepared the disclosure forms regarding the restructuring of Morrison Global Holdings."
"Good,"
I said,
wiping the remaining dampness from my brow as the city skyline loomed ahead,
May you like
bright and full of a new future.
"Let them know that the silent partner is no longer staying silent."
