Chapter 9 - The Final Ultimatum
Dominic stopped two feet away from me, his chest heaving. The haughty, untouchable corporate predator was entirely gone, replaced by a desperate man staring down the barrel of total financial and social ruin.
"I'll give you everything," Dominic whispered hoarsely, glancing nervously toward Mrs. Higgins, who was shamelessly eavesdropping from behind a nearby boxwood. "The house, the cars, the secondary accounts... just sign the emergency release form and let me retain my position as managing director. If the board ousts me completely, I'm finished."
I tilted my head, studying him with detached curiosity. How poetic. Exactly ninety-six hours ago, he had stood in our bedroom and told me to be gone by morning with nothing. Now, he was begging me on his front steps for mercy.
"You wanted a clean break, Dominic," I said quietly, stepping closer so only he could hear. "You told me this life required a certain kind of woman. You were right. It requires someone with intelligence, strategy, and loyalty—qualities you traded away for a pretty face and a bottle of expensive perfume."
"Evelyn, please—"
"Here are my terms," I interrupted, my voice dropping into a cold, uncompromising register. "You sign over full and complete ownership of the estate, all remaining unencumbered assets, and your resignation from Vale Enterprises effective immediately. In exchange, I won't press criminal charges for corporate embezzlement and tax evasion."
Dominic’s eyes widened in sheer horror. "You can't do that! That's corporate extortion!"
"It's not extortion, Dominic. It's an exit interview," I replied, slipping my sunglasses back over my eyes. "You have until sundown to sign the papers Arthur Pendelton is sending to your office. If the papers aren't on my desk by 6:00 PM, I hand the federal audit files directly to the Department of Justice."
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Without waiting for his answer, I turned my back on him, walked past the gaping neighbors, and climbed back into the SUV.
As the vehicle pulled away down the circular drive, I looked in the side mirror one last time. Dominic was still standing on the stone steps, a tiny, broken figure against the towering facade of a mansion that was no longer his.
