Chapter 4

I didn't stop for a second, even after hearing Winona's venomous taunts. I walked directly out of the company's entrance, feeling absolutely no remorse. I felt a sense of profound relief washing over me once I shed my fixation on the company and Caleb. I had fought tooth and nail for him and the company, yet all he did was dispose of me when I was no longer useful to him. He seemed to have forgotten who rescued him when he was drowning in failure in the past. I was eager to see exactly how many days the company could survive without me since Caleb wanted me gone so badly. I was deep in thought when my phone suddenly rang. I glanced at the caller ID and hesitated momentarily. I answered the phone. A measured, resonant voice on the other end of the line immediately soothed the rage boiling inside me. "You free right now, Ms. Sullivan? Is it convenient for you to talk right now?" I replied, "It's not very convenient right now, Mr. Gardner. You might not have heard, but I'm no longer working for the Smith Group." Hank Gardner stated calmly, "I'm aware of it. I'd just like you to know that our company has an immediate opening for a COO with proven leadership. Is this something you'd be interested in talking about, Ms. Sullivan?" Hank was the CEO of the Luminus Group, which happened to be Caleb's direct competitor. They had years of animosity between them. Luminus Group's aggressive pressure was undeniably a contributing factor to the Smith Group's near-financial ruin. Later, I was the one who single-handedly wrestled several crucial projects away from their control, giving the Smith Group the space it needed to recover. Hank had tried to recruit me with lucrative offers several times before, but my judgment had been clouded by sentiment. I couldn't bring myself to abandon Caleb back then. It seemed like joining the Luminus Group was the perfect choice right now. "Where should we meet, Mr. Gardner?" I accepted Hank's invitation without hesitation. I knew I had to attend this meeting. I couldn't risk alienating such a powerful figure in the business world, regardless of whether I ended up working at the Luminus Group or starting my own company. I would have sought him out eventually, even if he hadn't called me. The enemy of my enemy was my ally, after all. Hank arranged the meeting at a restaurant directly across from the Smith Group building. He had reserved a private room that offered a perfect, unobstructed view. His choice was clearly a calculated flourish, a statement intended for public consumption. He poured me a glass of water, then cut straight to the chase. "Have you truly moved on, Ms. Sullivan? Do you truly no longer care about Mr. Smith and the Smith Group?" He seemed slightly taken aback by my composure. "You single-handedly resurrected Smith Group, and for them to cut you loose once things improved—to abandon you when you were no longer needed—that is truly appalling." He was clearly trying to provoke me, but the underlying sentiment of his statement was accurate. I merely said with a smile, "I'm perfectly fine with it. If I had the skill to rescue that company, then I could certainly build something better." Hank looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze for a moment before asking, "You still have shares in the company, right? I'll acquire them from you, so just name the price, Ms. Sullivan." I shook my head and said, "I'm not selling my shares. I'll hold onto them until Caleb is forced to repurchase them. I may be done with the company, but I'll get every cent that is rightfully mine!" Hank smiled knowingly after hearing that. He suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "You shouldn't turn around right now. Just glance to the side." I froze, then cautiously glanced toward the side. It was then that I noticed that someone familiar was watching me intently. It was actually Caleb. I couldn't help but wonder if he was actually feeling anxious now. I thought it was perfect, as I intended to take back everything he owed me, with interest. I checked my phone after the meal with Hank and found scores of missed calls. Some were from Caleb, while several others were from executives from the Smith Group. I ignored every single call and simply switched my phone off. I had just gotten inside my apartment when Caleb suddenly burst through the door. I suddenly realized, with a jolt, that I had forgotten to delete the fingerprint access I had set up for him a while ago. "Who did you meet with today, Giselle?" Caleb demanded, looking completely sullen. I paid him no attention, instead taking my time to pour myself a glass of water before settling onto the couch and leisurely flipping through a magazine. Caleb was enraged. He violently slapped the glass from my grasp and bellowed, "Did you meet up with Hank from the Luminus Group? How long have you two been seeing each other? That explains why you've been so dismissive toward me recently!" He grew increasingly hysterical, pointing right at my face and yelling, "I knew something was up! That look he always gave you was suspicious! You've been sleeping with him this whole time, haven't you? "You'd better not fall for his lies, Giselle! He's only interested in your shares! They're mine since they belong to the company! You won't get to walk away with them!"