n the conference room, every executive looked like they were attending a funeral.
I spread all my evidence across the table–lists <b>of </b>every gift I’d bought Ryder over the years, our chat logs, and detailed records of every investment I’d made in Montgomery Corp.
I looked around the room at each board member.
“One little snake like Ryder isn’t enough to bring down Shaw Enterprises. Why do you all look like somebody died?”
The most senior board member suddenly mmed his pen down on the table.
“Ms. Shaw, I worked for your father. You should call me Uncle. Let me be straight with you<b>–</b>now’s not the time for any moves. You should take a leave of absence.”
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“Wait for this to blow over, let things calm down, thene back.”
“We’ll find someone to cover your duties temporarily.”
My hands clenched under the table. <fnd1c7> Readplete version only at </fnd1c7>
I looked around the room. “Does everyone else feel the same way?”
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The PR director cleared her throat nervously. “Ma’am, this evidence only proves you two were in a rtionship. It doesn’t disprove that you used your power to threaten Mr. Montgomery…‘
Iughed and cut her off. “Isn’t figuring out how to spin this supposed to be your job?”
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She took a deep breath and pulled off her ID badge.
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“Ms. Shaw, if that’s how you’re gonna be, there’s nothing I can do. I’m just PR. I can’t clean up a mess this big.”
Several other executives stood up.
The business development director was Ryder’s cousin. He looked at me with this heavy expression.
“Ms. Shaw, just stop fighting this. You used to call me cousin too, remember? After what you did to my cousin, you think you can just walk away clean? You’re putting us in an impossible position.”
Looking at him, I almostughed out loud.
Years ago, I’d fought the board to get him this position–all because of Ryder.
He knew better than anyone how I’d treated Ryder.
But now he was turning on me, making usations with zero proof.
I looked at all these people and finally understood.
The Montgomery family had their fingers in way too many pies.
“Sweetheart, just stop being stubborn. Your father’s gone, so I should look after you. Don’t worry about taking some time off–we’ll keep thepany running.”
I didn’t respond to the so–called uncle.
The conference room was so quiet you could hear everyone breathing.
They were all waiting for me to announce my leave of absence.
My phone suddenly rang.
I saw the name on the screen and put it on speaker.
Ryder’s voice filled the room.
“So? Have you made up your mind, Ms. Shaw? You’re facing problems inside and out. Zara, you don’t have any other choice. Just give up.”
Give up?
Ryder, after all these years together, you still don’t know me at all.
Anyone I want to destroy stays destroyed–that includes YOU.
I hung up the phone and calmly surveyed everyone in front of me.
“How many of you took Montgomery money thinking you could take me down today?”