Chapter 1
My best friend, Sophie Lane, said I was crazy.
I was lazy to the core.
My husband, Alex Carter, was having an affair with Emily White. I knew all about it, but I just didn't care enough to do anything.
For ten years, those two were all lovey-dovey, while I just lazed around at home, doing nothing with my life.
But the crazy thing was, those two were so competent that they actually managed to take my small, nearly bankrupt company public.
I was planning to keep being the hands-off boss, but this year, they suddenly called me in for a talk.
Alex slid a contract across the table. "Here's 3 million dollars. Take it and walk away with nothing else."
I glanced at the company, now worth over 30 million dollars, and couldn't help but laugh. "Are you two sure you haven't messed up?"
*****
The air conditioning in the café was blasting.
Across from me sat my husband, Alex, and his mistress of ten years, Emily.
The two of them sat side by side, looking like a pair of perfectly synchronized business partners. Both were dressed in tailored designer suits, sporting matching watches on their wrists.
Meanwhile, I was in a loose cotton-linen dress and flat shoes, looking like a housewife who'd accidentally crashed a fancy corporate meeting.
Alex slid a document across the table to me.
Beside the document was a check for 3 million dollars.
"Lauren, let's talk," Alex said, his voice calm, with that patronizing tone only a boss would use.
"For the past ten years, you haven't lifted a finger. The company's success is all because of Emily and me."
He paused, as if giving me a moment to take it in.
"There's nothing left between us. Dragging this out isn't good for anyone," he said.
Emily, sitting beside him, flashed a soft, apologetic smile right on cue.
"Lauren, Alex is doing this for your own good. With this money, you can kick back and enjoy the rest of your life, no worries, no stress," she said.
Her tone was so sincere, like she honestly cared about me.
It had been ten years.
Ever since I dumped that dying little company on Alex, I'd been living the retired life.
I knew he was having an affair with his right-hand woman, Emily, but I couldn't be bothered to call him out on it.
As long as they kept the company running and the money kept hitting my account, I couldn't care less how many Emilys or whoever else he had on the side.
Sophie always told me I was basically raising a tiger that would bite me one day.
I just smiled, unfazed.
I would let the tiger grow fat. When it was time to take it down, the reward would taste even sweeter.
I didn't touch the divorce agreement or even glance at the check.
Instead, I unhurriedly stirred my coffee, the porcelain spoon tapping against the cup with a crisp, rhythmic sound.
Over and over.
In the quiet booth, each clink seemed to echo even louder.
Alex's brow furrowed slightly. My calmness was clearly getting under his skin.
In his mind, I was supposed to cry and make a scene, act shocked, or try to squeeze more money out of him.
But instead, I sat there cool as a cucumber, like I was just an audience to someone else's drama.
"3 million dollars, and I walk away with nothing," I repeated softly, as if rolling the words around in my mouth.
"Alex, after ten years running a public company, is that really the extent of your ambition?" I added.
Alex's face darkened. "Lauren, don't be so greedy. Did you ever do anything for this company? You probably can't even tell me which office building it's in."
Emily cut in, her tone dripping with disdain. "Lauren, this company is worth over 30 million dollars, all because of Alex and me. Giving you 3 million dollars? Honestly, that's us being more than generous."
I finally stopped stirring my coffee.
I looked up at them.
A smile spread across my face.
It wasn't cold or sarcastic, just genuinely amused.
"Are you two sure you haven't messed up?" I asked.
My voice was soft, but it made both of them freeze in place.
"From the very beginning, I was the owner of this company. Every single share is under my name. You two? One's just my proxy, the other a senior employee," I said.
Seeing their faces shift from smug to stunned only made my smile grow wider.
"When did I ever say my company belonged to you?" I asked.
Alex's face turned a deep shade of red. "You! Lauren, without us, this company would be nothing but an empty shell!"
"So I should thank you, right?" I nodded. "And as a thank you, I made sure you always got every penny you deserved, salaries, bonuses, all of it.
"Emily, that bonus of over 1 million dollars you got at the end of last year, was that what paid for the watch you're wearing?"
Emily's face went ghostly pale.
I stood up and grabbed my bag.
"I'm not signing that divorce agreement. Not a single dollar leaves my hands," I said.
Standing above them, I looked down like I was watching two clowns perform their pathetic act.
"The annual shareholders' meeting is next month. I'll be there as the chairperson," I said.
"Let's see how you two manage to spend a single dollar of the company's money without my approval," I added.
I turned and walked away, leaving the two of them stunned and pale as sheets.
As I stepped out of the café, the sunlight was blinding.
My smile disappeared in a flash, leaving my face cold as ice.
I slid into my car and dialed a number.
"Mr. Foster, it's me," I said.
A steady male voice came through the line. "Ms. Grant, are you ready?"
"Yes," I said, watching the two figures chasing after me in the rearview mirror, my eyes cold as ice.
"They've shown their hand. It's time to put our plan into action," I said.
After ten years of fattening up the pig, it's finally time to cash in.