Chapter 1
My husband, Keith Reed, was the top financial prodigy in the city. He specialized in rebuilding empires on top of ruins.
He had a childhood sweetheart, Nancy Cooper, who specialized in creating those ruins.
For ten years, one of them saved markets, while the other shorted them. They treated the financial world like a chessboard.
My family business, the Howard Group became their newest battlefield.
Nancy aimed straight at Howard Group's core assets, and it stood on the edge of collapse.
Keith rushed over overnight with a restructuring contract he already prepared.
As he drafted clauses, he sighed. "Don't blame Nancy. She's childish, not malicious. She knew I would clean up after her. She just wanted to provoke me.
"Shannon, once you sign this, the Howard Group will survive."
Before I answered, Nancy's assistant rushed in and called him away.
He left in such a hurry that he never noticed the clause buried deep in the document. The clause would push Howard Group straight into bankruptcy and locked it into massive debt.
It was a hidden cross-default clause that tied Howard Group's debt directly to Reed Group's assets. When it triggered, Howard Group's debt would become Keith's responsibility. The Reed family would have to pay it off.
I looked at the contract and smiled bitterly.
Keith, this time, you would go to hell with me.
*****
When Keith came back, the restructuring contract was sitting there, wide open on the table.
The fatal bet-agreement clause was slipped between page twelve.
If he'd bothered to look a little closer, he would've spotted it.
But he didn't.
"Shannon," he said softly.
He took off his coat and walked over to me.
A strong scent hit me instantly. It was Nancy's perfume, which was suggestive in itself.
He said, "My assistant told me you signed. Thanks.
"Don't worry. This is just a hiccup. I'll make sure Howard Group bounces back, I promise."
He reached out, pulled me close, and leaned down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.
His voice brimmed with confidence and control. He was totally unaware of the ticking time bomb hidden in his so-called 'revival' contract.
But then Nancy had been gunning for Howard Group for as long as I could remember.
It was always the same drill, and Keith handled it with practiced ease.
He relished being on top of the world, savoring the feeling of absolute control.
He got a kick out of Nancy lighting the match and him swooping in to play firefighter.
Mr. Always-Cautious didn't even bother to give the contract a second look this time. He figured it was just another play in his ongoing drama with Nancy.
And me? I was nothing but a prop in their story, a tool for them to use however they pleased.
I looked away from him, keeping my voice calm. "Yeah, I signed it. Howard Group's disaster is your problem now."
He gently caressed my cheek, his eyes holding the right amount of indulgent fondness.
He said, "Don't worry. Leave it to me. Howard Group will be just fine. You only need to relax and be my wife."
His fingers were warm, but all I felt was the icy crawl of a snake across my skin.
"Oh, and don't blame Nancy," he said again.
He brought her up once more.
He went on, "She's just used to being childish. She didn't mean to go after Howard Group.
"She just apologized to me, crying. She said she only wanted to push me to step in. She never expected you'd take it so hard."
I stared at him, feeling the last bit of warmth in my heart fade away.
To Keith, my family's company was just a plaything to Nancy, and her actions nothing more than childish mischief.
"I'm tired. I'm going to bed," I said.
I reached out and gently pushed him aside.
He paused for a moment, then chuckled softly and gave my chin a light pinch.
"Want me to carry you upstairs?" he asked.
I looked him straight in the eye. "No."
His smile faded.
"You're still upset with Nancy, aren't you?" Keith asked.
When I didn't respond, he let out a sigh, then picked me up and carried me toward the stairs anyway.
He said, "Come on, stop making a fuss. Nancy didn't mean any harm. She's just spoiled and loves to mess around.
"Honestly, this whole thing isn't even a big deal. You're my wife and older than her, so don't get worked up over a kid being childish."
I took a deep breath and spoke softly, "Howard Group's stock just crashed, and you're telling me it's no big deal? You know exactly how much Howard Group means to me."
Keith paused, and gave me a familiar reassuring smile.
He said, "Don't worry. It's no big deal. With me around, Howard Group's safe."
In our six years of marriage, he always said, "With me around, nothing can go wrong."
He thought he was a god.
But what he didn't realize was that when I signed that evil contract, all I wanted was to be the devil that dragged him down to hell with me.
Keith really was brilliant, a living legend in the business world.