Chapter 6

I left the conference room.

Michael was left to stew in his own fear and despair.

I knew my words had broken him down completely.

Buying the company was the appetizer, and opening up the black hole in his books was the course that would finish him.

I returned to the temporary office I'd rented.

Falcon was already there, waiting for me.

She said, "Ms. Carter, everything's going just as planned.

"Grant Innovations has been sliding since we announced the offer.

"A few of their key partners have already called, trying to figure out what's really happening."

I nodded, picked up a glass of wine, and walked to the window.

Beyond the glass was the city I had left five years ago, familiar and foreign at the same time.

"Any news on Vivian?" I asked.

I swirled the wine in my glass, watching the deep red liquid trace elegant curves along the glass.

Falcon handed me a tablet.

"Vivian Blake, one of the top young dancers in the country. She just closed a solo run at the National Grand Theater and it sold out every night.

"The press is calling her the butterfly that rose out of the rubble.

"Her love story with Michael still gets its own segment every few months."

On the screen was a photo of Vivian in white, turning under a spotlight.

She moved with effortless grace, her expression almost angelic.

She looked like a fairy, untouched by the troubles of the mortal world.

"A butterfly?" I laughed and took a sip of the wine.

"She flies that high because she used my bones for fertilizer."

Falcon looked at me with a flicker of worry.

"Ms. Carter, do we move on her now?"

I shook my head.

"No rush.

"Cat and mouse is only fun when the cat takes her time.

"I don't want her simply disgraced.

"I want her to feel what it is to fall out of the sky and land in hell."

"I want everything she's proudest of to come apart in front of her, one piece at a time."

I set my wine glass down.

"Leak the acquisition anonymously to a few entertainment outlets that already have it in for her.

"Make sure they lean on the part where Nova Capital came out of nowhere and plays rough.

"Tell them Grant Innovations is about to change hands."

Falcon immediately caught on to what I meant.

"Yes, Ms. Carter. I'll start tonight."

After she left, the office was mine again.

My phone buzzed.

A text from an unknown number popped up.

Unknown number: [Who are you? What did you do to Michael?]

It was Vivian, which meant Michael had already told her about me.

I could picture exactly how frantic she was.

I didn't reply.

Instead, I scrolled to a number I had kept in my contacts for five years and never once called, which was Michael's personal cell.

I sent him a photo.

It was our wedding photo, the one I had nearly died protecting under the concrete.

The frame was in pieces, and the glass was streaked with old blood.

In the picture, we were smiling so sweetly.

After sending the photo, I tossed my phone aside.

Neither of them was sleeping that night, and the crack between them started right there.