Chapter 5
The dress had a V-neck, a fitted waist, and a slit that reached up to my thigh.
I paired it with four-inch black heels.
Then I sat down at my vanity and gave myself a sharp, striking look.
The focus was a classic red lipstick.
It was bold, sharp, carrying a fierce, aggressive punch.
Looking at the radiant woman in the mirror, her eyes cold and steely, I smiled with satisfaction.
I told myself, "Welcome back, Monica."
The show was getting started.
I grabbed my car keys and headed out.
My destination was the office.
I was curious to see how far they'd taken their little act now that the "wicked witch" wasn't there to stir things up.
My car was a white Porsche.
Rhett had given it to me as a gift on the day the company went public.
He said it was to thank me for all the years I'd stood by his side and everything I'd done for him.
Thinking about it, it couldn't have been more ironic.
The car cruised smoothly toward the CBD downtown.
There stood the business empire Rhett and I had built together from the ground up.
And what was waiting for me was a setup.
The Porsche glided into my reserved spot in the company's underground garage.
I turned off the engine, but didn't get out right away.
I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror. My lips were blood-red, my eyes cold as ice.
That was perfect. This was my war paint and armor.
I opened the door and stepped out, my heels clicking crisply against the shiny floor.
The sound echoed through the empty underground garage, amplified and clear, like war drums announcing battle.
Once inside the elevator, I hit the button for the top floor, where the CEO's office was.
The elevator doors slid open.
The familiar reception desk and the company logo wall came into view.
But today, the vibe was different.
The usually quiet and orderly office was drowned in an eerie hush.
Everyone sat at their desks, putting on a show of productivity.
But their restless eyes, attentive ears, and the furtive exchanges on the office chat app betrayed them.
The air was thick with gossip and speculation.
When I walked in, rocking a blazing red dress, the whole office seemed to freeze.
It was like someone had hit the pause button on the entire place.
In that instant, every pair of eyes snapped to me.
Shock, curiosity, sympathy, and even a bit of smug satisfaction, all those emotions tangled together, weaving an invisible net that closed in on me.
I paid them no mind.
I straightened my back, lifted my chin, and kept my gaze fixed ahead.
My destination was the office at the end of the hallway. It was Rhett's domain.
The click of my heels was the only sound in the dead silence.
With every step, it was like I was stepping on everyone's nerves.
They watched me as if I were the leading lady in the office's drama, taking center stage.
I walked past them, my face a mask of indifference.
The closer I got to the CEO's office, the louder the whispers became.
"Oh my god, Ms. Sanford is here."
"Dressed like that, is she here to 'declare war'?"
"This is gonna be epic. Quick, fire up the conference app. Let's stream this for everyone."
"Matilda's still in Mr. Shelton's office. She went in crying this morning and hasn't come out yet."
I caught the whispers. A cold smirk flashed across my lips.
That was great.
The audience was ready.
I stopped in front of the heavy, solid wood door, shut tight.
The door did a good job keeping out noise, but I could still catch the stifled, intermittent sobs coming from inside.
It was Matilda's voice.
I didn't bother knocking.
With everyone watching, I grabbed the handle and threw the door open.
The moment the door swung wide, the scene inside was on full display, not only for me, but also for all those nosy eyes peeking from the hallway.
Inside, Rhett was standing by his desk.
Matilda was curled up on the guest sofa, sobbing her heart out, her shoulders trembling and tears pouring down her face.
Rhett held a tissue, leaning in to hand it to her.
His face was clouded with irritation and a hint of pity he couldn't quite hide.
At the sound of the door opening, both of them whipped their heads toward the entrance.
When Matilda saw me, her sobs cut off instantly, as if someone had grabbed her by the throat.
Panic flashed in her eyes, but was quickly drowned out by fresh tears and a look of hurt.
The moment he saw me, Rhett froze on the spot.
The tissue in his hand hung awkwardly in the air, as if he'd forgotten what to do with it.
The office was so silent that I could hear a pin drop.
I leaned casually against the doorframe, arms folded, watching this oh-so "touching" scene play out in front of me.
I laughed, breaking the tense hush.
"Mr. Shelton, looks like you're busy, huh?" I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Am I interrupting something?"