PART 2
I didn’t leave the hotel building after walking out of the room.
I went up to the mezzanine bar, from where I could easily see the main lounge through a huge glass window. I ordered mineral water and checked my watch to track the exact minutes.
Down below, Brendan returned to the stage as if nothing had happened, adjusting his luxury jacket. Sabrina clung tightly to his arm, whispering something in his ear. Claire wandered among the tables, telling everyone that her son had finally got rid of the woman who was holding him back. They even posed together in front of the anniversary cake while the corporate photographer snapped a flurry of flashes.
The scene resembled a public debut of the future couple, and several guests avoided looking up at me because they had witnessed the slaps and preferred to pretend it wasn’t their business.
Twenty-eight minutes later, two lawyers, the director of corporate security, and several internal compliance officers appeared in the hallway. Some executives placed their glasses on the tables, immediately recognizing the newcomers because that kind of team didn’t show up at a party to hand out flowers.
At the front of the group walked Andy Ashworth, legal director of Pinnacle Enterprises.
The heavy double doors opened wide, cutting through the atmosphere.
The background music stopped instantly as the security team took control.
Brendan smiled immediately, walking toward them with his glass held high.
“Mr. Ashworth, that’s very thoughtful of you to drop by. I’m sure the president of the council sent you to congratulate me on five successful years,” Brendan said confidently.
Andy did not shake his extended hand and kept a strict expression.
He took out a thick leather folder from his briefcase.
“Mr. Alcott, I am here to execute an extraordinary resolution from the board of directors. Effective immediately, you are removed from your position, your digital access is suspended, and you must hand over your phone, computer, corporate card, and vehicle keys right now,” Andy stated firmly.
Brendan paled instantly, his broad smile vanishing into thin air.
Claire let out a sharp scream from across the room.
“That’s completely impossible! My son built this company with his own hands!” she yelled.
Andy continued reading without paying any attention to her outburst.
“The house in La Jolla is owned by a subsidiary of the group and was granted as a benefit linked to the position, so it will also be recovered tonight,” Andy added.
Sabrina stopped touching Brendan’s arm, taking a deliberate step away from him.
Brendan snatched the microphone off the podium, his face turning red with rage.
“I want to speak to the president of the council right now! No one has seen her for five years because all her agreements come signed electronically, so I’m not handing anything over until she comes here and tells me to my face,” he roared over the speakers.
Then I walked down the stairs into the lounge.
Each step of my high heels echoed clearly on the polished marble floor.
Brendan let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh as he saw me approach.
“What are you doing here again, Sydney?” he demanded with a sneer.
Andy turned towards me immediately and lowered his head respectfully.
“Ms. McCann, the resolution was executed according to your exact instructions,” he reported.
The security director did the exact same gesture of respect behind him.
The entire room froze in utter shock at the sudden display.
Brendan looked at Andy in total confusion, then turned to stare at me.
“No, that cannot be! Sydney, no! She’s just a simple housewife,” he stammered out.
I made the final decision and put an official document right in front of his face.
“Compare the signature to the one on your appointment letter from five years ago, and then compare it to the one on our marriage certificate,” I told him quietly.
His hands began to tremble violently as he looked between the papers.
“You are the president?” he whispered, his voice cracking entirely.
“I am the chair of the board and controlling shareholder of Pinnacle Enterprises,” I declared.
Claire dropped her expensive designer bag onto the floor in horror.
Sabrina took two quick steps back, completely detaching herself from Brendan.
Brendan could barely form a coherent sentence as his world crumbled.
“So the house, the luxury cars, my CEO job…” he muttered weakly.
“They were never yours to begin with,” I reminded him coldly.
He dropped to his knees right there on the carpet, begging with his eyes.
But Andy was still holding a second folder that was much thicker than the first.
He held it up in front of everyone so the whole room could see the official seals.
“Mr. Alcott, losing your job is actually the least of your problems tonight. The forensic audit found illegal transfers of more than 18 million dollars to shell companies linked directly to you,” Andy announced loudly.
Brendan stopped breathing for a moment, staring blankly at the floor.
And when Andy opened the folder, I understood that his real fall was just beginning.
