Chapter 4Calling in Sick for My Broke Husband, Only to Find the CEO

The next day, I stood in front of the HR department's glass doors. The words on the paper in my hand were almost comical.

Embezzlement? Three point two million dollars?

Absurd.

I was just a tech team lead. The largest funds I ever handled were for team equipment procurement. Where would I get the authorization to move three point two million?

I spoke coldly to the HR director: "I demand to see the system operation logs and the audit reports."

The HR director pushed his glasses up his nose, a trace of pity in his eyes.

"Our company was acquired. If you want to see them, you have to ask the new boss."

"And who exactly is the new boss?!"

"Ms. Croft."

...

I shoved the door to the CEO's office open like a maniac. Sure enough, Vanessa was sitting behind the desk. Nolan was beside her, looking down at some documents.

"Well, well, if it isn't our brilliant tech lead." Vanessa's smile was sickeningly bright. "Team Lead Eleanor. Actually, shouldn't it be former Team Lead?"

The blood rushed to my head.

But I forced myself to stand my ground and take a deep breath.

"Nolan, that audit report is forged. Procurement orders require three-tier approval. I only have recommendation rights, not final signature authority. The system logs will prove it."

Nolan finally bothered to look up. "The system was hacked. The logs were lost. And what a coincidence, the only logs lost were the ones involving the procurements you handled."

The coincidence was so laughable I actually scoffed. "I built the company's security architecture with my own hands. I wrote the firewall rules myself. You expect me to believe it just got hacked because you said so?"

Vanessa leaned back in the executive chair, grinning broadly. "That's exactly why I suspect you. An inside job is the easiest thing in the world, isn't it? Modifying a few log files, forging a few procurement records... that's a piece of cake for a senior engineer like you, right?"

I clenched my fists.

"You tampered with the database!"

Vanessa stood up. "You need evidence to make accusations. Right now, every single log points directly to you. Have fun facing the lawsuit for massive damages. Who knows, you might even do some prison time."

She leaned in close, lowering her voice: "Or... you could get on your knees and beg me? Maybe if I feel merciful, I'll tell Nolan to ask for a lower settlement?"

My stomach churned with disgust.

"Nolan, do you seriously have nothing to say?!"

Nolan looked at me, his tone light and indifferent. "You're the one with sticky fingers. We're giving you a way out. We're actually helping you."

I screamed in pure fury: "Helping me?! Nolan, you played me for a fool for seven years, wasn't that enough? Now you're using this despicable trap to ruin my life?! Do you hate me that much? You hate me so much you have to destroy everything I have to be satisfied?!"

His face went pale.

Vanessa lunged forward and grabbed my arm: "Who the hell do you think you're yelling at?!"

"Let go of me! You just want to see me beg on my knees, don't you? You want to see me crawl over like a dog and lick your boots? Keep dreaming!"

I turned to Nolan: "I'm not paying a single cent. And I'm not pleading guilty to anything. Call the cops if you have the guts. I'll see you in court!"

Nolan's lips trembled.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Vanessa beat him to it.

"Nolan, why don't you step outside and get a coffee to cool off?"

Nolan hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked out.

The second the door closed, Vanessa's disguise completely vanished.

"Let's lay all our cards on the table, Eleanor. You're just bitter, aren't you? Bitter that Nolan chose me. Bitter that you're not getting enough money in the divorce. Bitter that you saw that photo?"

My body went rigid.

"Oh, looks like I hit a nerve."

"Good picture, wasn't it? Nolan was so incredible that night. We went through three whole boxes..."

The blood was roaring in my ears.

"What exactly is your point?" My voice was ragged.

"My point is that you've lost, Eleanor. Completely and utterly. Nolan's body is mine, his heart is mine, and everything he owns is mine. Including this company, and every single dime he makes in the future."

"And you? You're just trash waiting to be thrown out."

I raised my hand and slapped her hard.

My palm cracked against her cheek. Vanessa touched her face. A vicious glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly smiled again.

"Getting angry? I'll give you one last chance, Eleanor. Walk away from the marriage with nothing, and disappear forever. If you do that, I'll drop the charges and let you live."

"Three point two million dollars, Eleanor. How much code do you have to write to earn that?"

In that split second, the last thread of my sanity snapped.

Just as I tackled Vanessa to the floor and raised my hand to beat the living hell out of her, the door swung open.

Nolan stood in the doorway.

Vanessa wiped at nonexistent blood on the corner of her mouth. "Nolan! She attacked me again! I was just trying to talk to her reasonably, and she went crazy!"

I tried to explain. "I didn't—!"

"Enough!"

Nolan cut me off. He spoke into a radio in his hand, and two bodyguards immediately appeared, grabbing me by both arms.

One of them kicked the back of my knees, forcing me to drop to the floor.

They forced my face flat against the carpet.

I heard Nolan's cruel, cold voice above me.

"Vanessa, however she hit you, hit her back."

Vanessa walked closer and then planted her high heel directly on my face.

She ground the heel into my skin, and then, without hesitation, kicked me right in the face.

My nose exploded in pain, and blood began pouring out instantly.

Suddenly, I couldn't feel the pain anymore. I just felt ridiculous.

Seven years of pouring my heart and soul into a marriage, and this was my reward.

Nolan's voice echoed coldly. "You really don't know when to quit, Eleanor. I'm calling the cops right now. Let's see how tough you act then."

The moment he finished speaking, his cell phone rang.

He answered it, looking confused.

As he listened, his expression grew increasingly grim.

When he hung up the phone, he stared at me in disbelief. "You... you actually filed for divorce...?"