Chapter 9
Rachel scooped him up naturally, kissed his cheek, and handed him a toy she’d already prepared.
They looked so natural together, like an actual mom and kid.
Jake just stood there watching with this proud dad smile.
The whole room went dead quiet.
Even the cameras stopped clicking.
Everyone was too stunned by this Jerry Springer-level drama to say anything.
Public opinion did a complete 180 right then and there-like a total avalanche.
Seeing my home on that screen, the place I’d built from nothing, now turned into some other people’s little paradise, froze whatever feelings I had lef
The press conference was a total success.
The second I called it over, Jake charged at me.
He grabbed my leg and dropped to his knees with a loud THUD.
‘Claire, I fucked up! Please forgive me just this once!”
[ears and snot streaming down his face. Zero dignity left.
Tommy was behind him, screaming his head off at the whole scene.
looked down at his face-all guilt and terror-and felt nothing but disgust.
Security.”
My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut like ice.
[wo big guards moved fast, grabbed Jake under each arm, and started dragging him out.
He kept screaming and begging as they hauled him away, his voice getting fainter until it disappeared completely outside the door.
A whole year passed. Time really flies.
My assistant Lisa knocked and brought in the quarterly reports.
She set the papers down, then seemed to remember something and looked hesitant.
“Ms. Winters, that little data company we’re buying… I was going through their employee list today and saw a familiar name…”
Lisa stopped, checking my reaction.
My fingers tapped a steady rhythm on the desk, making these dull knocking sounds.
Like nailing the final screws into a coffin for that dead chapter of my life.
“Something wrong with his background check?” I asked, sounding as casual as if I was asking about lunch plans.
“Nah, it’s just… he’s basically at the bottom. Entry-level grunt work. Heard he had to kiss a lot of ass just to get hired.”
I flipped open the report. That red growth line looked like pure victory.
“Just follow standard protocol.”
Chapter 9
As for Rachel-she disappeared like a piece of trash blowing in the wind after that press conference. Never showed up in my world again.
I had zero interest in knowing where she went.
Late that night. Just me left in the office.
I walked over to the huge windows.
My reflection looked back-flawless makeup, confident eyes, and this chill smile I barely recognized.
What I was looking at was a night sky that was all mine.
