Inside were financial reports showing that Nathan had been channeling millions into shell companies overseas. Fraud. My hands trembled as I realized what it meant: he wasn’t just sabotaging me; he was bleeding the company dry.
The next morning, I called an emergency board meeting. Nathan walked in late, confident as ever, adjusting his cufflinks.
“What’s this about?” he asked.
I slid the folder across the table. “You tell me.”
The room went silent. The color drained from his face as he scanned the evidence.
Within hours, he was escorted out by security. The news broke the next day—“New CEO Exposes Massive Corporate Fraud.” Whitmore Industries’ stock skyrocketed.
A week later, at a charity gala, I caught sight of Mark and his fiancée across the room. They froze when they saw me in a sleek black gown, speaking with the governor and the heads of Fortune 500 companies.
Mark approached awkwardly. “Emma… I didn’t realize—”
I smiled. “You were right, Mark. I do belong in the past. But I built my own future.”
He swallowed hard. “Can we—”
“No,” I said softly. “You had your chance.”