Chapter 2 - The Fallout

When the ink dried, the reality of the situation locked into place. Lucas was legally destitute, but free from the crushing debt.

Vanessa, however, was not.

"Wait," Vanessa said, wiping her mascara-stained cheeks. "If he signs over the company, the debt is forgiven. That means I'm off the hook too, right?"

Claire picked up the contract and reviewed the signatures. "Unfortunately for you, Vanessa, Lucas just signed away his portion of the liability in exchange for the corporate assets."

Claire pulled a second document from her drawer. "Because you co-signed the private collateral loans—the ones you used to fund your shopping sprees and the down payment on that absurd sports car—you are still personally liable for three point four million dollars."

Vanessa shrieked. "You can't do that! He's the one who spent the money!"

"The paper trail says otherwise," Claire noted. "I have the receipts. The sports car is in your name. The jewelry is in your name. You wanted so desperately to be a wealthy CEO's wife, Vanessa. Congratulations. You now have the liabilities of one."

"I'll sue you!" Vanessa screamed, lunging toward the desk, only to be intercepted by David and a security guard who had quietly entered the room. "I'll take this to the press! I'll tell everyone how the corrupt Bennetts stole a company!"

"Go ahead," Claire said, leaning back in her chair. "But before you do, you should know that the tech rival you were sleeping with? The one you gave the source code to? He just got indicted for corporate espionage this morning. The FBI is currently seizing his servers."

Vanessa stopped fighting the guards. All the color drained from her face.

"Corporate espionage carries a significant federal prison sentence," Claire added softly. "And since you were the mole who transferred the files... well, I imagine three million dollars in debt is going to be the least of your worries by tomorrow morning."

Lucas stared at Vanessa with sheer disgust. He didn't say a word to defend her as security physically escorted the screaming, thrashing woman out of the office, her cries echoing down the pristine marble hallways.

When the door clicked shut, the silence in the room was deafening.

Lucas stood awkwardly, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He looked at Claire, the woman he had underestimated, betrayed, and discarded.

"Claire..." he started, his voice thick with regret. "I am so sorry. For everything. I was stupid. I let my ego blind me. I... I miss you."

Claire looked at him. There was a time when his apology would have meant everything to her. There was a time when she would have done anything to save him. But looking at him now, she felt absolutely nothing.

"David," Claire called out.