ence that would stay with me for years. “Last night didn’t make Claire leave. It only allowed you to realize she had already gone.”

By ten the following morning, the boardroom on the fortieth floor of Morgan Capital was an arena.

Vanessa sat at the far end of the marble table, flanked by two senior partners and her private attorney. She had tailored her appearance to perfection—composed, concerned, presenting herself as the responsible steward stepping in to save the firm from its erratic founder.

"Daniel," she began, smoothing a stack of files with theatrical sympathy. "We were worried about you. Disappearing during the final review of the Midwest acquisitions was reckless. If your personal issues regarding Claire are affecting your judgment—"

I tossed a heavy binder onto the center of the table. The sharp crack echoed through the boardroom.

"That binder contains the forensic audit Marcus completed at four this morning," I said, taking my seat at the head of the table. "Page fourteen shows thirty-five thousand dollars drawn from our general fund to place a commercial injunction against an independent business in Galena, Illinois."

Vanessa’s expression remained rigid, but her fingers tightened around her pen. "That was to protect corporate assets from undocumented spousal drainage—"

"Page twenty-two," I cut in coldly, "details your unauthorized communication with Claire Morgan three months ago, utilizing firm resources and private security contractors to monitor her personal accounts. You used Morgan Capital assets to commit corporate extortion against my wife."

The board members looked down at the documents, whispers breaking out instantly.

"You're protecting a woman who abandoned you!" Vanessa snapped, her composure cracking. "She took her maiden name, Daniel! She doesn't want you! I stood by you while you built this company!"

"You stood by the money," I said, standing up. "And I let you do it because I was too cowardly to face the fact that I had driven away the only person who ever loved me for who I was before any of this existed."

I unpinned my executive security badge and laid it on the table alongside the keys to the penthouse.

"Effective immediately, I step down as CEO," I announced to the stunned room. "Marcus Reed will assume interim executive leadership. Vanessa Vance is terminated for gross misconduct and breach of fiduciary trust. The firm will settle all legal fees Claire Bennett incurred due to this malicious action. If anyone objects, the entire forensic audit goes to the federal regulators by noon."

Silence fell over the room. Vanessa looked at me with venomous hatred, but she didn't utter another word.