Married to the Billionaire Who Betrayed Me novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88 Firing The Arrogant Old Guard

“Your cannot do this,” Richard hissed. “We built this boutique empire. My grandfather laid the foundation. My family name is on the

brass plaque downstairs.”

“You destroyed this empire, I countered. “I bought the wreckage. If you refuse my terms, I hand the forensic audit to the federat prosecutors. You face a decade in a federal penitentiary. The media will broadcast your embezzlement. The capital elite will erase

your name from their guest lists. Make your choice.

I looked at my gold watch.

“You possess ten minutes to clear your desks, I instructed. ‘Marcus and Leo will escort you to the lobby.”

The older men looked at each other. The arrogance drained from their postures, leaving them hollow. They looked broken. They

looked defeated.

One by one, they stood up. They avoided my eyes. They gathered their briefcases. They shuffled toward the heavy doors, leaving their crystal tumblers and their shattered pride on the table.

Richard remained in his chair. He glared at me. A hatred burned in his eyes. He lost his fortune. He lost his status. A woman he deemed inferior stripped his power in under five minutes.

He stood up. He buttoned his bespoke suit jacket. He walked past me.

The Whitmore patriarch will crush you for this,” Richard spat. The threat sounded weak and pathetic.

“Tell him to try,” I replied.

Richard walked out the door. The heavy panels closed behind him.

The door opened. Diego Morales entered the room. My head of acquisitions carried a digital tablet.

“The security team is escorting the former board members out of the building, Diego reported. “The transition is complete. You

hold full operational control of Ashcroft Holdings.”

‘Draft the termination notices, I ordered. I walked around the massive table and took Richard’s vacant chair at the head. “Terminate the Johnston Group distribution contracts. Evict the Whitmore charity lines from every retail location. I want their inventory removed from the shelves and shipped back to their warehouses by tomorrow.”

“The breach of contract penalties will cost us millions, Diego warned, He tapped the screen of his tablet, running the calculations.

“Pay the penalties,” I said. “We absorb the cost. The objective is visibility. The objective is leverage. Fill the empty window displays with Aegis products. Launch the new marketing campaign. I want the capital to see matte black glass in every premier storefront.”

Diego nodded. “Understood. I will execute the orders.”

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Chapter 88 Firing The Arrogant Old Guard

He left the boardroom to manage the crisis response.

I leaned back in the high-backed leather chair. The leather felt cool against my spine. I dismantled a major piece of the Johnston distribution network. I struck a massive blow against Celeste Whitmore’s public image.

I closed my eyes. I pictured Elias. My son remained safe in the secure penthouse. Every aggressive maneuver I executed built a higher concrete wall around hils future. Frederick Langley wanted to drag my child. I intended to end the war before the casualties

reached my front door.

My secure cell phone vibrated on the polished mahogany table.

I opened my eyes. I looked at the screen. The display showed an unknown number. A blocked caller ID.

I picked up the device. I pressed the green icon. I held the phone to my ear.

“Hayes,” I answered.

‘Minerva Hayes.”

The voice belonged to a woman. It sounded older. It lacked the unhinged energy of Celeste Whitmore. It lacked the petty arrogance

of Valentina Rosales. This voice sounded like steel scraping against rough stone. It carried decades of unquestioned authority.

A cold chill crawled up my spine.

“Who is calling?” I asked. I kept my tone level.

“You caused a massive disruption in my family network this morning,” the woman stated. She ignored my question. She dictated the flow of the conversation. “You acquired a boutique holding firm. You terminated our distribution lines. You humiliated Richard Ashcroft. You slap heiresses in public restrooms. You operate with a fascinating lack of fear.”

‘I operate with a clear objective,” I replied.

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