Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 55

CHAPTER 55 PART 1

Zachary Hartford sat behind his mahogany desk in Hartford Group’s executive suite, a Cuban cigar smoldering in his ashtray, confidence radiating from every pore. Across from him, Oliver lounged on the leather sofa with the self-satisfied air of a man who’d already won.

“By this time tomorrow,” Oliver said, unable to contain his grin, “Skyler Reed will be finished. Leonardo will have presented the evidence to Owen Cooper, Reed will be fired for misconduct, and the project head position will be mine.”

“Don’t count your chickens,” Zachary cautioned, though his own smile suggested he shared Oliver’s confidence.” Leonardo hasn’t called yet to confirm.”

“He will,” Oliver said with certainty. “The evidence is ironclad. Reed lending company property to Quinn, their suspicious meetings, her inexplicable promotion-Cooper will have no choice but to terminate him.”

“And Quinn?”

“Will be humiliated,” Oliver’s smile turned vicious. “Once Reed’s gone, she loses her only protection. We’ll demote her back to a basic position-or better yet, fire her entirely. Make an example of what happens to family members who think they’re above company hierarchy.”

The phone on Zachary’s desk rang, its shrill tone cutting through their celebration.

Oliver jumped up immediately. “That’s Leonardo! I’ll-”

“SIT DOWN!” Zachary’s voice cracked like a whip. “You think you’re worthy to take a call from Leonardo Lancaster? A senior executive at Titan Group? Know your place, boy.”

Oliver colored but sat back down, chastened.

Zachary answered with practiced smoothness. “Leonardo! I trust you have good news for-”

“GOOD NEWS?” Leonardo’s roar came through so loudly that even Oliver could hear it from across the room. “You have the NERVE to ask me about good news? After what you’ve done?”

Zachary’s confident smile froze. “I… what do you mean?”

“What I MEAN is that you threw me into a pit!” Leonardo’s voice carried pure fury. “You fed me lies and accusations that I took to Owen Cooper like a fool! And now my career is DESTROYED!”

“Leonardo, please calm down-”

“CALM DOWN?” The phone nearly vibrated with rage. “I just got FIRED! Escorted out by security! Cooper made it clear that no company in Grayson City will hire me! My reputation is RUINED! All because I listened to you!”

Zachary’s face had gone from confident to pale. He waved urgently at Oliver. “Get out. NOW.”

“But Grandfather-”

“OUT!”

Oliver scrambled from the office, but not before firing off a quick text to Quinn: “Your old flame has been taken down. Get ready to be fired!

The moment the door closed, Zachary’s facade crumbled. “Leonardo, what happened? The evidence was solid! Reed was clearly-”

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“The evidence was GARBAGE!” Leonardo interrupted. “Cooper tore it apart in seconds! Said I was a backstabbing opportunist more interested in destroying colleagues than building business! He fired me on the spot and promised to blacklist me throughout the city!”

Zachary’s hand shook as he brought the cigar to his lips. “But… but surely you explained that

“That YOU fed me the information?” Leonardo’s laugh was bitter. “Oh, I did. I told Cooper everything. About your schemes, your manipulation, your plot to get Reed fired so your grandson could take over the partnership. I reported the entire conspiracy!”

The cigar fell from Zachary’s nerveless fingers.

“So congratulations, Zachary,” Leonardo continued coldly. “You wanted to play games with Titan Group. Now deal with the consequences. Owen Cooper knows everything. And if I were you, I’d start preparing for retaliation.”

The call ended abruptly.

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CHAPTER 55 PART 2

Zachary sat frozen, sweat beading on his forehead despite the air conditioning. His mind raced through implications, calculating damage, searching desperately for solutions-

His phone rang again.

The caller ID made his blood run cold: Skyler Reed.

With shaking hands, Zachary answered. “Mr. Reed, I can explain-”

“No explanation necessary,” Skyler’s voice was ice-cold professional. “I’m calling to inform you that Titan Group is terminating our partnership with Hartford Group, effective immediately.”

“You can’t-“Zachary started desperately.

“According to Section 7, Clause 3 of our contract,” Skyler continued as if Zachary hadn’t spoken, “any breach of partnership terms caused by Hartford Group’s misconduct results in a penalty payment. In this case, that penalty is twenty billion dollars.”

Zachary’s vision actually grayed at the edges. “Twenty… billion?”

“Payable within thirty days. Failure to pay will result in legal action, asset seizure, and criminal charges for contract fraud.” Skyler’s voice carried no emotion whatsoever. “You’ll be receiving official notice from our legal department within the hour. Good day, Mr. Hartford.”

Click.

Zachary stared at the phone, his mind refusing to process what he’d just heard. Twenty billion dollars. Hartford Group’s entire assets-every building, every account, every investment-totaled maybe eight billion. They couldn’t pay this. It was impossible.

“Secretary!” His voice came out strangled. “Bring me the Titan contract! NOW!”

His secretary rushed in with the thick document. Zachary tore through pages with shaking hands, searching for the penalty clause, praying he’d misheard, praying there was some loophole-

There it was. Section 7, Clause 3. Clear as day.

In the event of partnership breach caused by misconduct, interference, or sabotage originating from Hartford Group, a penalty of twenty billion dollars ($20,000,000,000) shall be payable within thirty (30) days…

The words blurred as Zachary’s vision swam. Leonardo’s testimony about the conspiracy gave Titan Group ironclad justification. They couldn’t fight this in court. Couldn’t claim ignorance. Couldn’t negotiate.

They were finished.

“Secretary,” Zachary’s voice came out as a whisper. “Bring Oliver back.”

Moments later, Oliver burst through the door, his face still showing triumph. “Grandfather! Did Leonardo confirm

“Does your face still hurt?” Zachary interrupted quietly.

Oliver blinked at the non sequitur. “What? From Marcus’s slap? I mean, yes, but it doesn’t matter! As long as we’ve won-”

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Zachary’s hand caught Oliver across the face with every ounce of strength in the old man’s body. The impact was devastating-far harder than Marcus’s earlier slap. Oliver’s head snapped sideways, his body spinning before crashing into the wall.

He slid down, his vision full of stars, blood trickling from his split lip.

“Grandfather?” Oliver’s voice came out muffled, confused. “Why-”

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