I ignored the sleek black town car idling near the curb. My thumb flew across my phone screen, punching in a number I had memorized purely for competitive analysis.
The line rang twice.
"Why on earth is Nathan Foster's wife calling me at this hour?" Sebastian Hayes asked, his voice a rich baritone echoing through the speaker.
I leaned against the cold brick pillar of the driveway. "No wonder Hayes Group always comes in second against us. You completely missed tonight's massive public relations disaster."
"Disaster?"
"And for the record," I added, my tone hardening into steel. "I am not Nathan's wife. I am Charlotte Bennett."
A low chuckle drifted over the line. "Alright, Charlotte Bennett. You have my undivided attention. What disaster?"
"Nathan and my sister, Olivia, just broadcast their affair to the entire internet," I stated flatly. "They left a live stream running in my living room."
Silence stretched on the other end. The undisputed king of corporate acquisitions actually lost his words.
"Are you serious?" Sebastian finally asked, the amusement completely vanishing from his tone.
"Check the global trending list," I suggested. "Then tell me if you want to make a deal."
Keyboard keys clacked rapidly in the background. A sharp whistle pierced the audio.
"I see it," Sebastian murmured. "Over two million active viewers. Your husband has terrible form, by the way. That is certainly a creative method to tank a stock price. But why are you calling me, Charlotte? You should be inside doing damage control."
"I'm done controlling their damage." I dug my heel into the concrete. "My father, Edward Bennett, built that company from the ground up. But my mother, Margaret, just informed me she is handing the entire inheritance to Olivia."
"You are the CEO."
"I am a glorified manager," I corrected, gripping the phone tighter. "They think I'm just a workhorse meant to keep the profits flowing while they play house. I want to join Hayes Group. If we team up, we can strip Bennett Group down to the studs."
Sebastian didn't answer immediately. The rhythmic tapping of a pen against a desk echoed through the receiver.
"Joining my company is a small move," he said. "Let's aim higher."
"I'm listening."
"Marry me."
My grip slipped, nearly dropping the device. "Excuse me?"
"You need power, and I want Bennett Group," Sebastian explained, his pace quickening with raw ambition. "If we become husband and wife, I will write fifty percent of Hayes Group shares into our prenuptial agreement."
I blinked at the streetlights, trying to process the sheer magnitude of his offer. "Half your company?"
"It gets you a legitimate, untouchable seat on my board," he continued. "From there, we launch a hostile takeover of Bennett Group. They won't stand a chance against both of us."
"You would risk half your empire on a whim?"
"It isn't a whim. It is a calculated strike." Sebastian's voice dropped an octave, vibrating with absolute certainty. "My undergrad was in law. My best friend, Benjamin Cole, is the most ruthless divorce attorney in this city. You don't have to lift a finger to destroy Nathan."
"And the divorce papers?" I asked.
"My secretary, Ryan Cooper, will have them shoved in Nathan's face by eight o'clock tonight," Sebastian promised. "I handle the trash. You just show up and claim your crown."
A genuine smile touched my lips for the first time all evening. "You work fast, Mr. Hayes."
"I play to win, Miss Bennett. Do we have a deal?"
"I'll text you," I said, ending the call.
The heavy oak front door creaked open behind me.
I turned around. Nathan and Olivia stepped out onto the porch. They had finally managed to put their clothes back on, though Nathan’s shirt was still buttoned wrong. Olivia clutched a thick manila folder against her chest.
"Who were you talking to?" Nathan demanded, marching down the steps.
"Someone who actually knows how to run a business," I replied, crossing my arms.
Olivia pushed past Nathan. She shoved the manila folder toward me. "Save your breath, Charlotte. I already had these drawn up."
I glanced down at the bold letters across the top page. *Divorce Settlement Agreement.*
"You came prepared," I noted.
"Mom told me her plan weeks ago," Olivia sneered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "She is giving the company to me. You have absolutely zero equity, which means you have no use anymore."
Nathan crossed his arms, puffing out his chest. "Charlotte, be reasonable. You've spent your whole life buried in spreadsheets. You don't know how to survive without the Bennett name."
"I am the Bennett name," I shot back. "You are just a parasite attached to it."
"Stop calling him that!" Olivia yelled, her face flushing red. "He is going to be the CEO!"
"We were trying to let you down easy," Nathan interrupted, holding up his hands. "But since you want to act crazy and storm out, we might as well end this now."
"End it?" I asked.
"Sign the papers, Charlotte," Olivia commanded, pulling a silver pen from her pocket and clicking it open. "Leave the house keys. Leave the corporate card. You are out."
I stared at the two of them. They looked so incredibly proud. They honestly believed they had outsmarted me.
I snatched the pen from Olivia's fingers.
"Hey!" she yelped, stepping back.
I flipped the folder open against the porch railing. I didn't bother reading the clauses. I didn't care about the house, the cars, or the furniture. I only cared about watching them burn.
The pen scratched harshly against the paper as I signed my name on the dotted line.
I slapped the folder onto Nathan's chest. He fumbled to catch it before it hit the ground.
"There," I said, tossing the pen into the rosebushes. "You are officially free."
Nathan frowned, looking down at the signature. "You aren't going to fight for alimony? You aren't going to beg for your job back?"
"I don't need your pocket change." I stepped off the curb, putting distance between us. "And I certainly don't need a job at a sinking ship."
"You are going to be homeless by morning!" Olivia shouted, her face twisting with sudden anger at my lack of tears. "Nobody in this industry will hire you once Mom blacklists you!"
I pulled my phone back out. "You two are the most eager victims I have ever met."
Nathan took a step forward. "What does that mean?"
"It means you should enjoy your victory tonight," I warned, my eyes locking onto his. "Because tomorrow, you won't even have a desk to sit at."
"You are bluffing," Olivia scoffed, grabbing Nathan's arm. "She's just jealous, babe. Let her walk."
I didn't bother arguing. I turned my back on them and walked down the dimly lit street. The night air felt entirely different now. It didn't feel like a defeat. It felt like a starting line.
I unlocked my phone screen and opened my messages.
I typed out a single sentence to Sebastian Hayes.
*See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau.*
I hit send.
A second later, three dots appeared on the screen, indicating he was typing back. I waited, my pulse hammering against my ribs, wondering just exactly what my new fiancé was going to say next.
