“But don't worry. Even though you're giving up your shares, I'll still marry you. You can be the man behind me from now on.”
“I'll make sure your monthly allowance is more than generous.”
“As for Julian, I won't let him show up in front of you or challenge your position.”
All these years, and the one thing she'd learned was how to have her cake and eat it too.
“Felicity, you really do have it all figured out, don't you? I'm supposed to give up my dividend-paying shares and go home to be your kept house husband with my hand out?”
“I'll pass.”
Julian pulled out a recording of me. My own voice played back clearly: I'd honor the bet, I'd give up my shares.
Then he handed me a voluntary share relinquishment agreement.
Kenneth's eyes went red. He lunged forward to grab it, but I stopped him.
Then I picked up the pen and signed.
Julian's face flushed with excitement.
Something complicated flickered through Felicity's eyes, but triumph swallowed it whole.
I set the pen down. ：“Satisfied?”
Felicity nodded and turned to address the room：
“From now on, Julian is my partner. He'll be taking over Ashton Whitfield's position.”
Some people felt the chill of knowing they could be next. Others were already scrambling to kiss the new ring.
“We'll follow Mr. Simmons' lead from here on out.”
“What are you standing around for? Get Mr. Whitfield's things out of here and make room for Mr. Simmons!”
The insulated mug Felicity had once bought me was knocked to the floor, its side dented on impact.
A model I'd built with my own hands hit the ground and got trampled underfoot.
Even the orchid I'd been growing lost a branch, snapped clean off.
I didn't stop them. I didn't get angry.
I just remembered the day we'd first moved in, the way she'd thrown her arms around me.
“Ashton, we did it! This is our empire!”
My vision blurred for a moment, then cleared.
I stood there, watching the place I'd poured years of my life into
get hollowed out piece by piece.
It wasn't until the nameplate on the door changed from MR. WHITFIELD to MR. SIMMONS
that I finally turned around
and walked straight into Felicity's office.
Sat down in her chair.
I said：“Felicity, you're fired.”
