A few days later.
Eleonora sat on a white leather sofa in the reception room of Manhattan's most elite law firm. She crossed her legs. Her black Dior skirt suit fit her perfectly.
She sipped a cup of black coffee. She was here to finalize the purchase of the penthouse. She needed a permanent, secure home for Noah.
The heavy glass door opened. A senior partner walked in. He held a thick manila folder. He looked extremely uncomfortable. He pushed his glasses up his nose.
Eleonora set her coffee cup down. Her eyes narrowed.
"Is there a problem with the funds?" she asked. Her voice was sharp.
"No, Ms. Farrell. The funds cleared instantly," the lawyer said. He sat down across from her and placed the folder on the glass table. "The issue is with your background check."
He opened the folder and slid a federal document toward her.
"According to the federal database, your marital status is still listed as 'Married'."
Eleonora froze. Her heart skipped a beat.
She leaned forward and looked at the paper. There, under the spouse section, was the name: Butler Holloway.
"That's impossible," Eleonora said. Her voice was tight. "I signed divorce papers five years ago. And... I was declared legally dead."
The lawyer shook his head. "It's strange. A death certificate was issued by the hospital, but it was flagged and buried by a federal override command almost immediately. It never reached the state registry. As for the divorce papers, they vanished. Legally, you are still the wife of Butler Holloway."
A loud ringing started in Eleonora's ears.
Butler had buried the paperwork. He had used his power to erase the fire, erase the death, and keep the marriage intact.
Her hands curled into fists on her lap. Her nails bit into her palms. Five years of hiding. Five years of terror. And she was still chained to him.
She took a deep breath. She forced the anger down. Her mind shifted into a cold, calculating gear.
"Pull up the prenuptial agreement," Eleonora commanded.
The lawyer blinked. "Excuse me?"
"The prenup I signed five years ago. Pull it up. Now."
The lawyer scrambled to his laptop. He typed rapidly. A minute later, he printed a document and handed it to her.
Eleonora scanned the pages. Her eyes stopped on Section 4, Clause B.
If the marriage remains intact for a period exceeding thirty-six (36) months, the wife shall automatically be vested with five percent (5%) of the voting shares of the Holloway Group.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Eleonora's face.
Butler wanted to keep her trapped in a ghost marriage? Fine. She would use the chains to strangle him.
"Draft a legal demand for the immediate transfer of those shares," Eleonora said. She stood up. "Stamp it with your firm's official seal. I'll wait."
Twenty minutes later, Eleonora walked out of the law firm. She held a crisp white envelope in her hand.
She hailed a yellow taxi. "Holloway Group Headquarters," she told the driver.
On the top floor of the Holloway building, the atmosphere in the boardroom was suffocating.
Butler sat at the head of the long oval table. Twelve senior executives sat around him, sweating in their expensive suits. A holographic projection of the quarterly financials hovered in the center of the table.
"The margins are unacceptable," Butler said. His voice was quiet, but it cut through the room like a knife.
Before anyone could answer, the heavy mahogany double doors of the boardroom burst open.
The heavy wood slammed against the walls with a deafening crash.
The executives jumped. The presentation stopped. Everyone turned to look at the door.
Eleonora stood in the doorway. Her red lipstick was flawless. Her black Dior suit screamed power.
Jesse Meyer rushed up behind her, looking panicked. "Sir, I tried to stop her, but her security clearance is still active in the system-"
Eleonora didn't even look at Jesse. She stepped into the room. Her high heels clicked loudly against the hardwood floor.
Butler slowly raised his head.
When his eyes locked onto her, his entire body went rigid. The pen in his hand slipped and clattered onto the table. His pupils expanded.
Eleonora ignored the shocked stares of the executives. She walked straight down the length of the table. She didn't stop until she was standing directly in front of Butler.
She looked down at him. Her eyes were full of arrogant defiance.
She raised her hand and slammed the legal document down on the table right in front of his face.
Smack.
The room was dead silent.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Eleonora said. Her voice was clear and rang through the massive room.
She kept her eyes locked on Butler.
"I am Eleonora Holloway. Butler's legal wife. And as of today, I am the owner of five percent of this company. I believe I have a seat at this table."
Several executives gasped out loud. One man dropped his tablet. They all recognized the face of the woman who supposedly burned to death five years ago.
Butler stared at the woman standing over him. His chest rose and fell in heavy, jagged breaths. His hands, hidden under the table, curled into tight fists. The veins on the back of his hands bulged.
A low, dark chuckle rumbled in his chest.
He placed his hands flat on the table and slowly stood up. His massive frame cast a dark shadow over Eleonora.
