The next morning, Eleanore did not wear the soft, pliant dresses Donovan preferred.
She chose a cream-colored suit, the jacket sharply tailored, the skirt falling to a precise, professional line at her knee. She twisted her long hair into a severe knot at the nape of her neck. She looked less like a discarded wife and more like a corporate negotiator ready for war.
When she entered the study, Donovan and his lawyer, Patrick Sullivan, were already waiting. Patrick, a man whose face was as bland and gray as his suit, let a flicker of surprise show in his eyes before schooling his features back into neutrality.
Eleanore ignored them both. She walked directly to the large mahogany desk and picked up the ten-million-dollar agreement.
She scanned it for a single second before pushing it aside.
She looked directly at Donovan. "I don't accept this price."
Donovan raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his cold eyes. "You're not in a position to bargain, Eleanore."
"Am I not?" She took out her phone, her movements calm and deliberate. She tapped the screen.
Donovan's own voice filled the silent room, captured three years ago. "... as long as you play your part, be Mrs. Sterling until the day I need you to leave, the estate and the stocks are your compensation."
Patrick's professional mask slipped. He shot a nervous glance at his client. This was clearly not part of the official record.
Donovan's face darkened. The air in the room grew heavy, cold. He had forgotten. He had never imagined she would be so calculating.
"Are you threatening me?" His voice was a low growl.
"I'm simply reminding you of your promise, Donovan," Eleanore said, her tone even. "Unless you'd prefer this recording appeared on the front page of tomorrow's paper? I've already thought of a headline. 'Sterling Group CEO Breaks His Word, Throws Out Substitute Wife With Nothing.'"
"You wouldn't dare!" He shot to his feet, his sheer size and anger meant to intimidate.
Eleanore rose as well, meeting his furious gaze without flinching. "Try me. I have nothing left to lose."
The two of them stood locked in a silent battle across the desk. Patrick cleared his throat, a nervous sound in the tense silence. "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, perhaps we can find a more amicable solution."
Finally, Donovan gave a stiff, barely perceptible nod. He had lost. He gestured for Patrick to redraft the agreement.
Eleanore stated her final terms. "Fifty million dollars. A single payment. And I want you to personally drive me away from this estate."
Donovan stared at her, his eyes searching her face for a crack in her composure, for the weeping, broken woman he expected. He found nothing.
"Fine," he bit out from between clenched teeth.
Patrick, ever efficient, had the new agreement and a non-disclosure agreement of terrifying length and complexity ready in minutes. Eleanore read every single word. Then, with a flourish, she signed her name. Eleanore Beaumont.
As she turned to leave the study, she heard Donovan's low voice on the phone. He must have thought she was out of earshot.
"Chanel, baby, don't worry... She's just a substitute, it's been handled... No, she won't cause any trouble. The money shut her up."
Her hand was on the doorknob. Her knuckles turned white. She won't cause any trouble. The phrase was a poisoned dart, piercing the last soft part of her heart.
She took a deep breath, released the doorknob, and turned around. A brilliant, cold smile spread across her face.
"Thank you for your generosity, Donovan," she said, her voice sweet as venom. "I wish you and Miss York a long and happy life together."
The smile seemed to bother him. He looked away, a flash of irritation on his face.
Eleanore didn't give him a second glance. She walked out of the study with her head held high.
Her phone buzzed. A wire transfer notification. A one followed by a dizzying number of zeros. Fifty million dollars.
She stared at the number. A stepping stone, not a prize. There was no joy, only a vast, hollow emptiness.
She went to the bedroom and opened the walk-in closet. Racks of designer dresses. Shelves of handbags. Velvet-lined drawers filled with jewels. Gifts from him. She didn't touch a single one.
She packed her own things into a single, small suitcase.
As she pulled the suitcase out of the bedroom, she knew. From this moment on, she had no connection to this place. She was free.
