CHAPTER 1 — The Woman He Never Understood
CHAPTER 1 — The Woman He Never UnderstoodCHAPTER 1 — The Woman He Never Understood
Marcus refused to believe it.
"There has to be a mistake."
He slammed his useless key card against the office scanner again.
Red.
Again.
Red.
Again.
Nothing.
The general manager stood several feet away, avoiding eye contact.
"Sir..."
Marcus spun around.
"Fix it."
"I can't."
"You work for me."
The manager swallowed.
"No, sir."
A long silence followed.
"I don't."
Marcus laughed.
Then he stopped.
Because no one else did.
Within minutes, members of the executive board arrived.
Not one greeted him.
Not one shook his hand.
Instead, they walked past him as though he were already history.
An attorney placed a leather folder on the reception desk.
"Mr. Marcus Reynolds."
He looked up confidently.
Finally.
Someone with common sense.
"You are hereby notified that your position as acting CEO has been terminated effective immediately."
Marcus frowned.
"You can't fire me."
The attorney calmly slid another document across the desk.
"I don't have to."
"The ownership agreement already did."
Marcus snatched the papers.
Every page carried the same signature.
Isabella Reynolds.
His wife.
Or rather...
The majority shareholder he had spent years pretending was only a ceremonial figure.
His hands began to shake.
"What is this?"
The attorney answered without emotion.
"When Castle Hospitality was founded twenty-six years ago, ninety-one percent of the controlling shares were placed into a private family trust."
Marcus stared.
"I've been running this company for twelve years."
"You've been managing it."
"That's not the same thing."
For the first time...
Marcus realized he had mistaken authority for ownership.
Across the street, Isabella watched through the hotel windows.
She felt no satisfaction.
Only relief.
May you like
Some betrayals deserve revenge.
Others simply deserve an ending.
