CHAPTER 2 – The Man Who Thought He Had Won
Michael woke up feeling victorious.
The house was quiet.
No crying.
No complaints.
No pregnant wife asking for help.
Exactly what he wanted.
He smiled while making coffee.
His phone buzzed.
His girlfriend, Vanessa.
"So... is she finally gone?"
Michael smirked.
"Forever."
Vanessa replied with a heart emoji.
He felt free.
On the way to work he imagined the future.
The baby would be someone else's problem.
He would finally enjoy his promotion.
His salary would double.
Within a year he'd buy a luxury apartment downtown.
Life couldn't be better.
Then everything changed.
The moment he entered the headquarters of Ashford Global Holdings...
Something felt wrong.
Employees stood unusually still.
Managers whispered.
Executives hurried through the lobby.
No one smiled.
His supervisor rushed toward him.
"The board is here."
"So?"
"The owner is coming."
Michael frowned.
"The owner never comes."
Exactly.
No one had seen the mysterious owner in years.
Rumors surrounded the billionaire behind Ashford Global.
Some believed it was an old investor living overseas.
Others believed the company was run by a secret trust.
No one knew the truth.
At precisely nine o'clock...
The elevator doors opened.
Every executive stood up.
Silence filled the room.
An elegant elderly woman walked in.
Beside her...
Walked Emma.
Healthy.
Safe.
Wearing a beautiful maternity dress.
Michael nearly dropped the folder in his hands.
"What..."
His voice disappeared.
Eleanor slowly took her seat at the head of the conference table.
Without raising her voice, she spoke.
"Good morning."
"I'm Eleanor Ashford."
"I founded this company forty-two years ago."
Every employee froze.
Michael's face turned pale.
Then Eleanor looked directly at him.
"You must be Michael."
He forced a smile.
"Mrs. Ashford... I didn't realize..."
"No."
"You never realized many things."
The room remained silent.
Eleanor pressed a button.
A giant screen lit up.
Security footage appeared.
Michael dragging his pregnant wife toward the front door.
Michael locking it.
Emma collapsing outside.
The exact time.
The exact weather.
Everything.
Someone gasped.
Another executive covered her mouth.
Michael's legs weakened.
"I... I can explain..."
Eleanor interrupted.
"No."
"You had an entire night to explain."
"You chose silence."
The Human Resources Director stood.
"Effective immediately..."
"Michael Carter's employment is terminated."
Another executive added,
"All stock options revoked."
Another voice followed.
"Company housing canceled."
"Corporate insurance terminated."
Michael looked around in disbelief.
"No... please..."
Then Eleanor delivered one final sentence.
"You believed my granddaughter had nowhere else to go."
"You forgot..."
"She always had a family."
Michael dropped to his knees.
Not because anyone ordered him to.
May you like
Because, for the first time in his life...
He understood exactly how powerless he really was.
