Chapter 9 - Ashes and DiamondsThe sun was setting over Boston Harbor, casting a brilliant orange and purple glow across the glass facade of Vanguard Assets.
I stood on the forty-fifth-floor balcony, holding a glass of sparkling water, looking out over the city that had tried to bury me under the weight of scandal, betrayal, and corporate greed.
The door to the executive office opened softly. Footsteps clicked across the hardwood floor.
"The federal prosecutors just called," Naomi said, stepping out onto the balcony and handing me a thin document folder. "Helena’s defense team tried to file an emergency health appeal to get her placed under house arrest in Florida. Judge Vance denied it within five minutes. She’s going to spend her remaining years facing federal penitentiary time."
"And Preston?" I asked.
"Preston’s plea deal has been accepted," Naomi replied, leaning against the glass railing. "Because he rolled over on the rest of the Miami real estate ring, the prosecutors are recommending a twelve-year sentence instead of twenty. His mother has completely disowned him, his assets are entirely liquidated, and Brielle Madden has reportedly fled to California after being evicted from her temporary sublet."
I smiled faintly, taking a sip of my water. "Poetic justice."
"You know," Naomi said, turning to look at me with a warm, genuine smile, "when you walked into that hospital gala three weeks ago and saw that photo in your bed, I thought you were just going to be another wealthy wife crying behind closed doors."
I turned my head, locking eyes with my attorney and truest ally.
"Men like Preston always mistake a woman's silence for weakness," I said softly. "They think that because we don't scream, scratch, or break things immediately, we don't know how to play the long game."
"And what a game it was," Naomi laughed softly.
My phone buzzed on the glass table. I glanced down at the screen. It was an email notification from the bank—the final transfer of Vanguard Assets' quarterly endowment to the Whitmore Children’s Hospital had cleared successfully, complete with a personal thank-you letter from the hospital board praising the new executive leadership for their unwavering integrity and dedication.
May you like
I picked up the phone, swiped the notification away, and slipped it into my pocket.
"Come on, Naomi," I said, stepping back inside the warm penthouse and heading toward the private elevator. "Let's go to dinner. We have a company to run, and tomorrow is a brand new day."
