Chapter 16
On the 23rd floor of Meridian Tower, the conference room’s
air conditioning was turned up high.
Madison sat on the leather sofa, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt, which still bore stains from yesterday’s desperate plea outside Sinclair Tower.
Her father sat beside her, his suit wrinkled and tie askew–a far cry from the commanding presence he’d once projected as Cross Corporation’s CEO.
*Click. The conference room door opened.
Lucas strode in with measured steps, four lawyers in expensive suits trailing behind him.
He wore a charcoal gray suit with a dark red tie–the color of dried blood.
Madison hazily remembered it was a color Aria had once chosen for him.
‘Lucas…” she started to stand, voice breaking.
Lucas didn’t even glance her way, walking directly to the opposite end of the conference table.
The lawyers immediately formed a wall behind him.
Mr. Cross,” he opened the file before him, voice terrifyingly calm, “as of 9 AM today, Cross Corporation has iabilities of $2.37 billion, frozen assets of $1.2 billion, and stock prices at historic lows.”
Her father’s Adam’s apple bobbed: “Mr. Sinclair, considering our families‘ years of friendship…”
Friendship?” Lucas smiled coldly, sliding a photograph across the table. “You mean the friendship your daughter
had with my brother?”
The photo showed the car crash scene from five years ago.
Adrian was pinned under the twisted metal, blood streaming from his forehead and staining his white shirt crimson. In the passenger seat, Aria’s unconscious profile was barely visible.
Madison’s nails dug deep into her palms. She couldn’t admit to anything….
She lunged toward the table: “This is a setup! Lucas, listen to me…”
“Explain what?” Lucas finally looked at her, his gaze cold as arctic ice. “Explain how you bribed the driver to cause the crash? Or explain how you repeatedly framed Aria?”
15:21
My Husband’s Guide to Losing a Perfectly Good Wife in Five Easy Steps
68.2%
Chapter 16
“I still prefer your honesty from that night.”
He pressed a button on his phone, and Madison’s recorded voice filled the room:
Make sure it looks like an accident when you hit them… especially the man in the passenger seat. He has to die.”
Then came her words from the penthouse: “Because he… got in my way…‘
‘Recordings can be faked! Lucas! You can’t…” she screamed hysterically.
“The driver had terminal liver cancer and made a deathbed confession,” Lucas put away his phone. “His wife found ne and turned over all the evidence. It’s already been submitted to the police.”
Madison felt like her throat was being crushed, the conference room falling into deathly silence.
Her father sagged in his chair like a corpse drained of its soul.
Now,” Lucas stood, casually adjusting his cufflinks, “let’s discuss solutions.”
Madison’s eyes flickered with desperate hope: “Lucas, I knew you wouldn’t…”
I can offer the Cross family a way out.” Lucas cut her off, his lips curving in a cruel smile. “But only if you earn it hrough your own… talents.”
le snapped his fingers, and a lawyer immediately stepped forward, placing two documents before the Cross family.
This is…” Her father opened the file with trembling hands, then gasped. “Stock transfer agreement?”
Cross Corporation is worthless now, but the brand still has value.” Lucas looked down at them like a predator. “Sign
agreement transferring all Cross Corporation shares to Sinclair Industries, and I’ll absorb the debt.”
s head snapped up: “Then what’s this ‘way out‘ you mentioned?”
s smile widened: “Tonight at 8 PM, Empire Auction House is hosting a private sale, Miss Cross will be the catured lot, starting bid five million.”
He paused. “Highest bidder wins.”
You’re insane!” Her father shot to his feet. “My daughter isn’t merchandise!”
Merchandise?” Lucas laughed coldly. “Who was it that auctioned Aria off like merchandise?”
Madison’s lips trembled, her carefully applied makeup smeared with cold sweat: “Lucas, I know I was wrong…
please…”
‘Sign, or don’t sign.” Lucas straightened, voice like ice. “You have thirty seconds to decide.”
Her father collapsed back into his chair, head in his hands.
15:21
My Husband’s Guide to Losing a Perfectly Good Wife in Five Easy Steps
09.7
Chapter 16
Madison stared at the agreement, then suddenly grabbed the pen and signed her name.
15:21
