Withdrawal notice filed. Effective immediately.

My eighty-three-percent stake in Whitmore & Vale—worth approximately $558 million—was no longer available as company collateral.

Across the room, the chief financial officer shouted, “What just happened to our operating reserve?”

Daniel rushed toward me.

“Olivia, wait!”

I stepped into the elevator and left without looking back.

By the time I reached my penthouse, I had 152 missed calls.

Then the doorbell rang.

Through the security camera, I saw Daniel standing outside with his tie loosened and his hair ruined from repeatedly running his hands through it.

Vivienne stood behind him.

She was still wearing the engagement ring.

That angered me more than the kiss.

Daniel pressed the buzzer again.

“Olivia, open the door. We need to talk.”

I activated the intercom.

“You have three minutes.”

He stared toward the speaker.

“Three minutes? I’m your husband.”

“Legally, perhaps. Emotionally, you resigned in front of two hundred employees.”

Vivienne stepped closer to the camera.

“Mrs. Whitmore, I understand that today was painful, but your reaction has created a serious corporate emergency.”

I nearly laughed.

“My reaction?”

Daniel leaned toward the door.

“You froze accounts connected to payroll, vendors, and acquisitions.”

“I froze our marital accounts. The company is affected because you used my ownership stake as collateral without my permission.”

The hallway went silent.

Daniel’s eyes shifted.

That was enough confirmation.

I opened the door but left the security chain in place.

Relief crossed his face until he saw my expression.

“Olivia,” he said softly, “I made a mistake.”

“You publicly proposed to another woman.”

“It was strategic.”

I stared at him.

Vivienne released an impatient breath.

Part 2:

“Daniel and I needed to present stable, united leadership before the Phoenix acquisition. Investors had become concerned after your medical leave.”

“My medical leave lasted two weeks,” I said. “It followed a miscarriage.”

Daniel flinched.

Vivienne did not.

“So your solution,” I continued, “was to marry my husband?”

“No one expected you to arrive,” she replied.

“That is not a defense.”

Daniel stepped forward until the chain pulled tight.

“I planned to explain everything tonight.”

“In Paris?”

His eyes fell on the canceled ticket confirmations in my hand.

“You bought tickets?”

I tore the paper in half.

“Past tense.”

Vivienne’s phone rang.

She checked the screen and immediately paled.

“The board has called an emergency meeting.”

Daniel’s phone rang next.

For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.