I raised an eyebrow, surprised at the audacity of his plea. “One mistake, Robert? You’ve been waiting for this opportunity to cut me down, to revel in my supposed failure. You wanted to see me crumble, deemed worthless in the eyes of the world and yours. Well, congratulations, you’ve gotten your wish. But now, it’s time for me to make my own wish come true.”
The voice on the other end of the line, calm and authoritative, broke the brief silence. “Understood, Mrs. Daniels. Consider it done. Robert will be relieved of his duties immediately, and we will have the paperwork ready for your signature by tomorrow.”
I nodded, though Helen couldn’t see me. “Thank you, Helen. I appreciate your efficiency.”
I ended the call, tucking the phone back into my pocket with deliberate care. Meanwhile, Robert seemed to have aged a decade in mere minutes, his once confident posture sagging as if under the weight of his own downfall.
“Anna,” he began again, reaching out as if to touch some tender part of our shared history. “Think about what you’re doing. How will this look to others? How will it affect us?”
It was fascinating, really, the way his mind worked—how quickly his concern pivoted to public perception, to reputation. It was this very quality, this fixation on appearances, that had drawn us together once upon a time. We had been a power couple, two ambitious souls in sync, but somewhere along the way, our paths had diverged.
I looked at him, my gaze unwavering. “Robert, this isn’t about others. It’s about us—about how you see me, how you’ve always seen me. You didn’t want a partner. You wanted a subordinate, someone whose success you could tolerate only as long as it didn’t eclipse your own.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but I silenced him with a raised hand. “No, listen. You’ve spent so long building yourself up by tearing others down, and for once, you’re the one being held accountable.”
Behind me, the driveway filled with the soft purr of the black luxury car, its presence a stark contrast to the chaos of the moment. The chairman’s secretary stepped out, her expression neutral but respectful.
“Mrs. Daniels, we’re ready whenever you are,” she announced, her voice a soothing balm to the rawness of the situation.
I nodded, turning to face Robert one last time. “Goodbye, Robert. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
With that, I stepped into the awaiting car, leaving behind not just a man, but a chapter of my life that had taught me the true cost of ambition and the unyielding strength required to claim my own narrative. As the car pulled away, the future unfolded before me, a blank canvas ready for my hand, while the past crumbled quietly behind.