Chloe knew she had to act quickly before Ethan completely collapsed and left her with nothing. “Her lifestyle depended on draining Ethan’s money, and she could not let her source of income be destroyed by a bluff.” “Ethan, stop torturing yourself like this,” Chloe said, her voice a soft, concerned purr. She stood behind his chair and began to gently massage his tent shoulders.
Ethan stopped pacing and pinched the bridge of his nose. “How can I be calm right now, Chloe? You heard what Mr. Harrison said last night. He called Amelia the head of the firm in front of everyone. If that’s true, this company could be ruined in days. All of our major funding comes from his firm.
I could become a beggar and lose everything. Chloe. Ethan’s voice rose, reflecting the immense panic in his chest. Chloe smiled faintly, a sly, cunning expression. She walked around the desk and sat casually in a guest chair, facing Ethan directly. She looked straight into his eyes, trying to convince him. Ethan, try to use your common sense.
Since when did you become a weak man who’s easily tricked and intimidated? Think about it. You’ve lived with that woman, Amelia, for five full years. In all that time, did you ever see a single sign that she was incredibly wealthy? Ethan fell silent for a moment, digging through his memories of their marriage. He slowly shook his head. No, nothing.
She always cooked for herself, mopped the floors, washed my clothes by hand. She even refused every time I offered to hire help. Her clothes were always simple. Her scarves were cheap ones from a regular market. She never asked for jewelry or lavish vacations. “Exactly as I thought,” Chloe exclaimed with a fabricated tone of victory.
She leaned forward, her gaze intensifying. “A person with that much wealth and power would never live like a servant in your house.” “Ethan, do not be a fool. A woman like her could never be the head of a massive corporation. She’s just upon being used by someone else to destroy you. What do you mean? Chloe. Who’s using her? Ethan asked, his brow furrowed as he sought a justification for his wounded pride.
This is all just a dirty game in the business world. A move by your rivals, Ethan. Competing companies must feel threatened by the rapid growth of your business, especially after last night’s grand opening. They know you’re ambitious and strong, so they teamed up with Mr. Harrison to break you down from the inside.
They deliberately hired your simple poor wife, dressed her up, and coached her to act like she’s the ultimate authority. Their goal is simple, to scare you into surrendering your company to them without a fight. Amelia is just a cheap, paid puppet. She was probably promised a large sum of money to act in that charade last night and betray you.
Chloe’s words flowed smoothly, like water on the parched ground of Ethan’s mind. His immense pride greedily swallowed every bit of her manipulative reasoning. The arrogant man could never admit that his success came from the hands of a woman, especially one he had always considered a burden. Chloe’s explanation seemed far more plausible and successfully salvaged his self-image as a great man.
Ethan’s face, once pale with fear, slowly turned red with a burning rage. “You are right, Chloe. Your mind is sharp,” he muttered, clenching his fists. I was almost fooled by their pathetic act. Mr. Harrison is using dirty tricks to steal the fruits of my hard work. And that shameless woman, Amelia, dared to interfere and humiliate me in public just for some bribe money from my competitors.
You cannot lose, Ethan. You have to show them all that you’re a tough businessman who can’t be intimidated by such a performance. Cut your legal ties with that traitor right now. Show them you do not need her or her company at all, Chloe urged, fanning the flames. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
A legal courier in a neat suit entered the room carrying a thick folder of official documents. He walked calmly and placed the folder on Ethan’s desk without a word of greeting. Ethan snatched the folder and ripped it open. It contained divorce papers and documents relinquishing rights to all shared assets which Amelia had already signed.
The courier looked at Ethan with a flat expression and spoke in an official tone. Mrs. Amelia requests that you sign these now without any conditions as per your request last night at the grand opening. Ethan laughed loudly, a forced laugh to cover his lingering nervousness and project strength in front of Chloe. He picked up his favorite pen from the desk.
Tell that poor woman I will not be fooled by her dirty games. I am the one who will throw her out onto the street and make sure she regrets her decision. With a swift and arrogant motion, Ethan signed his name on the stack of papers without reading any of the details. He then tossed the folder back towards the courier, causing some of the papers to fold.
“Get this garbage out of my office now,” he ordered, his chin held high. The courier calmly collected the documents, gave a small nod of official farewell, and left the office. Once the door was closed, Ethan looked at Chloe and laughed triumphantly. “I have removed the thorn from my company’s side. From now on, nothing can stop me from being successful.
Let’s celebrate this freedom today, Chloe.” Ethan had no idea that in a luxurious office building far away, Amelia was sitting calmly in her executive chair. A few hours later, she received the documents just signed by Ethan from Mr. Harrison. Amelia read her husband’s signature with a cold gaze. Not a single tear fell.
Her 5 years of sincere sacrifice had been met with the most painful betrayal and arrogance. Ma’am, all documents are complete and legally binding. He has relinquished all the protections we have provided him without reading the warnings within. Mister Harrison reported standing ramrod straight before her desk.
Amelia placed the documents on her desk, her fingers tapping lightly on the polished surface. She stared out the large window at the sprawling cityscape. Excellent. He is so confident in his own abilities, so sure of his greatness. Let’s see how far this arrogant man can go without the foundation I have been providing for him.
Begin the demolition plan today, Harrison. Let him feel what it’s like to be completely shattered, to fall from the highest point he ever reached. The day turned into a bright morning. The sunlight illuminated the city, seeming to promise a day of luck and happiness. For Ethan, this was the first day of his freedom as a successful man, free from the shadow of a wife he had always considered an embarrassment.
To celebrate his divorce and prove he was unaffected by the threats, Ethan decided to take Chloe shopping for luxury goods before they went to the office. He wanted to prove to himself and to her that his wealth was his own and would never run out. They visited the most expensive jewelry store on Fifth Avenue.
Chloe browsed the store, her eyes sparkling with greed, pointing at various diamond necklaces and the latest designer gold bracelets. With extreme arrogance, Ethan told the clerk to wrap up everything Chloe pointed at without even asking the price. The clerk smiled warmly and bowed respectfully, then began to tally up the total, which reached into the millions of dollars.
Ethan reached into the pocket of his bespoke suit and pulled out a special black card, a symbol of his high status among top entrepreneurs. The card had no spending limit. He handed it to the clerk with a condescending air. The clerk received the card with both hands and inserted it into the electronic payment machine.
A few seconds later, the machine beeped with a rejection notice. The clerk frowned and carefully swiped the card again. The result was the same. A red warning light flashed on the machine, indicating the payment was declined by the central system. I am sorry, sir. Your card has been declined by the issuer.
Do you have another form of payment to settle the bill? The clerk asked, his tone still polite, but loud enough to make Ethan feel insulted in front of Chloe and other customers? Ethan’s face turned red with anger and embarrassment. He felt deeply humiliated. Impossible. Your machine must be broken or your system is down. This card has no limit.
Try it again properly and do not make me wait. He snapped, his voice echoing in the store. The clerk tried again, but the system remained firm in its rejection. Ethan grumbled angrily, then opened his wallet and pulled out all the credit cards he owned. One by one, they were handed over and inserted into the machine, and one by one, they were all flatly declined.
A cold sweat broke out on Ethan’s back. Chloe standing beside him began to look anxious, giving him a look that demanded an explanation. With no other choice and not wanting to lose any more face, Ethan grabbed Chloe’s wrist and hurried out of the store, cursing the clerk and accusing their equipment of being outdated.
A sense of unease and panic began to creep into Ethan’s mind during the drive to his office building. When their car arrived at the company’s plaza, the scene was chaotic, unlike the usual orderly days. The lobby was filled with people speaking in loud, angry tones. Employees were running around frantically carrying stacks of paper.
As Ethan walked through the main doors, his chief financial officer ran up to him, his face pale and his breath coming in ragged gasps. Mr. Ethan, we are in huge trouble today, the CFO exclaimed without any preamble. All our construction material suppliers suddenly halted their deliveries this morning.
The steel, cement, wood suppliers, all of them simultaneously terminated their contracts and canceled shipments. They said our payment guarantees are no longer valid as of this moment. And that is not all. The phones have been ringing off the hook since this morning with calls from all our lenders. They are all demanding immediate repayment of our entire debt with no delays.
Ethan felt as if the ground beneath him had crumbled. The air seemed to vanish, leaving him breathless. He pushed his CFO aside and ran up the stairs to his office, slamming the door and grabbing the phone on his desk. He dialed the numbers of his key business partners, those who had always been compliant and respectful.
But not a single one answered his calls. It was as if they had all conspired to cut off communication with his company. Ethan’s arrogance, which had been rebuilt just that morning, shattered completely, replaced by a very real terror. He could not let his company be destroyed today. Hurriedly, he ran back down to his car and ordered his driver to speed to the main headquarters of the bank that had provided his largest loans.
Upon arrival, Ethan ignored the long line of customers and barged straight into the branch manager’s office. Security guards tried to stop him, but Ethan fought back, arrogantly shouting his company’s name. Hearing the commotion outside, the branch manager finally opened his door. His face was cold without the slightest hint of the respectful smile he usually offered Ethan.
What is the meaning of this disturbance in our establishment, Mr. Ethan? He asked, his voice flat and unfriendly. What do you mean by freezing all my credit cards and demanding immediate loan repayment today? My company has a very healthy cash flow. My new hotel just had its grand opening last night. I am a priority client here, Ethan yelled, refusing to accept the treatment.
The branch manager sighed, holding back his disgust. He gestured for Ethan to enter his office to avoid a public spectacle. After the door was closed, the manager calmly walked behind his desk and pulled a thick stack of files from a cabinet. He tossed the files onto the desk in front of Ethan. I am sorry, Mr. Ethan.
You are no longer a priority client of ours as of today. The credit lines and the massive capital infusions your company received were never approved based on your company’s actual capabilities,” the manager explained, his voice firm and piercing. All those funds were released because of the full backing and guarantee of one of our primary clients.
The absolute guarantor for all your company’s risks has always been Mrs. Amelia. Ethan’s eyes widened. His heart pounded so hard it caused a sharp pain in his chest. That is a lie. Amelia does not have a penny to her name. Check those documents again. There must be a clerical error or your system is malfunctioning.
There are no errors, Mr. Ethan. The manager cut in his voice rising in pressure. As of this morning, Mrs. Amelia has officially withdrawn all protections and support for your company. Because the primary guarantee has been revoked, our system automatically assesses your company at the highest level of default risk and has declared it ineligible for banking services.
You now have a mountain of unsecured debt. Starting tomorrow morning, we will deploy our legal team to begin the process of seizing all your assets and properties if you are unable to pay the entire debt in cash today. Ethan’s legs went limp, losing all strength. He stumbled backward, hit a guest chair, and collapsed into it. His mind was a complete blank.
Chloe’s whispers about a paid actress and a rival scheme, which he had so readily believed this morning, were now shattered by the reality of these legal documents. Amelia, the wife he had always scorned, whose spirit he had crushed, and whom he had mercilessly cast out last night, was truly the sole owner of his entire life.
All the success he had bragged about to his friends, the luxury he had enjoyed with Chloe, it was all a gift from the woman he had never once appreciated. Ethan walked out of the building like a man who had lost his soul, dragging his feet. Chloe was waiting anxiously in the car. Seeing Ethan’s deathly pale face and empty eyes, she immediately realized that last night’s threat had not been a lie.
They were both in grave danger and would soon be penniless. But Chloe’s greedy and cunning mind worked faster than her panic. She had no intention of going down with Ethan. As the man sat there mourning his fate, Chloe’s memory flashed back to a dark storage room in Ethan’s office. She remembered an old safe belonging to Amelia that had been left there.
A wicked smile formed on her lips. She realized that stealing the contents of that safe might be her only way out. Her only path to saving herself from poverty and finding a new fortune. Chloe left Ethan’s office, which was filled with an aura of despair. Her footsteps were quick as she headed down the corridor to the service elevator. She pressed the button for the lowest basement level where the company’s old storage room was located.
The room was dark, musty, and covered in a thick layer of dust. In the farthest corner, hidden behind stacks of empty boxes and broken furniture, was a medium-sized safe. It was Amelia’s, brought over when they first married. Amelia had often used this room to work in silence, while Ethan slept soundly at home.
Chloe knew that Amelia kept her most valuable business ideas in that safe. Chloe wiped the dust off the safe surface, a cunning smile on her face as she examined the lock. She pulled out her phone and called an old acquaintance, a man who worked in the criminal underworld as a safe cracker and computer security infiltrator.
Later that night, when the office building was completely empty, Chloe slipped back into the basement storage room. This time, she was not alone. She was with the man she had hired. He carried a bag filled with metal tools and special electronic devices. They worked in silence under the dim, limited light of a flashlight. The safe cracker attached a sophisticated detection device to the safe door, attempting to bypass the highle security system.
Chloe stood behind him impatiently, constantly glancing towards the main door to ensure no security guards were patrolling the area. After nearly 2 hours of sweat and trying countless complex combinations, a soft click came from within the safe’s mechanism. The heavy iron door creaked open slightly.
Chloe immediately shoved the man aside without a word of thanks and pulled the safe door open. Inside the dark compartment were several thick folders filled with important documents. Chloe greedily grabbed all of them and brought them under the flashlights beam. Her eyes widened as she read the title on the top folder.
Written in neat clear script were the words Diamond Oasis Resort Development Plan. Chloe flipped through the pages. Her breath held. Even though she did not understand the complex financial calculations, she could see that this plan was extraordinary. It contained stunning architectural designs, incredibly lucrative profit sharing details, and a perfectly structured financial management plan.
It was the masterpiece of a true business genius. Chloe’s smile widened, showing all her teeth. She knew in her heart that she had just found a treasure that would save her from the threat of poverty. The next morning, Chloe brought the stolen documents back to Ethan’s office. He was still slumped in his chair, his face hagggered and his eyes swollen from a sleepless night.
Chloe tossed the thick folder onto his desk with a loud thud that broke the silence. Ethan flinched and glared at her, annoyed at being disturbed in his misery, but Chloe ignored his anger. She told him to open the folder and read it carefully right now without asking questions. Ethan, stop crying over your collapsing company.
Look at what I managed to find for you in the basement of this building. This is our only key to salvation. This is the fastest way to get back all the wealth that your arrogant ex-wife stole from you,” Chloe said, her voice filled with confidence and pride in her theft. Ethan took a long, weary breath and began to open the first page of the document.
At first, he read with a dismissive air. But the further he read, the wider his eyes opened, unblinking. His heart began to beat faster, pumping blood through his body. He read every detail of the profit projections, the strategic location plan, and the brilliant targeting of high-end clientele. This was the largest and most perfect business plan he had ever seen.
If this plan were realized, the profits could reach into the billions of dollars in a very short time. Ethan looked up at Chloe, his expression a mixture of disbelief and awe. He recognized the handwriting and calculation style. This was purely the product of Amelia’s intellect and meticulousness. How did you get your hands on something so important and secret, Chloe? This is an incredibly brilliant plan for the future.
There is not a single flaw in its calculations, he said, his voice trembling with excitement at finding a way out of his bankruptcy. It does not matter where I got it, Ethan. The most important thing now is that it’s in your hands, and it’s all yours. Amelia must have been secretly planning this for years to build her own investment firm.
Now, it is our turn to seize the fruits of her labor. We will use this perfect plan to find major investors from overseas who know nothing about your personal life. With a plan this good, foreign investors will be fighting to give you their billions. We will not need a single bit of help from Mr. Harrison or your ex-wife’s company.
Chloe persuaded, patting his shoulder. The arrogance and greed that had briefly died within Ethan now reignited, burning brighter than ever. His despair and fear vanished, replaced by a ravenous ambition that consumed his thoughts. He felt that as a strong man, he was far more deserving of executing this brilliant idea than Amelia, whom he still saw as just an ordinary woman.
Ethan immediately called in his few remaining trusted employees. He ordered them to quickly copy the entire document, changing the creator’s name to his own and to prepare a presentation for potential investors as soon as possible. They worked day and night for three full days to perfect the theft of this grand idea. On the day of the important meeting, Ethan and Chloe arrived at a private conference room in one of the city’s most luxurious hotels.
They had managed to secure a meeting with representatives from a massive overseas investment firm looking for major opportunities in their region. Ethan wore his best custom-made suit to look convincing while Chloe stood by his side, looking stunning and seductive. Across the large mahogany table sat three foreign men, the representatives of the investment firm.
Their faces were stern, serious, and professional. Ethan stood with confidence and began to present the Diamond Oasis Resort plan with a very convincing speaking style. He explained every part of the layout, the clever plan to attract high-end customers and the guarantee of a multiffold return on investment in a short period.
