I cut my six-month business trip short just before Valentine's Day. I’d planned to stop by the boutique watch store to commission a custom piece for my husband, Gray. The sales associate, a charming young woman, gave me a playful, knowing look. “Ms. Sherry, you and Mr. Marcus truly are telepathic. He was just here yesterday, picking up a matched set—a couple's style—as a holiday gift.” I froze, the air seizing in my lungs. A sudden, sharp memory surfaced: Tiffany Brooks, Gray’s relentlessly chipper assistant, had posted a picture of the exact same watch on her social media just last night. Her caption was a smug, little dagger: [He said my time belongs to him now~] I immediately dialed Gray’s number, but a woman's voice, thick with sleep and annoyance, answered instead. “Hello? Who is this? Calling in the middle of the night? The boss just finished up and is in the shower. Call back tomorrow.” A cold laugh escaped me. “Who am I? I’m the person who signs your boss’s paychecks.” My voice dropped to an executive chill. “Tell him he and you are both fired. Neither of you needs to show up at the office tomorrow.” 1 I hung up instantly. I turned to my secretary, who had been hovering discreetly behind me. “Alert front-desk security. Effective immediately, Graham Marcus and Tiffany Brooks are barred from entering Sherry Tech premises.” “Also,” I added, my voice flat, “initiate the legal freeze on all of Gray Marcus’s traceable assets. Tell the divorce attorney to prepare the papers.” After my secretary left, I dragged my exhausted body toward our bedroom. But the thought of Tiffany having been in that room, near my side of the bed, made my skin crawl. I pivoted and walked into the guest suite instead. … The next day, I slept until the early afternoon. When I finally powered on my phone, it lagged for a full thirty seconds. The notification bar was solid with missed calls from Gray and 99+ messages. I cleared them all with a single tap—the panicked, testing texts from last night, the raging, frantic accusations from this morning. I replied to my secretary's update and headed downstairs, finally feeling a beautiful, quiet peace after a long, overdue sleep. But before I could even sit down at the breakfast table, the housekeeper approached with her own phone. “Ms. Sherry, Mr. Marcus called. He insisted I give the phone to you.” Since my lunch hadn't been served yet, I took the call. Before I could speak, Gray’s roar of indignation blasted through the receiver. “Cami! What the hell is this supposed to mean? Do you know how much I was humiliated at the office today?!” The immediate, self-centered fury in his voice instantly dissolved the fragile tranquility I had managed to build. The anger I had suppressed last night surged back, raw and demanding. I scoffed. “Gray, understand your position. This is no longer about your embarrassment.” I stirred the rich pork rib soup in my ceramic bowl. “If you ever use that tone with me again, I guarantee you’ll lose a lot more than just your dignity.” I hung up again. A few minutes later, the phone rang a third time. This time, Gray’s anger was still evident, but heavily masked by a forced calm. “Cami, sweetheart, I went to Sherry Tech this morning, and security wouldn’t let me in. They said I was... terminated. What is going on?” I continued stirring my soup, my voice deliberately even. “It’s exactly what you heard. I put you in charge of Sherry Tech only because I was traveling. Now I’m back. It’s perfectly normal for you to step aside, wouldn’t you agree?” “And Tiff? That girl fought off serious competition for that job! She was only fired because she didn’t use a title when answering your midnight call?” His voice cracked, the fury barely contained. My voice instantly iced over. “Tiff? I don’t recall hiring any assistant who wears matching couple’s watches with the boss and spends the night in the master suite.” Gray sputtered into silence. It took him a strained minute to find his voice. “You... you know about that?” He stammered. “Cami, listen, that watch was a company bonus for Tiff’s performance. And she stayed because of a huge storm—she’s terrified of thunder, and she didn’t want to be alone in the guest room. I swear, I slept on the sofa!” I cut him off, my voice flat and devoid of any emotion. “And last night?” He immediately countered, defensive. “Last night was nothing! We finished a business dinner, and we had separate rooms. Her shower broke, and she just came over to borrow mine.” He sighed in a martyr-like way. “Honestly, Cami, are you serious? The girl asked you a couple of innocent questions, and you cursed her out, then threatened her job? I’m a married man, and there’s absolutely nothing between us—” “Please.” I leaned back in my chair, utterly impatient. “Gray, do you think I’m three years old?” “Afraid of thunder? Can’t she shove two cotton balls in her ears? Hotel shower broke? Has she never heard of calling the front desk for a different room?” A flash of the evidence my secretary gathered solidified the chill in my eyes. “Do you really think that because I’ve been out of the country for six months, I’ve been blind?” “The month after I left, you bought her a three-million-dollar condo near the office.” “Three months ago, you gifted her a Porsche.” “Last month, you used a fake business trip as an excuse to fly her to an island resort on a private jet.” “Gray, did you truly think I was a fucking idiot?” My voice was sharp, cutting through his excuses. I delivered my final verdict. “Get the car and the condo back from her. Now.” “Otherwise, she goes to prison, and you lose everything.” Gray tried one last, desperate attempt at damage control. “No, no, I just loaned them to her. They’re just... borrowed.” He switched tactics. “Besides, Mom is desperate for a grandchild to show off to her bridge club. If we divorce—” I interrupted him, ice in my voice. “What else did you think was going to happen?” “If you hadn’t stopped short of a statutory offense, we would be signing papers at the courthouse right now.” I didn't give him a chance to defend himself again. I disconnected the call. 2 After lunch, I skipped the office and drove straight to the luxury mall with my best friend. A proper shopping spree was the only antidote to that level of betrayal. The next day, buoyed by my successful retail therapy, I pushed open my office door, only to have my blood pressure spike immediately. My husband was sprawled on my pristine leather sofa, and his assistant was practically sitting on him. Seeing me, Gray scrambled, frantically pushing Tiff off of him. “Wife, let me explain!” Tiff stumbled, falling to the floor and letting out a yelp as her elbow hit the corner of the glass coffee table. Gray, however, was focused solely on me, desperately trying to prove his innocence. “Honey, it’s not what it looks like! She accidentally twisted her ankle and fell on me just now—” “Shut up.” I avoided his attempt to reach for my purse, my voice cold enough to drop the temperature in the room. “Who let either of you in? I thought I made it clear you were both terminated.” My secretary and the terrified, visibly shaking front desk security officer scurried in. The guard was pale. “Ms. Sherry, I didn’t dare physically remove them. Mr. Marcus and Ms. Brooks were just loitering in the lobby. Then, the representatives from the partner company arrived for the meeting, and Mr. Marcus—he used his past relationship with them to slip in with the group. I truly couldn’t stop them, ma’am.” I took a deep breath, fighting to regain composure, and waved them off. “Go back to your posts. It’s not your fault.” Once the office was clear, I ignored Gray’s pleading eyes and started a slow survey of my private office. The essential oil diffuser next to the bookshelf was spewing the scent of lily—my least favorite fragrance. The framed picture of Gray and me had been shoved aside, replaced by a cheap, oversized Hello Kitty plush toy. Even the walk-in closet in the private rest area held a dress that was not mine. Tiff suddenly erupted in sobs, as if she were the one who had suffered an unspeakable tragedy. “Ms. Sherry, please don’t misunderstand! There is truly nothing between Mr. Marcus and me. That dress in the closet is only there because I forgot to take it home last time!” Gray immediately stepped forward, shielding Tiff behind him. “Cami, that’s enough. She’s just a young girl. Why are you being so cruel to her?” “The dress was because she got soaked in a rainstorm while running an errand. I had a new one delivered for her to change into. I only brought her here today to collect her personal items. It’s not like she should be forbidden to take her things just because she’s leaving... Wait! What are you doing?!” SLAP! The sharp crack echoed in the silent office. My hand, after shoving Gray aside, landed squarely on Tiff’s cheek, cutting off his pathetic defense. “Cami! Why did you hit Tiff?!” Gray roared, utterly enraged. I spun and slapped him across the face just as hard, my eyes blazing with icy disdain. “Why did I hit her? Do you think you get a pass?” “That piece of trash has a filthy mouth and the audacity to twist the facts to make me look crazy! She deserves every damn thing she gets!” 3 I had partners arriving for a meeting in the penthouse conference room later that evening. Gray couldn’t walk around with a swollen handprint on his face, and Tiff certainly couldn’t keep sobbing hysterically. I looked at Gray, my voice cold. “Are you going to keep making a scene here, or are you coming home with me?” Gray’s face was a mask of mortification, but he bit his lip and followed me out. In the parking garage, Gray took the keys and started to get into the driver’s seat. Tiff, the little opportunist, tried to open the passenger door. “Get out!” I snarled, a sharp, cold reprimand. “My car doesn’t transport trash.” “Cami! That is an awful thing to say!” Gray frowned, his jaw tight. I gave a bitter laugh. “I’m awful? She has the nerve to brazenly chase a married man and lie to my face. She deserves worse.” Tiff immediately dropped her head, feigning pathetic innocence. “I only wanted to ride along to help you two clear up this misunderstanding. I... I never intended to ruin anything.” I didn't spare her a glance, keeping my icy stare locked on Gray. Finally, cornered and defeated, Gray got out of the car, pulled Tiff aside, and thrust cash into her hand. “Take a taxi home. I’ll reimburse you for the fare.” Only then did Tiff reluctantly walk away. I wanted privacy, so instead of letting the house staff witness the fallout, I drove Gray straight up to our suite. Gray assumed we were going to the bedroom, but I walked past it, heading toward the library. He rushed in front of me, nervously blocking the door. “How about we go somewhere else? You’ve been gone so long, the library must be dusty.” I ignored him, shoved him aside, and unlocked the heavy door. The sight that greeted me made my scalp tingle with a cold, blinding rage. My father’s framed portrait had been knocked to the floor, and a black, foul-smelling residue covered the glass. Scattered documents on the desk and the pristine mahogany floor were soaked with dried, yellow streaks. A sharp, acrid stench of urine burned my nostrils. I gagged, my voice trembling with suppressed violence. “Who did this?” Gray scratched his head, looking deeply uncomfortable. “Uh, Tiff... she might have been careless that day. Her cat might have accidentally—” “Accidentally?!” I grabbed Gray’s arm and yanked him into the doorway. “That library has a vault-grade lock! No one but you and I have the fingerprint access. And you’re telling me this was an accident?” “Wife, calm down,” Gray pleaded, trying to explain. “Tiff’s cat is usually very well-behaved. She brought some documents over for me to sign that day, and she wasn't feeling well afterward. I guess we forgot to bring the cat with us when we left the room.” I pointed to the wall space above the ruined photo. “There was nothing hanging on that wall except the portrait, and absolutely no foothold for a cat. How did a house cat knock down a heavy, glass-framed photograph?” “And those files!” I pointed at the scattered, ruined desk. “I locked every single sensitive file in the secure safe before I left the country. Why are they out here now?!” Gray was speechless, unable to utter a single word of defense. Suddenly, Tiff appeared behind him. She dropped to her knees, immediately slapping herself across the face. “Ms. Sherry, I’m so sorry! This is all my fault! I am willing to pay for all the damage. This has nothing to do with Mr. Marcus; please, don’t blame him.” “Who let you in?” My voice was a low, dangerous growl. Tiff peered up at me, a flash of undeniable smugness in her tear-filled eyes. “Well, I was always coming over to drop off contracts for Mr. Marcus to sign, and I felt bad always bothering the house manager. So Mr. Marcus... he added my fingerprint to the villa’s security system.” I gave a grim smile and called out to the home AI. “Alexa, please call the police.” “Calling emergency services now, Cami.” “Stop! Alexa, cancel the command!” Gray panicked at the mention of the police. He whirled on me, enraged. “Cami, haven’t you caused enough trouble?” “Tiff already said she’d pay for the damages. Why are you dragging this on?” “I know you’re just jealous that Tiff was here keeping me company while you were gone, and you’re just looking for ways to hurt her.” His back straightened with conviction. “I’m telling you for the last time: there is nothing going on between Tiff and me, and I will not allow you to use her as your punching bag!” I picked up the heavy ceramic mug next to me and hurled it against the wall behind them. “Pay for the damage? Would you stand here and allow someone to deliberately instruct an animal to piss on your father’s memorial?” “Can she afford it? Do I need her pathetic compensation?” Gray protected the screaming Tiff, dodging the shattered pieces. He rubbed his temples in frustration. “Fine! You’re clearly hysterical right now. I can’t reason with you.” “Have someone make a list of the damaged items. Since I let her in, I’ll cover whatever Tiff can’t afford.” I let out a single, cold laugh. “Pay? You want to pay?” “Great. Let’s go to the courthouse right now and get a divorce. We'll see how much you have left to ‘pay me’ when I’m done.” At the mention of divorce, Gray reacted like a stepped-on dog. “Why are you bringing that up again?” He sighed, adopting a tone of noble sacrifice. “Look, I get it. You just can’t stand Tiff. I’ll take her and go. I’ll keep her out of your sight. She can find a way to pay you back the money. Okay?” “Just don’t say those two words again. No matter how much I love you, I can’t handle this constant emotional blackmail.” With that, Gray didn't wait for my reaction. He left me standing in the wreckage of the office and walked out, taking Tiffany Brooks with him. 4 No matter how stressful my personal life became, the company still needed me. The next morning, when I arrived at Sherry Tech, my executive key card wouldn’t even unlock the elevator. “What’s going on?” I demanded of the nearest front desk clerk. Before the clerk could answer, Tiffany Brooks emerged from the elevator, clutching a leather binder. She saw me and clapped a hand over her mouth in feigned shock. “Oh, Ms. Sherry! Didn’t you hear? You were voted off the board! Why are you still here?” “Oh, I forgot. Your secretary was also fired for ‘poor work performance’ and is probably too busy filling out her separation papers to notify you.” I raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Say that again? I was voted off the board?” Just then, Gray, flanked by a group of smiling, smug-looking shareholders, hurried toward us. He assumed I was harassing Tiff and immediately pulled her behind him, addressing me with cold contempt. “It’s exactly what you heard.” “Cami, you’ve been officially removed.” “The company shareholders held a meeting moments ago to vote on your removal, and the vote was unanimous. You were completely outvoted.” He crossed his arms. “So, Cami, you don’t need to come into the office anymore. You can just stay home and wait for your quarterly dividends.” I laughed, a sharp, cynical sound. “Removed? I founded this company, and I hold the largest stake. By what right do you dismiss me without even a conversation?!” The shareholders behind Gray looked away, shifting their feet nervously. Gray looked utterly bored. “You hold forty percent of the shares, yes, but you forget that the other shareholders and I control the remaining sixty percent.” “Forty to sixty. The outcome was never in doubt. Even if we had notified you, it would have just been a wasted trip. You couldn’t have changed anything.” I scanned the faces in the cluster, finally seeing them for what they were: a pack of opportunistic jackals. While I was in town, I kept the shareholders on a tight leash, preventing any embezzlement. Six months of my absence, combined with Gray's lax management, gave them the opening they needed. They knew my return meant the end of their feast, so when Gray gave them the chance to boot me, they seized it. “Gray, that was a masterful play.” “I concede.” I laughed again, this time a hollow, self-deprecating sound. I laughed at my own idiocy—working myself into a severe bleeding ulcer, flying across continents for this company, only to realize I had placed a wolf in my own bed. Gray frowned, annoyed by my reaction. “Cami, we’re not denying you your money. You’ll still get your full dividends. There’s no need to act like we’re persecuting you.” His expression softened, manipulative once more. “Besides, Mom has always wanted a grandchild. You’ll have plenty of time now to focus on conceiving. I want us to have a baby too.” I stared at him for a long moment. “I don’t want that. We’re getting a divorce.” With those words, I turned and walked out of the building. I immediately dialed the internal line for the Sherry Group Legal Department. “My direct order: I want a full-scale withdrawal of all Sherry Group investments in Marcus Tech. They will repay every dollar, principal and interest, within three days.” Then, I called Marcus Tech’s oldest and most ruthless competitor. “Mr. Forrester, it’s Cami Sherry.” “Are you ready to partner with me and watch Marcus Tech burn to the ground?”
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