Chapter 16
The news hit like a corporate nuclear bomb: Grupo Santiago, Barrett Industries’ largest Latin American client, had terminated all contracts effective immediately. Emma stared at the early morning email, her hands shaking as she calculated the damage. Three years of careful relationship building, hundreds of millions in annual revenue, gone in a single paragraph of politely worded corporate execution.
Her phone buzzed. It was Marcus:
“Emergency board meeting called. 9 AM. They’re coming for you.”
She was already moving, gathering financial reports and market analyses that proved her department’s success. But as she rushed toward the boardroom, Sophia stepped into her path, immaculate in a blood-red suit that matched her lipstick.
“Emma.” Sophia’s smile was sympathetic in a way that set off warning bells. “You might want to take a moment to compose yourself. It’s going to be a… challenging meeting.”
The boardroom was already full when Emma arrived, the tension thick enough to cut. Luka sat at Alex’s right hand—a position that should have been hers—while Elliana perched nearby, watching the drama unfold with poorly concealed satisfaction.
“Let’s address the elephant in the room,” Luka began without a preamble. “Grupo Santiago’s withdrawal represents a catastrophic failure of our international strategy.”
“A strategy that was working perfectly until your involvement,” Emma countered, spreading out her reports. “Our Latin American market share has grown consistently for three years.”
“Until now.” Luka’s voice carried just enough concern to seem genuine. “The question is: why did our largest partner suddenly lose faith in Barrett Industries?”
“An excellent question.” Emma’s heart pounded as she played her hand. “Perhaps we should discuss your meeting with Jorge Santiago last week? The one that wasn’t in any official calendar?”
A ripple of murmurs ran through the board. Luka’s eyes narrowed fractionally.
“I have sources too,” Emma continued, pulling up emails on the projection screen. “Sources who documented your systematic manipulation of our Latin American partnerships. Mysterious meetings, whispered doubts about Barrett Industries’ stability, suggestions that our leadership is… compromised.”
“Emma,” Alex’s warning tone cut through the room. “This isn’t the time—”
“When is the time, Alex? When Luka’s stripped everything we’ve built? When he’s destroyed every relationship we’ve cultivated?” She turned to the board. “Look at the pattern. Since the Diaz investment, we’ve lost three major contracts. All clients who mysteriously moved their business to Diaz Enterprises subsidiaries.”
“Careful, Mrs. Barrett.” Luka’s voice was soft but carried an edge of steel. “These are serious accusations.”
“I have proof.” Emma pulled up another document. “Financial transfers, shell companies, a systematic campaign to undermine our—”
“Enough!” Alex’s fist hitting the table made everyone jump. “This stops now.”
Emma stared at her husband in disbelief.
“Alex, look at the evidence. They’re deliberately sabotaging—”
“What I see,” Alex cut her off, “is emotional accusations from someone too personally invested to remain objective.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Perhaps Luka is right. We need to consider restructuring our international leadership.”
The betrayal hit Emma like a physical blow. Around the table, board members shifted uncomfortably, watching the marital drama unfold against a backdrop of corporate warfare.
“If I may,” Sophia interjected smoothly, “there’s also the question of certain… irregular meetings that may have compromised our negotiating position.”
Emma felt the trap closing. They’d planned this perfectly—Luka manipulating the market, Sophia providing legal pressure, and now Alex himself delivering the killing blow.
“The board needs to consider what’s best for the company,” Luka said solemnly. “Our international reputation—”
“Our reputation?” Emma laughed harshly. “Let’s talk about reputations. Let’s discuss your operations in Colombia, or those mysterious factory accidents in Brazil, or maybe the real reason Alex spent two weeks off the grid in Buenos Aires?”
The room went dead silent. Alex’s face had gone pale, while Luka’s eyes blazed with dangerous intensity.
“Mrs. Barrett,” Luka’s voice was barely above a whisper, “you’re treading on very thin ice.”
“Emma,” Alex finally met her gaze, his eyes pleading. “Stop. Please.”
She saw it then—real fear in her husband’s expression. Whatever had happened in Buenos Aires, it was big enough to make Alex Barrett, one of the most powerful CEOs in New York, tremble at its exposure.
“The markets are opening in an hour,” Diane broke the tension. “We need to contain this situation immediately. Alex?”
Alex straightened, his corporate mask sliding back into place.
“Given the circumstances, I move to temporarily suspend Emma Barrett’s authority over international operations, pending a full review of recent market failures.”
“Alex, no,” Emma whispered, one hand instinctively covering her stomach.
“All in favor?” Luka asked smoothly.
Hands raised around the table. Emma watched her career crumble in slow motion, measured in upraised arms and averted gazes. Even board members who’d supported her for years chose political survival over loyalty.
“The motion passes,” Luka announced. “Mrs. Barrett will step down immediately. Sophia Reynolds will oversee international operations during the transition.”
Emma stood slowly, gathering her dignity around her like armor.
“Congratulations,” she said to no one in particular. “You’ve just handed control of Barrett Industries’ international market to the people actively working to destroy it.”
“Emma,” Alex called as she reached the door. “This is business, not personal.”
She turned back one last time, taking in the tableau: Alex flanked by Luka and Sophia, Elliana watching with satisfied eyes, the board members already turning to discussion of damage control.
“No, Alex. This is both. And you’ve failed at both too.” She pressed her hand harder against her stomach, where their child stirred restlessly. “I wonder what else you’ll sacrifice to keep your Buenos Aires secrets buried?”
The markets opened thirty minutes later. Barrett Industries’ stock plunged on news of the Grupo Santiago withdrawal. Financial analysts buzzed about instability in Latin American markets, about whispers of corporate warfare and leadership doubts.
From her office, where she was already packing her personal items, Emma watched the numbers fall in real-time. Everything she’d built, every relationship she’d cultivated, was being systematically destroyed. And her husband—the father of her child—had chosen the architects of that destruction over her.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Jack:
“Got the final piece of the Buenos Aires puzzle. It’s worse than we thought. Meet me NOW.”
Emma looked back at the boardroom, visible through glass walls. Alex stood with Sophia, their heads bent close together as they spoke in rapid Spanish. Luka watched them with the satisfied expression of a man whose plans were unfolding perfectly.
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