296 The Enemy Retreats
Chapter 296 The Enemy Retreats
I had been sitting on the Marchands‘ number for three days before I finally picked up the phone. My
palms were damp, my heart racing as if I was about to jump off a cliff.
Yvaine would probably have called it reckless. Ashton would have called it unnecessary. But I knew it
was the next move.
Françoise Marchand answered. Her voice was warm at first, polite, until I mentioned Lea Lopez. Then it
froze.
“Why are you calling me about her?” she said, sharp as a blade.
“I need to tell you something,” I said. “And I think you’ve suspected it for some time.”
Silence. Then, cautiously, “Go on.”
“I know what Lea did to Pierre. She made up the abuse claims. There was never any violence. She pushed
the divorce through with lies because she wanted out; she wanted to be with Ashton, and Pierre was in
the way.”
”
I heard Françoise’s breath catch–a faint sound, almost like a muffled sob–but then anger hardened it.
We always thought it was strange. Pierre never raised a hand to her. He adored her, that was the tragedy.
And she ruined him.”
Another voice broke in. Antoine Marchand had clearly taken the phone. His tone was thunder. “Do you have proof?”
“Not in the way a court might want,” I admitted. “But I know people who can back me up. Lea’s old allies,
men who saw the games she played, the manipulation, the way she used people. And I know she’s been
using the same tactics here in Skyline. She’s threatening city officials. She’s trying to take Ashton’s company piece by piece.” And claim Ashton as the trophy.
There was a long silence on the line. Then Antoine said, very low, “Tell me what you want from us.”
“I don’t want money, I don’t want favors,” I said quickly. “I want Lea out of Skyline. You still have
influence in Europe. If you put pressure on her businesses there, if you make noise, she’ll have to go back.
She can’t fight on two fronts.”
Françoise’s voice came back, stronger now, almost gleeful. “Oh, we can do more than make noise. She
has enemies. She thinks she buried them, but they’ll come crawling out once they smell blood. And if she
thinks she can keep bleeding us with lies, she’s mistaken.”
“We’ll see to it,” Antoine added. “In fact, we had already started before your call.”
When I hung up, I was shaking–but not with fear. With relief. It was the first real strike back.
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Chapter 296 The Enemy Retreats
+15 BONUS
Four days later, the ripple reached Skyline. Whispers at first, then louder, then exploding across business
circles. Titanova’s European arm was suddenly facing lawsuits in Paris. A supply partner in Milan cut
ties. Banks started “reviewing” credit lines.
By the end of the week, Lea’s name was mud in every financial paper worth printing.
And then the bombshell: Lea Lopez was spotted at Skyline International Airport, boarding a flight to
Eindhoven.
I almost didn’t believe it until I saw the photos.
I called Haldane straight away. He answered on the second ring, his tone clipped, wary. “Miss Vance.
This isn’t a good time.”
“It’s the perfect time,” I said. “Lea’s gone. She’s on her way back to Europe. You don’t have to carry water
for her anymore.”
Silence. Then a tired sigh.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he muttered.
“Yes, you do,” I said. “She threatened you. She had dirt on you. I’m not here to judge, but I am telling you, her grip is broken. You don’t owe her anything anymore. She won’t be back in Skyline for some time.
Withdraw the moratorium. Do it before it destroys the whole city’s economy.”
There was a scrape, like he’d pushed his chair back. He lowered his voice, as if someone might overhear.”
You don’t understand the mess I’m in.”
“I do,” I said firmly. “I know about the land deals, remember? The shell companies. Even the affair you thought nobody noticed. You think Lea’s the only one who can expose you? She’s not. But I’m not here to
ruin you. I’m here to give you a way out.”
Another heavy silence. Then he said, hoarse, “She promised she’d bury me.”
“She can’t bury you from Eindhoven if you act fast,” I said. “You have a chance to walk away. Withdraw the moratorium. Retire early. Disappear with your pension and some dignity intact. That’s your best
option. Take it.”
He exhaled, long and ragged.
“I’ll do it,” he said at last. “I’ll call a press briefing tomorrow. And then I’m done. I’ll be gone before the
week’s out.”
I hung up, sat back, and pressed both hands to my face.
