Victoria sat in the boardroom surrounded by men in expensive suits who wouldn’t look her in the eye.
The emergency meeting had been going on for two hours. Two brutal, humiliating hours where every word felt like a knife cutting into her.
“The IPO suspension has caused irreparable damage,” the CFO was saying. His voice was flat, and businesslike.” Eight major investors have withdrawn completely. Our stock value has dropped sixty–three percent. We’re hemorrhaging capital.”
Victoria’s hands were clenched in her lap under the table. “We can recover. Once the regulatory review is complete
>>
“The review shows evidence of bribery, Mrs. Cole.” The lead board member cut her off. His tone was cold.
“I didn’t authorize any bribes.” Victoria’s voice came out stronger than she felt. “I had no knowledge of…”
“That’s either a lie or gross negligence.” Another board member leaned forward. “Either you knew and you’re culpable, or you didn’t know and you’re incompetent. Neither is acceptable for a CEO.”
Victoria felt her chest tighten. She looked around the table, searching for one sympathetic face. There were none.
“The board has voted,” the lead member said. “You’re suspended as CEO effective immediately. Pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.”
The words hit her like a blow. “You can’t…”
“We can and we have.” He slid papers across the table. “You’ll be escorted from the building. All company access is revoked. You have two weeks to clear your name, Mrs. Colle. If you can’t, the suspension becomes permanent termination.”
Victoria’s vision blurred slightly. This couldn’t be happening. This was her company. She built this.
“Please,” she heard herself say. The word tasted bitter. “Just give me time to fix this. I can prove I wasn’t involved. I can…”
“The meeting is adjourned.” The lead member stood. The others followed like dominos.
Victoria sat alone at the table as they filed out. Her hands were shaking now, trembling against the polished wood.
A woman from HR appeared in the doorway. Her expression was blank. “Mrs. Cole? Security is waiting to escort you out.”
“I need to get my things from my office.”
“Your personal items will be boxed and delivered to your residence.” The woman’s voice was gentle but firm.” That’s the policy during suspension. I’m sorry.”
Victoria stood on unsteady legs. She smoothed down her skirt with shaking hands and tried to hold her head up as she walked through the office.
The employees stared at her. Some pretended not to see her Others whispered behind their hands, Victoria could feel every eye on her, feel the weight of their judgment and pity.
The security guard by the elevator wouldn’t meet her gaze.This way, ma’am.”
They rode down in silence. Victoria stared at the elevator mubers descending, each one feeling like another level of her life falling away.
The lobby was worse. Reporters were camped outside…someone must have tipped them off. Camera flashes
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The swing
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exploded as soon as she stepped through the doors.
“Mrs. Cole! Is it true you bribed officials?”
“Did you know about the fraud?”
“Are you facing criminal charges?”
“Mrs. Cole, over here!”
Victoria pushed through them, her security guard trying to clear a path. Someone shoved a microphone in her face. Another grabbed her arm. The questions kept coming, relentless and cruel.
She finally made it to her car. Her hands shook so badly she could barely get the key in the ignition.
The drive home was a blur. Victoria didn’t remember most of it. She just drove on autopilot, her mind replaying the boardroom scene over and over.
You’re suspended.
Two weeks to clear your name.
Escorted from the building.
She pulled into her driveway and sat there for a long moment, hands gripping the steering wheel, trying to breathe.
Then she got out, walked to her front door, and let herself inside.
The house was quiet. Victoria stood in the entryway for a moment. Then something inside her snapped.
She threw her bag across the room. It hit the wall and fell, contents scattering everywhere.
It wasn’t enough.
Victoria grabbed a vase from the side table and hurled it at the floor. Glass exploded. She grabbed another decorative piece…some expensive crystal thing her mother had given her…and smashed it too.
“Fuck!” The word tore out of her throat.
She swept her arm across the console table. Photo frames, keys, mail, everything crashed to the floor. The sound was loud and violent and exactly what she needed.
Victoria kicked at the broken glass, not caring that pieces were cutting through her shoes. She grabbed a lamp and ripped it from the wall, throwing it across the room.
“This isn’t fair!” She was screaming now, voice raw. “I worked for this”
Another vase. Another crash. Her hands were bleeding from the glass but she didn’t care.
The front door opened.
Vincent stood there, his expression shocked. “Victoria? What…”
“Where the fuck were you?” Victoria spun on him, her face streaked with tears and rage. “Where were your connections, Vincent? Where?”
He stepped inside carefully, like approaching a wild animal “What happened?”
“What happened?” Victoria laughed. It came out hysterical. “The board suspended me. I got dragged out of my own company like a criminal. Reporters everywhere, cameras in my face, everyone asking if I’m going to prison.”
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She grabbed another decorative piece and threw it. Vincent ducked.
“And you!” She pointed at him with a shaking hand. “You said you could fix this. You said you had connections at the regulatory commission.”
Vincent’s face went carefully blank. “Victoria, these things ake time…”
“Time?” Her voice rose to a shriek. “I don’t have time! I have two weeks to prove my innocence or I lose everything permanently. Two weeks, Vincent!”
She advanced on him, glass crunching under her shoes. “So where are they? Where are these magical connections that were supposed to save me?”
“I told you, I’m working on it…”
“Bullshit!” Victoria shoved him. Hard. “You’ve been ‘working on it‘ for weeks and nothing has changed. Everything just keeps getting worse.”
Vincent caught her wrists. His grip was firm. “Victoria, calm down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” She tried to pull away but he held on. “My life is falling apart and you just keep making promises that lead nowhere.”
“Listen to me.” Vincent’s voice was steady, almost soothing. “I know today was terrible. But you need to trust me. These things are delicate. They take time and careful handling.
Victoria felt some of the fight drain out of her. She sagged against him, suddenly exhausted.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “I’m so scared.”
Vincent pulled her close, stroking her hair. “I know. But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
They stood like that for a long moment among the broken glass and scattered belongings.
Finally Vincent pulled back and looked at her face. “You can’t stay here like this. The media knows where you live. They’ll be camped outside all night.”
Victoria hadn’t even thought of that. “Where am I supposed to go?”
“Remember I told you about the penthouse?” Vincent’s voice was gentle. “The one I bought for us?”
Victoria’s mind was too foggy to remember clearly. “I… maybe?”
“It’s ready now. Fully furnished, completely private. Top floor, excellent security.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Move in with me. Today. Let me take care of you while we work through this mess.”
“Vincent, I don’t know…”
“Where else will you go?” He asked it softly, reasonably. “Your mother’s apartment is too small. A hotel will be swarmed with reporters. But my place is perfect. And I bought it for you, I know we were supposed to get married first but I can’t watch you suffer.”
Victoria looked around at her destroyed living room.
She was so tired. So scared. And Vincent was offering her a feline.
“Okay,” she heard herself say. “Okay, I’ll move in.”
Vincent smiled and kissed her forehead. “Good. That’s good I’ll call movers right now. We can have you settled in by tonight.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
