C2 Betrayal

I slowly cool down and realize that things are off. However, James keeps on speaking nonstop in front of the camera.

"I bet you don’t have courage to face the camera !"

"Mrs. McKenzie, say something ! "

I bury my face in my hands as panic begins to claw its way up.

"I don’t know what is happening but you all need to get out of my room , now !"

I say in tears.

No one moves to leave, but instead more questions are hurled at me over the clicks of cameras firing nonstop.

"What is going on here ? "

My best friend, Ivy pushes the press out of the room and slams the door, locking it behind her.

"Your news is spreading like wildfire ! Reporters have crowded the outside."

"Oh , Ivy ! Thank God , I’m trapped, I—"

"Don’t worry ! I’m here. Let’s get you out of here. My car is out back. Come on !"

Ivy leads me out of the room, past the screaming press and their clicking cameras shutters to her car, the pack following us.

Before I’m even buckled in, she is flooring it and leaving the reporters behind.

Inside Ivy’s car, I anxiously scroll through my phone, fighting back tears.

"These headlines are relentless . Criticizing my company . The stock price is falling by the minute."

"You know headlines get clicks. Ignore them."

"Yeah I know but they are hurting my family’s legacy, my company and my reputation."

"You’ve being over dramatic. I don’t think it’s that bad."

"Maybe I’m not cut out of being CEO."

"Stop talking nonsense ! Let’s change the topic !"

"I wish I could, but I feel like my world is shattering around me."

"It’s only feels like that now. Trust me, once you have had some distance from all of this, you’ll feel better."

"How ? I mean, yesterday was our anniversary and know James think… Oh God ! I don’t even know what he thinks."

"He’s James, you both know each other forever. Once, he calms down and you two have a chance to talk, it’ll all be okay. As your best friend and James most trusted assistant, nobody knows the two of you better than I do. Here ! Get dressed. You can’t wander around in that pyjama."

With appreciation, I slip into her clothes. Ivy is always so thoughtful , taking everything into account. Next to the clothes, there’s a thick folder.

"What is that ?"

"It’s… it’s nothing. I haven’t had the chance to finish handling all the company matters. I rushed over as soon as I saw your news."

She stares fixedly ahead, driving and I don’t ask any further questions.

"I hope my grandma doesn’t see those stories. Her health is already fragile."

I glance down at my phone again, doom scrolling through more bad headlines, and only look up when the car slows and makes sharp turn.

"Wait…. Why are we at the courthouse ? And why is James standing out front ?"

I’m taken out of the car while I’m still in a daze.

I stand blindsided, opposite James and his lawyer , Ivy by my side.

"Linda McKenzie, I officially announce that I’m divorcing you."

"I don’t understand what happened any more than you did."

"Maybe the press will buy that, but I’m not a reporter. I’m your husband. Stop lying to me, Linda ! I trust my own eyes."

Tears well up in my eyes as I realize that he is not going to believe me with the photo of that mysterious man out there.

"Look, Linda you need to come to terms with what you have done."

Ivy says.

Shocked, my head whips around and I stare at my best friend , who had promised to talk to James on my behalf less than some minutes ago.

"Ivy ? I thought you were at my side. Wow , we’ve been closer than sisters !"

"I’m on the side of the truth."

Ivy holds up her phone to show me the screen with the headlines, as if mocking me.

"What about what happened at the hotel ? It’s being broadcast everywhere and now your stock is tanking. You don’t want it to affect Memorata Enterprise , the company we all built together. I think it is the best option at this point ."

"You want me to divorce James ? How is that going to save the company ?"

"It worked out just fine for Martins Spencer. Better than if he’d stayed married to his wife."

She says.

Then, she pulls a stack of papers from that folder on her car and hands them to me.

"What is that ?"

"Everything you need to end your marriage. Just sign where indicated, and you can put all of this behind you and get on with your life."

I stare at the woman who’s been my best friend dumbfounded.

"Stop smearing me with baseless accusations. Never sign unknown original documents, CEO rule number one."

This all seems like a well-planned conspiracy, I can’t let this unfold the way they planned. But, I love James so much.

"Please, James you need to believe me. Nothing happened in that hotel room last night. I thought you set up a surprise for me."

"That’s the problem. I don’t believe you."

My hands shake as I look over the divorce papers , but the words are blurry through my tears.

"I need to have my lawyer look them over first."

"No, you don’t. Just sign them damn."

"I may be a fool, but I’m not that much of a fool. My lawyer will look at them and I’ll get back to you."

I pull out my phone to call my lawyer as James drives off with Ivy, leaving me stranded.

But before I can even do that, my phone vibrates with an incoming call. The caller ID is a local hospital.

-Hello ?

-Is it Linda ?

-Yes !

-I’m afraid your grandmother has been admitted. She’s unresponsive. The doctors are working on her now. You should come now.

I rush into the hospital and am met by Rosy, a long time family friend who once worked for my parents.

"Rosy , what happened ?"

"She was watching the news. And your livestream came on… She started shaking, and then she just went limp. The doctor thinks she might have had a stroke."

Just then , a woman in scrubs approches us with a serious expression.

"Hi, Susan’s granddaughter ?"

"I’m, how is she ?"

"It’s serious, she needs immediate surgery to relieve that intracranial pressure, we may be able to prevent permanent damage."

"Ok. Do what you need to do, please."

I’m led to walk to the desk in a fog, sign paperwork and pull out my credit card to cover the copayment.

The nurse expertly swipes the card, but she glances up at me with a conflicted look , hesitating to speak.

"I’m sorry the card has been declined."

I run my hands through my hair , trying to figure out what is happening. I know I’m nowhere near my limit.

"There must be an explanation, perhaps your system is malfunctioning. Please run it again."

"Sorry it’s still not going through."

"As soon as , we get my grandma’s surgery scheduled, my credit card company is going to get an ear full."

I pull up my phone and log into my account and see that my card has been revoked and my bank accounts are empty.

"I don’t know what’s going on. Can you just start the surgery ? I will figure something out."

"I’m sorry we can’t do that."

I let her lead me back to the main lobby. I collapse into a chair and remember I never called my lawyer.

Then my attention is reported on the TV where a reporter is standing in front of my company.

"Memorata Enterprise’s largest shareholder now appears to be Linda’s husband, James. The board has replaced her with him as CEO."

James stands in front of the cameras with an enormous smile.

"Congratulations to everyone for getting rid of this shameful cheater and liar ! Let’s work together to create a plan and set great goals for future !"

They ask him for more comments, but I can’t stomach any more.

I seize my phone to call my lawyer.

•Phone call

-I just saw the news. How is this possible ?

-Do you remember the power of attorney you had me draw up six months ago ?

-Of course, that was in case something happened to me so James wouldn’t be stuck like I was after my parents died. But, I’m still alive.

-The papers I drew up had that clause in there, but the papers you signed gave him immediate power of attorney. And I’m afraid he’s being using it to move all of hour assets into offshore accounts. There’s nothing I can do, I’m sorry.

My phone falls from my hand as I realize my husband has been working to sabotage me for at least half a year.

"That bastard !"

What am I going to do ? Does the world has to treat me like that ? My husband, my best friend, my company… now even my only family left, my granny has to leave me ?

Despair slowly gives way to anger, and I realize what I need to do….