Chapter 13 - A New Empire
Six months after the chaotic wedding that nearly broke us, the glass-and-steel monolith downtown was officially renamed Bennett-Sterling Tower.
The transition of power had been swift, brutal, and entirely legal. With Vivian and Ethan Whitmore both awaiting trial in federal detention facilities with zero chance of bail, the remaining board of directors had unanimously ratified my appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the newly merged corporation.
My father was officially Chairman Emeritus of Bennett Construction, finally enjoying his work without the shadow of old debts or fabricated liabilities hanging over his head.
I sat behind the expansive mahogany desk on the forty-second floor, reviewing the quarterly financial statements. The numbers were pristine, balanced, and soaring into unprecedented profitability. Every legacy project was fully funded, every unpaid debt settled, and our reputation as a beacon of corporate integrity was firmly established.
The office doors opened silently, and Julian Sterling walked in, holding two cups of artisanal coffee. He placed one on my desk before leaning casually against the edge.
“You’ve been staring at those spreadsheets for three hours, Claire,” Julian noted, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Even the most rigorous forensic accountant deserves a lunch break.”
I looked up, smiling as I accepted the coffee cup. “I’m just making sure there are no hidden clauses in our new merger agreements, Julian. Once bitten, twice shy.”
Julian chuckled, sitting down in the chair opposite my desk. “Fair enough. Though I assure you, my legal team has scrubbed every line. Speaking of legal matters, the trial date for Vivian and Ethan has been officially set for next month.”
“How are they holding up?” I asked calmly.
“Not well,” Julian replied. “Ethan tried to cut a plea deal last week, attempting to pin the entire embezzlement scheme exclusively on his mother. In response, Vivian fired her defense attorney and threatened to expose every single board member who looked the other way over the past decade. They’re tearing each other apart from the inside.”
“Poetic justice,” I murmured, taking a sip of the coffee. “They spent their entire lives treating people like disposable assets. Now they’re finding out what it feels like to be discarded.”
“Speaking of disposal,” Julian said, his expression shifting slightly, becoming more serious. “There’s a rumor going around that the city’s annual Businessperson of the Year award committee is planning to unanimously nominate you next week.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? And let me guess—you’re on the committee?”
May you like
“I merely seconded the motion,” Julian smiled innocently. “Though I did suggest they present the award in the grand ballroom. Perhaps you could wear something memorable.”
I laughed, tossing a balled-up piece of scratch paper at his head. He caught it effortlessly, his slate-gray eyes sparkling with a warmth that only I ever got to see.
