Chapter 184 Avery's Final Reckoning

Chapter 184 Avery's Final Reckoning

On a hot afternoon, after Avery had taken lunch and was lazily lounging in their living room, a sudden thought occurred to her. There was one person she needed to put in his place, one person who had wronged her and her best friend– Jack.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Alex asked with a smile, appearing behind her and grabbing her. His presence, as always, never failed to lighten her mood, and he was always the first person to notice when she was carried away by a worrying thought. She looked up at him and smiled when she saw his eyes, soft with love and filled with concern.
“I just remembered something from the past,” she said in a quiet voice.
The tone of her voice piqued his concern, and he quickly sat down beside her, gently cradling her bulging stomach. “What did you remember, my love?”
Avery sighed. “Remember the man that fired me from where I used to work?”
“Oh!” Alex exclaimed, laughing hard. “You mean the one whose action pushed you into my hands?”
“Don't be silly,” Avery teased, pushing him away and frowning.
“Okay, okay, I am sorry,” he said, raising his hands in apology. “What about him?”
Avery cleared her throat. “I figured he got away with too many atrocities, and I would like to teach him a very valuable lesson.”
“Really?” He asked, getting more interested in the conversation now.
“Yes, baby, I want to buy the entire company and watch him beg for his job before letting him go.” She said without remorse.
Alex touched her hand softly, wondering if it was the pregnancy making her feel that way. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Avery didn’t look away from his eyes. “I actually thought about doing this a long time ago, but the war interrupted my plans, and I guess I kind of forgot about it until now. And I am not doing it just for me, but also for everyone who suffered because of him in that place.”
“Is that so?” he asked thoughtfully, then stood up and began to mutter something to himself. After a while, he looked at her and smiled. “We will do something about it, okay? Don't worry about it too much. Let's focus on the baby first.”
“Thanks, honey,” she said as Alex kissed her forehead and went out.
In the busy days that followed, Avery once again forgot the issue, but Alex did not. He had called Simon, and had him look up the company, then told him he planned to give it as a present to Avery. Simon quickly understood the assignment, and told Alex to leave it to him. Within a few more days, Simon had gotten in touch with the design company's board of directors, and bought it outright in Avery's name, instructing them not to inform any of the staff about the takeover. Business was to go on as usual.
Exactly a week after their conversation, Alex handed Avery a wrapped gift box. She looked up in surprise, wondering why he had given her a gift despite it not being any special occasion.
“What are we celebrating, honey?” She asked.
Alex smiled mischievously. “I am celebrating having the most beautiful woman in the world as my wife. No more questions, open it.”
Avery opened the box with shaky and excited hands, but her excitement quickly died away when she brought out a sealed envelope.
“What is this? Did you give me the wrong box?”
Alex was still smiling like a child who had successfully gotten away with a petty crime. “Just read it.”
Avery hesitated for a while, then began to read through. Her eyes widened the more she read, and soon she had jumped up despite her pregnancy, and flung herself on his body.
“You bought me the company! I can't believe it, you actually did it!” She screamed.
Alex was laughing on the couch. “Easy there Luna, it is for you and our baby.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.
“I love this baby more,” he teased as he lifted her and moved towards their bedroom.

At exactly 9:00 AM the following Monday, the doors of Phoenix Creative Studios opened dramatically. Heads turned quickly, and coffee cups paused in the air. Avery walked in like a returning queen, with Jessica confidently bedside her. They were like twin warriors, and the look on their faces was one that suggested that they were not there to reminisce about old times.
The stunned silence soon gave way to furious whispers.
“Is that her? Avery?”
“She is the one who stood up to the manager, right?”
“She looks incredible.”
Some people stood to stare, while others pretended to work. But no one missed the moment. Phoenix Creative Studios had never seen such an entrance–The fired staff of the company, who was now the Luna of Tenebrous was in their midst.
Jack, who had seen them all the way from his office, had come out to intercept them, thinking it was potential new clients. His smile quickly faded into a hideous scowl as he realized who they were.
“Well, look who finally crawled back,” he hissed in disdain. “Tell me, Avery, has your sugar wolf kicked you out already? Are you back to depending on your miserable sidekick for crumbs?”
Avery chuckled at his ignorance. “Oh Jack, you have always gotten ahead of yourself. I did not come here for crumbs actually, I have come for the whole bakery.”
Jessica crossed her arms, and stared at him menacingly. “And also to remind you that karma has a better memory than you do.”
Jack scoffed. “You really think a few viral hashtags and some public sympathy make you powerful? This is a business, sweetheart. I am a god in this world of mine, and nothing can touch me.”
Avery turned to Jessica and smiled sweetly. “What do you think, ‘sidekick’, should we put his theory to the test?”
Jessica giggled mischievously at Avery's sarcastic use of the word ‘sidekick.’ “I think it is necessary to teach some arrogant people manners.”
Everybody in the office had abandoned what they were doing, and were now watching the drama with serious concentration.
Avery sent a text on her phone, and as if on cue, Jack’s mobile phone rang immediately. It was the name of the chairman of the board of directors, and he quickly answered it with the cocky assurance of a man convinced of his invincibility. “Yes, this is Jack.”
“Put the call on speaker, Jack.”
He was shocked by the strange request, but he didn't want to argue with his boss. “You are on speaker sir,” he mumbled weakly.
The voice on speaker was cold and authoritative. “Jack, I hope you are seated. As of 8:00 AM this morning, the full ownership of Phoenix Creative Studios was officially handed over to its new owner. The company and all its assets have been legally purchased by Missis Avery Ravenswood. I am sure she is with you at this moment, because she now owns the company.”
The blood drained from Jack’s face.
The chairman of the board continued without stopping. “You are to hereby vacate the premises immediately, along with the HR director, your accomplice, whose services have also been terminated. The new owner will oversee the restructuring of executive leadership.”
Jack's mouth dropped open. “Wait–what? This is insane! I never approved any sale,”
“You did not need to,” The chairman replied coldly. “Your shares in the company were marginal, and the rest of the board voted unanimously in favor of the acquisition. It is done.”
The call ended before Jack could utter a single word, and total silence descended on the office.
“Still think I came here to beg for crumbs?” Avery asked with a wicked grin playing on her face.
Jack immediately dropped to his knees. “Avery, please. We were friends once. Let’s talk about this.”
Jessica shook her head aggressively, with anger written all over her face. “You were never our friend, Jack, you were a tyrant who took pleasure in trampling on others, and you also took pride in ruining anyone who did not worship you.”
Avery was not even interested in his meaningless pleas. “Security!”
Two uniformed guards entered quietly, having waited just outside.
Jack’s earlier arrogance was nowhere to be seen as he realized he was ruined and that the board had taken everything without his knowledge. “No. No, wait. Please! Avery–have a heart! I have lost everything, don't do this!”
Avery held his gaze. “You did not have one when you humiliated me in front of the entire office after making me work like a servant. Now you get to feel what it is like to be powerless.”
The guards escorted him out, with his pleas echoing down the corridor. Employees watched silently as the tyrant Jack was finally dethroned.
In the stunned silence that followed, Avery turned to Jessica and extended her hand.
“Congratulations, CEO”
Jessica suddenly froze. “Me?”
“You have the talent, the vision, and the spine for this job,” Avery said laughing. “You know I cannot run it in my condition.”
Jessica’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t even have a plan yet,”
“You will figure it out,” Avery said softly. “You always do.”
Applause broke out among the staff as they witnessed the happy ending of the best friends. Phones were already filming, documenting every second of justice being served.
Avery took it all in–fulfilled.