Chapter 100 The Hayes Corporation Will Collapse
The days passed in a blur.
Evelyn moved through them on
instinct, her thoughts constantly drifting back to Nathan, and the contents in that flash drive. Even when she forced herself to focus, something always pulled her away again.
She was so distracted that people around her noticed it.
But she tried her best to maintain her composure, offering input where necessary in meetings, never letting the distraction fully show.
At least, not until now.
The conference room was filled with low voices and the rustle of documents as another project was brought forward.
Evelyn stared at the file in front of her, her eyes scanning the page without truly reading it.
“Mrs. Sinclair.”
She didn’t respond.
“Mrs. Sinclair.”
Still nothing.
“Evelyn.”
The sound of her name snapped her back.
She lifted her head, her gaze settling on Marcus, who was watching her with a measured look. The room had gone quiet.
“My apologies,” she said evenly.
"I asked for your opinion," he said smoothly. "On the proposed restructuring of the vendor contracts."
She glanced down at the file. She hadn't turned to that section yet.
"I'll need to review the details before I comment," she said.
"You've had the file for three days."
"I've been reviewing other matters.”
Marcus leaned back slightly in his chair.
“I noticed you’ve become distracted these days.” He let the words settle. "If the position is too demanding, there's no shame in admitting it. We could find someone more… suited.”
A few members of the board shifted in their seats, clearing their throats softly, but no one spoke. They all understood what this was.
Evelyn met his gaze.
“I'm fine,” she said evenly. She turned to the relevant section of the file, scanned it quickly, and gave her assessment briefly.
Marcus watched her, his expression unreadable.
One of the board members leaned forward. “We should consider her suggestion. It’s… actually quite viable.”
Marcus’s fingers tapped once against the table before he spoke again.
"Speaking of ongoing matters," he said, "how is the Hayes situation progressing? You brought them into the project. So far, there's been no tangible benefit to Sinclair.”
The others stirred. Agreement rippled around the table.
"Without insight into their backers," Marcus continued, "we're essentially funding a competitor's growth. That's not good business."
Evelyn kept her expression neutral.
"I'm handling it."
"You have one week." Marcus's tone was final. "If there's no progress by then, we'll revisit your position."
Some of the executives exchanged glances. A few looked uncomfortable. But no one argued.
Evelyn closed the file in front of her.
For a moment, she simply sat there, her expression unreadable.
Then she stood.
She gathered her things calmly, slipping them into her bag.
"Where is she going?" someone murmured.
"The meeting isn't finished."
"Isn't this disrespectful?"
Evelyn turned back to face them. Her expression was flat.
"Doesn't my presence bother you all enough already?" She said. "You won't miss a chance to poke at me. So I'll save you the effort.”
Silence followed.
Then she looked at Marcus.
He was already watching her with a faint smile.
“Mrs. Sinclair,” he said, “you entered this company through… special means. Out of respect, I gave you time to prove yourself.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“What I won’t tolerate is you walking out of this room before the meeting is adjourned. That would be a clear sign of disregard—not just for me, but for everyone present.”
His voice remained calm and controlled.
“The moment you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back. Being Roman Sinclair’s wife does not give you the authority to act as you please here.”
The air in the room tightened.
Every gaze shifted between them.
Evelyn held his stare.
Then she laughed softly.
“Of course it does,” she said.
The words landed cleanly.
“Being Roman Sinclair's wife gives me every leverage. I'm glad you acknowledge I came through a special connection. I'm shameless enough to use it and accept it.”
She tilted her head. "You were never my employer, Mr. Marcus. You don't have the authority to dismiss me from my position.”
Her tone remained even.
“Even if I never fulfill our agreement, I leave on my own terms—not at your dismissal.”
Her gaze didn’t waver.
“If you have an issue with my position, take it up with the CEO or the Chairman.”
Her gaze swept over him.
“After all, you’re only acting in that role.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened. His hand clenched so hard under the table.
Evelyn glanced briefly at her watch.
“For our agreement, one week is more than enough,” she said. “But it won’t come to that.”
Her lips curved faintly.
“This time, I’ll bring you something better.”
She paused.
“The Hayes Corporation will collapse.”
The room plunged into complete silence.
Evelyn turned and walked out.
Her heels echoed against the polished floor, each step steady and unhurried.
She didn’t look back.
The room remained frozen for a few seconds after she left.
Then voices erupted.
"Did she just—"
"I didn't expect Roman's wife to have such a sharp tongue."
One of the older executives laughed openly. "For a man as ruthless as Roman, did you think he'd pick a trophy wife who couldn't hold her own? He spoils her, yes. But that doesn't mean she's weak.”
Another quiet laugh followed.
“I like her.”
“Like her? She just walked out on all of us.”
Harrison shrugged. "He started it."
A woman near the end of the table shook her head. "She's clearly disrespectful."
"That's what bothers you?" someone else cut in. "Did you miss the part where she said the Hayes Corporation will collapse?"
The arguments continued, voices rising and falling.
Marcus sat at the head of the table, his fingers steepled, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway.
‘The Hayes Corporation will collapse.’
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“How arrogant and ignorant of her.”
His assistant leaned in, lowering his voice. "Boss, should I have someone track her movements?"
Marcus waved a hand. "No."
But his gaze had hardened.
‘I'll make Roman mourn his little wife.’
The thought settled in his chest like a stone.
His assistant swallowed, watching his expression. The man had seen that look before. It never ended well for whoever was on the receiving end.
—-
Evelyn stepped out of the conference room and into the hallway without slowing down.
The murmurs behind her faded as she walked, her heels striking the floor in steady, controlled beats.
Her expression remained composed.
But her thoughts were anything but.
Amelia’s voice surfaced again, uninvited.
“Do you know why Roman was forced into sabbatical?”
At the time, Evelyn had brushed it aside.
Later, she had asked Roman directly.
He had dismissed it with a single line.
“It doesn’t matter.”
But the thought gnawed on her. So she asked Leo.
What she learned made her blood run cold. And it had stayed with her ever since.
Marcus had used her scandal with Nathan, the affair, the public humiliation—as leverage against Roman. And Alexander, in his anger, had put his own son on sabbatical for failing to protect her from all of it.
Her jaw clenched just thinking about it.
Roman had never brought it up against her.
A faint, humorless smile touched her lips as she pushed open the door to her office.
If Roman wanted her here, then she would make full use of it.
Marcus wanted control?
She would remind him exactly whose position still held weight in this company.
Even in Roman’s absence.
She dropped her bag onto the table and sank into her chair, leaning back as she spun it once, trying to shake off the lingering tension.
It didn’t work.
Her phone rang.
Evelyn let out a quiet breath, irritation surfacing immediately.
“Who now…”
She reached into her bag, already expecting another interruption.
Then a thought crossed her mind.
Roman.
Her posture straightened slightly, the tension easing just a fraction as she pulled out her phone.
But when she looked at the screen, her expression changed.
Lena.
Evelyn answered immediately.
“Hello—have you found—”
“We need to talk. Not on the phone.”
Lena’s voice cut through her words urgently
Evelyn’s brows drew together.
“What? Why—”
“This isn’t drug testing.”
The words landed heavily.
Evelyn went still.
“…What?”
There was a brief silence on the
other end.
Then Lena spoke again, slowly.
“Evelyn… you’re wrong.”
She paused.
“And that’s worse.”