70

70
Perry’s pov

It’d been days since my fucking wife had left the house and had barely been back. I couldn’t care less about her whereabouts because right now, all I cared about was my company, my money, and the endless list of things that were already spiraling out of control.

The reconstruction of the building from the fire was moving faster than I expected. The contractors were on a tight schedule and everything was a reminder that the world didn’t stop for anyone not for grief, and certainly not for mistakes.

I kept thinking if I could just stay buried in work, maybe I’d be able to forget the stench of disgrace and maybe… just maybe, give her the attention she wanted but that seemed like a long way off.

I could feel the pressure building, and I hated it. It made my jaw ache, made my stomach twist— it wasn’t just stress; rather it was anger and frustration, that slow burning rage that hadn’t had a proper outlet in days.

Then my phone buzzed and I looked at it almost immediately— it was my secretary and this must be important.

I had told her to only call when there was an emergency and I guess thie was it.

I picked it up. “Yes?”

“Sir! There is an emergency and you need to come,” she said. Her voice was sharp, clipped, but there was a tremor beneath it.

I noticed it, even though I didn’t want to... I didn’t want to care, but the rise in my pulse told me I already did.

I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the tightness in my chest. My hand left lines across my jaw as I finally stood, pushing the chair back, and grabbed my coat. My legs felt stiff from sitting too long.

By the time I got to the office, nothing calmed me and nothing made sense as everyone appeared really busy— busier than usual. I didn’t care about the chaos because all I wanted was fucking answers.

My secretary met me at the door as though she could barely wait for me to get comfortable— which was a good thing.

She held way too much documents that a hand could carry and her hands trembled underneath.

Sir… there’s an inconsistency. I’ve asked everyone and no one seems to know what’s going on.” Her voice came out way too sharp but it trembled.

What the fuck could have happened that got even the calmest of the bunch in a frenzy.

I took the documents from her before hurrying to my office. I didn’t bother to sit as I quickly turned to the papers in my hand.

Every line of numbers, every entry, every transfer—I scanned them like a hawk, looking for a mistake, a clue but nothing made sense.

Nothing made a fucking sense!

My stomach twisted as I gripped the edge of the desk to hold myself from falling over. My body was covered in cold sweats as I could not explain any of the shit on the papers— this was all Imogen’s specialty.

How do the fuck do I do this?

“Sir, what is it?” my secretary asked again, voice too careful, too soft now. She must have seen the confused look in my eyes.

I didn’t care about her to start small talk, but I kept my eyes on the papers as they fell and froze on a particular name.

I tilted my head, raising the paper upwards. My eyes must have been lying to me but the words stood out and was mocking me.

I let out a soft chuckle as I licked my lower lips and running my hand through my hair— a means to calm myself from going mad.

“I will let you know when I get something,” I told her.

Not letting her say another word, I dashed out of the office with the documents and my legs moved faster than they would on a normal day. I was in the garage and I entered my car before driving off.

My thoughts were all scattered— the name shouldn’t exist. No, it should be dead.

Or was I mistaken?

Did I over look and might be mistaken?

I chuckled as I pressed on the throttle hard, moving the car in a very high speed— higher than the normal speed limit.

I got to the holiday home and hurriedly went inside my suite.

My dearest wife was reading a magazine and was holding a bottle of wine. The image of her being calm in the midst of this storm pissed me off, so darn much.

I walked up to her in large strides as I placed the documents on the table in front of her. The loud bang startled her but her face returned to the original expression— cold and unmoved.

“Glad you’re home,” she said. Her voice was calm but I knew all too well that it was cold.

“Why are you stealing from me?” I ordered.

Her head tilted slightly but her eyes became darker than they usually were. “I didn’t steal your money, Perry.”

“Stop lying, woman!” My hands trembled as I was tryimg to hold myself back.

“Why would you think that I am lying?” She asked.

Without hesitation, I flipped through the documents on the table and stopped in the page with the name that had made me frantic.

“Tell me, Imogen.” I laughed but it was not a nice sound, instead it was a warning sound. “Why would your dead father be receiving money from my company?”

“My company, you mean,” she shot back at me as she jumped up from her seat.

She walked a short distance that put a space between us as though she was expecting me to react, but I was going to be civil.

“It is Cullen enterprise… not your God forsaken maiden name.” I clapped my hands together. “Taking money isn’t a big deal but 10 million…”

“Is a little to what I am owed if you take a deeper look at it,” she cut me off. “I am surprised it took you long enough to notice and I am sure you weren’t even the one who figured it out…” she laughed.

She was mocking me.

“Perry, that money’s mine. Everything in that shitty place that I helped build, I get to take what belongs to me now. You didn’t pay me for being your lawyer or anything else. Now I am getting my money’s worth.” She added. Her eyes shined and she wasn’t scared nor was she apologetic.

I took a step closer, voice sharper. “You wouldn’t even try to deny it?” Rage surged through me as I felt the heat flowing all over my body.

“Deny what?” Her tone was casual and teasing. “Everything in this company was my idea. I labored for free and I took the shit no one else would do. Now it’s my turn to collect, so you better pay up.”

My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat. “And if I cancel the account?” I asked, voice was low but threatening.

Her smirk widened. “Then be rest assured, ny husband that you would be sleeping in jail for the tax evasion and not just the missing cunt that you were linked with.”

The words hit me harder than I expected. I wanted to grab her, to scream, or to make her feel even a fraction of the rage I felt. But I couldn’t. I had to stay calm and had to think. I had to figure out how far she was willing to go.

Her eyes were calm, collected, and deadly. She wasn’t afraid and she had no apologies, that made my blood boil even more.

I hated it.

I hated her.

I hated that I couldn’t control her.

I took a deep breath, forcing my body to calm, forcing my chest to stop heaving. “You think you can just take whatever you want?” I asked, voice still low but sharper.

“I did,” she said calmly. “And I’m not done.”