Take My Fiancé, I Take The Empire

d perfectly still in

he partially open heavy mahogany door of her private study, she

, was bent over Eleanor's desk. The older woman's hand trembled slightly as she shifted a l

he quiet room. Another photograph ta

a cold, clinical calmness settled in her chest. She watched the traitor w

tely brought her diamond-encrusted heel

ac

t through the sile

lipped from her sweaty fingers and clattered onto the mahogany desk. S

of the study. Her expression was comp

rced a wet, trembling smile onto her face. "I was just... I notice

thetic lie. She walked

took a step backward, until her spine hit the edge of the bookshel

. The screen was still unlocked. The camera app was open, disp

and slid the device into the poc

hispered, reaching out a sh

e. The sheer weight of the look froze the older w

ned the ultimate contingency plan, drafted by her private attorneys just that morning. She hadn't expected to use it tonight, but s

desk. The heavy thud ma

he top of the page. Non-Disclosure

The color drained entirely from her face. She realized,

was smooth, devoid of any inflection. "That is the exact amount my stepmother, Lil

e grabbed the edge of the desk to

," Eleanor continued, her tone conversational but laced wi

d a silver Montblanc pen. She uncapped it w

s spilled over her wrinkled cheeks. "I need this job. I raised y

could smell the sour scent of

red. "You are either entirely mine, or you are my

er posture, looking do

and have you arrested for corporate espionage. Following that, I will file a civil lawsu

metal. She pressed the tip to the signature line. The ink blotted slightly as she dragged the pen across th

reedom to ever speak a word ab

ecked the signature, her face impassive. She plac

leanor reached across the desk

in study. Immediate

urity guards in identical black suits stepped into the room.

ed. "She has five minutes. She is forbidden from packing

ki cried out, her voice r

one of her arms with firm, unyielding grips. Th

in the doorway just as the guards dragged the woma

ly around her neck. "Freeze her severance package entir

r tablet. She was completely unfazed by the brutal de

g a few paces behind the guards. She want

ainst the walls. They lowered their heads in absolute silence. The atmosphere in the corridor grew thick wi

he signaled that the purge was complet

for the sweeping marble staircase that led down to t