CHAPTER 4: THE MISTRESS CALLS BACK
956 Words
7:00 PM. CEO Office. 60th Floor.
Sophia hadn’t left yet.
The city was dark outside. Only her lamp was on.
Her phone sat on the desk. One new text.
Unknown: `You think firing him ends it? You have no idea what you started. - V`
V. Victoria.
Sophia didn’t reply.
She opened her laptop instead. Pulled up Victoria’s file.
Victoria Hayes. 26. Former Executive Assistant.
Hired 2 years ago. Fired yesterday with Ethan.
Bank statements: $5 million “consulting fee” from Blackwood Industries.
Instagram: Private now. But 3 days ago she posted: `New beginnings 💍`
Sophia closed the laptop. "New beginnings," she whispered. "With my husband."
Her assistant knocked. "Ms. Miller, you have a call. Line 2. She wouldn’t give her name."
"Put her through," Sophia said.
Click.
"Hello?" Sophia answered.
A laugh. High. Sharp. "The Queen herself."
Victoria.
"What do you want?" Sophia asked.
"I want to meet," Victoria said. "You and me. No lawyers. No Ethan. Just us women."
Sophia leaned back. "Why would I meet the woman who slept with my husband?"
"Because I have something you need," Victoria said. "Information. About Ethan. About Grandpa. About why you really got 40%."
Silence.
"Tomorrow," Sophia said. "8 PM. The Blackwood Gallery. Public place. Cameras."
"Fine," Victoria said. "Come alone, Queen."
Click.
Sophia stared at the dead phone.
Step 5 of PROJECT PHOENIX: Find out who called him.
The answer just called her.
---
9:00 PM. Ethan’s Apartment.
Empty. Cold.
Boxes everywhere.
Ethan sat on the floor. Suit jacket off. Tie gone.
His phone buzzed.
Victoria: `I called her. We’re meeting tomorrow.`
Ethan typed back: `Don’t. She’ll destroy you.`
Victoria: `She already destroyed you. Baby, we can still fix this. We have the files.`
Ethan frowned. "Files?"
He called her. "What files?"
Victoria’s voice was calm. "The ones from Grandpa’s safe. The ones Sophia doesn’t know I took. Meet me at the gallery tomorrow. We’ll use them."
"Ethan—" Victoria started.
"No," Ethan cut her off. "I’m done being used."
He hung up.
Looked at the box labeled `CEO`.
Threw it in the trash.
---
THE NEXT DAY. 8:00 PM. BLACKWOOD GALLERY.
White walls. Art. Champagne.
Rich people pretending to care about paintings.
Sophia walked in alone. Black dress. No jewelry.
Two guards at the entrance, but not with her.
She saw Victoria immediately.
Red dress. Blonde. 5’6. Smiling like she’d already won.
"Queen," Victoria said. "You came."
"Talk," Sophia said.
Victoria sipped champagne. "Ethan and I have been together for 18 months. Before the divorce papers. Before you even suspected."
"I know," Sophia said. "I have the hotel receipts."
Victoria’s smile dropped. "Right. You’re smart. But are you smart enough for this?"
She pulled a USB from her clutch.
Black. Small.
"This," Victoria said, "is from Arthur Blackwood’s safe. The one only Ethan and I could open. It has the real will."
Sophia’s heart stopped. "The real will leaves everything to Ethan."
"No," Victoria smiled. "The real will leaves everything to the first grandchild. Male or female."
The gallery noise faded.
"What?" Sophia whispered.
"Arthur knew Ethan was reckless," Victoria said. "So he put a clause. If Ethan cheated or was fired for cause, the 40% reverts to the grandchild. And if there’s no grandchild... it goes to charity."
Sophia felt cold. "There is no grandchild."
"Are you sure?" Victoria tilted her head. "Because I know about the pregnancy, Sophia. The one Ethan told you to terminate. The one you lost because of the stress."
The glass in Sophia’s hand cracked.
"I didn’t lose it," Sophia said quietly. "I had a son. 6 months ago. His name is Leo. And he’s a Blackwood."
Victoria’s champagne almost fell. "You... what?"
"Grandpa knew," Sophia said. "That’s why he gave me 40%. To protect Leo until he turns 18. Ethan doesn’t know. The board doesn’t know. Only me. And now you."
Victoria laughed, but it was shaky. "You’re lying."
"Am I?" Sophia stepped closer. "Then why did Grandpa’s lawyer call me last week? Why did he ask about Leo’s birth certificate?"
Victoria said nothing.
Sophia took the USB. "Thank you for this. You just gave me the last piece of Step 3."
"You can’t use that," Victoria hissed. "Ethan will—"
"Ethan is fired," Sophia said. "And you’re about to be sued for corporate theft and blackmail."
Security appeared behind Victoria.
"Ms. Hayes," one guard said. "You need to come with us."
Victoria looked at Sophia. Panic in her eyes. "We were supposed to be on the same side!"
"The only side I’m on," Sophia said, "is Leo’s."
They took Victoria away. Crying. Yelling.
Sophia stood alone in the gallery.
Holding the USB.
Holding proof that Leo was heir to 100% of Blackwood.
---
10:30 PM. CEO Office.
Sophia plugged in the USB.
File opened: `LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT - ARTHUR BLACKWOOD`
Article 7: `In the event that Ethan Blackwood is terminated for cause, all shares revert to the direct heir of the Blackwood bloodline.`
Attachment: Copy of Leo’s birth certificate. Filed 6 months ago. By Arthur’s lawyer.
Sophia put her hand on her stomach. Where Leo used to kick.
"Your grandpa protected you," she whispered. "And now I will too."
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown: `You have something that belongs to me. - E`
Ethan.
Sophia typed: `Come get it. In court.`
Send.
She updated PROJECT PHOENIX on the wall.
Step 1: Take his company. ✓
Step 2: Take his clients. ✓
Step 3: Destroy his reputation. ✓
Step 4: Make the board fire him. ✓
Step 5: Find out who called him. ✓
Step 6: Secure Leo’s inheritance.
Sophia picked up her pen.
Day 3 of revenge.
And for the first time, it wasn’t just about her anymore.
It was about her son.
- Writer
