Enemy lines
738 Words
Emilia didn’t react.
Not outwardly, at least.
She spent the rest of the day as if nothing had changed—attending meetings, reviewing cases, even sending Bruce a text confirming dinner plans for the weekend. She played her role perfectly.
But inside, she was already dismantling him.
That night, Emilia sat in her home office, scrolling through the files Michael had sent. Each document was damning:
• Wire transfers from firm accounts to Bruce’s shell corporation.
• Encrypted emails between Bruce and Beth, filled with carefully worded discussions about “transitioning assets.”
• A draft contract, listing Bruce as the majority shareholder of Clark & Associates—her firm.
The arrogance. The audacity. He wasn’t just stealing. He was rewriting history, positioning himself as the rightful owner while planning to leave her with nothing.
Emilia’s fingers drummed against the desk, her mind already working through possibilities. Bruce was methodical—he wouldn’t make a move until everything was secured. Which meant she still had time.
She just had to move faster.
The next morning, Emilia made her first call.
“I need a forensic accountant,” she told Michael. “Someone discreet.”
“I know a guy,” Michael replied. “He’ll trace every cent Bruce has touched.”
“Good. And one more thing—Beth.”
“What about her?”
Emilia smiled, cold and sharp. “Let’s see how loyal she really is.”
Within forty-eight hours, Emilia had everything in place.
1. She froze all non-essential firm accounts under the guise of a routine audit, cutting off Bruce’s ability to siphon more money.
2. She had a forensic accountant digging through every financial transaction Bruce had made in the past year.
3. She scheduled a shareholder meeting, ensuring that Bruce’s attempted power grab would be legally impossible before he even tried.
4. She planted bait.
And Beth took it.
Michael had approached Beth anonymously, posing as someone offering an “alternative financial opportunity.” A test to see if she’d bite.
She did.
Which meant Beth wasn’t just following Bruce—she was open to other options.
Perfect.
By the end of the week, Emilia was ready. She had Bruce cornered. The only question now was how to break him.
And she had just the person in mind to help.
She picked up her phone and dialed.
Edward answered on the second ring. “Clark.”
Emilia leaned back, a slow smirk forming. “How do you feel about tearing my husband apart in court?”
#
Edward Monroe was many things.
A relentless prosecutor. A thorn in Emilia’s side. A man who lived for tearing apart airtight defenses.
Tonight, he was also her ally.
They met at a private lounge, a place where high-profile deals were made over top-shelf whiskey. Edward was already there when she arrived, a glass in hand, his gaze sharp as he watched her approach.
“You’re buying, right?” he said, amused. “Considering I’m doing you a favor.”
Emilia slid into the seat across from him, signaling for a drink. “If you pull this off the way I want, I’ll buy you the whole damn bar.”
Edward smirked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “Intriguing. Tell me more.”
She didn’t waste time.
With precise, clipped words, she laid out everything—Bruce’s embezzlement, the offshore accounts, the shell corporation. The carefully laid plans to steal her firm.
Edward listened, his expression unreadable. But Emilia knew him well enough to recognize the moment he saw the opportunity in front of him.
When she was done, she leaned forward, voice even. “I need this to be ironclad. When I take him down, I don’t want him walking away with a slap on the wrist. I want his reputation, his finances, his credibility—everything gone.”
Edward studied her for a long moment, then set his glass down. “You want criminal charges.”
“Yes.”
“You want to make sure he can’t talk his way out.”
“Yes.”
His smirk returned, sharper this time. “Clark, you do know that if I take this case, I’ll have to investigate everything. Including your firm’s financials.”
Emilia didn’t blink. “I have nothing to hide.”
Edward leaned back, considering. Then, slowly, he nodded.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s ruin your husband.”
#
- Writer
