the Ghost
449 Words
*Chapter *
At 8:55 AM, Aurelia Ventures smelled like bleach and secrets.
The boardroom glass was too clean. The chairs were too expensive. The 12 people sitting at the table had already picked out Aria’s office.
Keith sat at the head of the table. Chloe sat to his right, hand in his, diamond on her finger that wasn’t there last night.
A reporter from Channel 7 was live outside. _“Aurelia Ventures CEO Presumed Dead... Husband to Take Over...”_
Keith cleared his throat. “Before we begin, I’d like to thank you all for—”
The doors opened.
Silence.
Aria walked in. Red dress. Red lips. File folder in her hand. No makeup hiding the dark circles. She looked like she’d been to a funeral.
Her funeral.
“Good morning,” she said. “Am I late for my own succession meeting?”
Chloe’s champagne glass slipped. It didn’t break. Keith’s jaw did.
“...Aria?” he whispered. Like saying her name louder would make her disappear again.
“Keith.” She smiled. Cold. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
The police officer standing by the window stepped forward. “Ms. Aurelia. We need to talk about the vehicle found on Highway 17 last night.”
Aria set her folder down. “Yes. Let’s.”
She opened it. Exhibit A. The party photos. Keith’s hand on Chloe’s waist.
Exhibit B. Bank transfers. Aurelia money → Chloe’s personal account.
Exhibit C. The funeral home invoice. Paid by Aurelia Ventures. Signed by Keith.
She didn’t look at Chloe. Not yet.
“I’m not dead,” Aria said softly. “Which means someone tried to kill me. And since I own 51% of this company, attempted murder is a shareholder issue.”
The board stared.
Outside, the reporter’s voice cracked through the speaker: _“Breaking news: Aria Aurelia has just entered Aurelia HQ...”_
Keith stood up too fast. His chair screamed. “This is a misunderstanding. We thought—”
“You thought what?” Aria finally looked at him. Then at Chloe. “That I’d burn?”
Chloe’s mouth opened. No sound came out. Her hand was shaking in Keith’s.
Aria tapped the folder. “The police will want to know who signed off on using a Jane Doe from our funeral home. Perjury is a funny thing. It sticks.”
She walked to the head of the table. The seat Keith was in.
“Move,” she said.
He moved.
Aria sat. Adjusted her sleeves. “Now. About the new CEO...”
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Unknown number.
She didn’t check it.
She already knew who it was.
- Writer
