Chapter 3: The Contract in Tiffany’s Handbag
At three in the morning, the Rivers Global jet landed in New York beneath a black sky split by rain.
Three black SUVs waited on the private runway.
Derek stood first, trying to recover his arrogance.
“Julian,” he said sharply, “whatever you think you’re doing, remember Father gave me authority over the Middle East expansion.”
Julian adjusted his cufflinks.
“Father gave you responsibility. Not ownership.”
Derek froze.
Julian nodded toward one of his attorneys waiting beside the SUV.
A tablet was handed over.
On the screen was a signed contract.
Derek’s face drained.
Simone saw it then — fear. Real fear.
“What is that?” she asked.
Julian did not take his eyes off Derek.
“A side agreement. Derek promised Tiffany five percent of Rivers Global after the Dubai merger closed.”
Simone went still.
“That’s impossible.”
Derek snapped, “It was nothing. Just leverage.”
Julian’s voice dropped.
“You used company assets to buy silence from your mistress while your pregnant wife was being publicly humiliated on my aircraft.”
Derek’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Then Julian swiped the screen.
A second document appeared.
“Tiffany also signed an agreement with our Dubai competitors.”
Derek staggered back.
“What?”
Julian finally smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
“She wasn’t in love with you, Derek. She was selling you.”
The words landed like a gunshot.
Derek turned toward the empty runway as if Tiffany might appear and explain herself.
But Tiffany was gone.
And for once, Derek had been abandoned by the kind of person he had chosen over his own wife.
Julian looked at Simone.
“She recorded meetings. She copied files. She used your pain as cover while Derek handed her access to everything.”
Simone closed her eyes.
Seven months pregnant.
Betrayed twice.
By her husband.
And by the woman who had treated her unborn child like an inconvenience.
When Simone opened her eyes again, there were no tears.
Only calm.
“What happens now?” she asked.
Julian handed her a sealed envelope.
“Now,” he said, “you decide how much mercy he deserves.”
Chapter 4: The Wife They Underestimated
The emergency board meeting began at 8:00 a.m.
Derek arrived late.
His tie was crooked. His eyes were bloodshot. His confidence was gone.
At the head of the long glass table sat Julian Rivers.
Beside him sat Simone.
Every board member noticed.
Derek stopped in the doorway.
“What is she doing here?”
Simone looked up slowly.
For years, Derek had introduced her as “my wife” with the same tone men used for decorative furniture.
He had forgotten she had once been a corporate attorney.
He had forgotten she had reviewed contracts before he ever learned how to sign them.
He had forgotten who she was before he made her small.
Julian opened the meeting.
“As of this morning, Derek Rivers is suspended from all executive duties pending investigation into corporate misconduct, breach of fiduciary responsibility, misuse of company assets, and unauthorized disclosure of confidential merger materials.”
Derek slammed his hand on the table.
“You can’t do this!”
Simone spoke before Julian could.
“Yes,” she said quietly. “He can.”
Every face turned toward her.
She placed the envelope on the table.
“And I can do more.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed.
“What is that?”
Simone slid out the papers.
“A separation agreement. A custody protection filing. A financial misconduct statement. And my formal testimony regarding what happened on that aircraft.”
Derek went pale.
“You would destroy me?”
Simone’s voice stayed soft.
“No, Derek. You destroyed yourself. I’m just no longer cleaning up the wreckage.”
Then Julian pressed a remote.
The conference room screen lit up.
Security footage from inside the jet began to play.
Tiffany stepping close.
Tiffany shoving Simone.
Tiffany sneering at her belly.
Derek watching.
Doing nothing.
The room went silent.
A female board member covered her mouth.
An older investor slowly removed his glasses.
Derek whispered, “Turn it off.”
Julian did not.
May you like
The video kept playing.
And when it ended, no one in that room looked at Derek the same way again.
