Chapter 6 - The Corner Office
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The Monday morning traffic in Washington D.C. was as unforgiving as ever, a slow, metallic crawl toward the heart of the city. Claire sat in the back of the sleek black town car, a thick leather portfolio resting in her lap.
She wore a sharp, tailored navy suit, a deliberate departure from the soft pastels and florals Adrian had always preferred her to wear.
The car pulled up to the imposing glass facade of Whitmore-Vale Holdings.
For the past four years, Claire had only entered this building as the supportive wife, attending holiday parties or smiling for promotional photographs. Today, she was entering as the majority shareholder and the newly appointed acting CEO.
Katherine was waiting for her in the expansive marble lobby.
"Are you ready?" Katherine asked, falling into step beside Claire as they walked toward the executive elevators.
"I've been ready for three years," Claire replied, her voice calm and steady. "I just needed the paperwork to catch up."
They rode the elevator in silence, arriving at the top floor. The executive suite was a chaotic hive of activity. Assistants were frantically sorting files, and junior executives huddled in anxious groups. The sudden removal of Adrian Vale had sent shockwaves through the entire corporate structure.
Claire walked past them without stopping, heading directly toward the massive corner office at the end of the hall.
The heavy oak doors were open. Inside, two men in dark suits were packing boxes.
Claire stopped in the doorway. "What is happening here?"
One of the men, Adrian's former chief of staff, looked up nervously. "Ms. Whitmore. We are packing Mr. Vale's personal belongings, as instructed by the board."
"Leave them," Claire ordered.
"Ma'am?"
"I said, leave them. And step out."
The men hastily exited the office, leaving Claire and Katherine alone in the massive room.
Claire walked over to the expansive mahogany desk. It was cluttered with Adrian's framed accolades, his expensive fountain pens, and a photograph of the two of them taken on their honeymoon.
She picked up the photograph, looking at the young, naive woman smiling brightly beside a man who was already planning to dismantle her.
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"Have maintenance bring up a shredder," Claire told Katherine, tossing the photograph into a nearby wastebasket. "And a very large trash bin. I don't want a single trace of him left in this room by noon."
"Understood," Katherine smiled a sharp, predatory smile. "Welcome to your new office, Madam CEO."
