Chapter 6 - The Uninvited Guest
|
The woman did not look like she belonged at a high-society Christmas gala. She wore practical boots, a sharp gray pantsuit, and an expression of absolute, unyielding authority.
Her name was Dr. Mara Ellison.
Until two months ago, she had been the chief compliance officer of Hensley Development. Matthias had often complained about her during dinner, calling her "difficult" and "obstinate." At the time, I assumed she was just a strict corporate bureaucrat holding up his massive real estate acquisition.
Now, I understood that "difficult" meant she had possessed the moral backbone to ask questions my husband desperately did not want answered.
More importantly, Mara’s signature had appeared at the bottom of the mysterious document sent to my attorney. She was the witness to the madness.
I watched Matthias’s face as he finally turned around to follow my gaze.
The moment he recognized the woman marching purposefully across the marble floor, every trace of color instantly drained from his face. The arrogant, wealthy corporate shark transformed into a terrified, cornered animal.
“You invited her?” Matthias whispered, his voice cracking with a raw, unfiltered panic.
“I did,” I replied smoothly. “Mara reached out to my attorney. She said she had some pressing matters to discuss with me regarding the estate.”
“Evelyn, you don't know what you are doing,” Matthias pleaded, stepping directly in front of me, desperately trying to block my view of the approaching woman. “You have to let me get her out of here. She is unstable. She was fired for corporate espionage!”
“She wasn't fired, Matthias,” I corrected him, stepping around his broad shoulders.
May you like
Mara reached our circle, stopping directly in front of my husband. She did not offer a polite holiday greeting. She looked at him with a level of disgust that practically radiated off her skin.
“Hello, Matthias,” Mara said, her voice carrying the sharp, cold edge of a scalpel.
