THE WIFE HE REPLACED

sed his eyes. Elena. Standing in front of Carter Holdings like she didn't just belong

s unusually quiet. Too quiet. Even the usual morning chatte

wrong and he

as she stepped in. "There's a sched

ny meeting," Adrian

t was sent under

again. T

d slowly. "

can't,

y. "What do you

been restricted. Only approved directors can override i

ightened. "Who

mmediately and that

. The atmosphere had changed since yesterday. More people. More caut

ed. No one spoke until she took h

aid calmly. A chorus

a'

Car

ont of her. "We move to the

ors leaned forward sligh

page. "Begin restructuring of interna

e exchanged

. "That will limit Mr. Adrian Car

ok up. "That is

e in the room understood now. This was no longer a

doors. Every head turned toward him but something was diff

meeting," he

"Adrian," he began carefully, "we need t

choed. "What transition

use.

r wi

nked once. Then laughed but it

? She hasn't had any involveme

e table slid a document

ng inside him went cold. Legal proof. Ownership ver

deniable conclusion. Elena C

. "No," he said fla

ause no one needed to. The truth

speak much. Didn't eat. Didn't pace like he usually

ng with you

didn't

closer.

ut his eyes weren't there. T

d quietly, "is not w

ed. "What doe

d. "It means," he said, reachin

om

e first time-He said her name lik

hts stretched endlessly beneath her. Her phone buzzed. A message. Unknown nu

-calmly-she typed a reply. "You should have

er, the doors of her office opened.

ere," s

t turn. "Le

e always realizes too late tha

this began... Elena smiled