Chapter 25: Confrontation
717words
"This is an unexpected pleasure," Jack said, his hand resting on my shoulder.
"I thought it was time we had a frank discussion," Michael replied. "Business to business."
"What kind of discussion?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the hatred burning in my chest.
Michael leaned forward. "I know what you've been doing. The investments, the board meetings, buying Williams Corporation shares." His smile turned cold. "Amateur moves."
"I prefer to think of it as strategic," Jack countered. "Why does it concern you so much?"
"Let's be direct," Michael said. "You're trying to block my acquisition of Williams. I want to know why."
"Perhaps we simply recognize a good investment," I replied before Jack could speak.
Michael's eyes narrowed. "There's more to it." He turned to Jack. "Did you know your wife has been meeting with Mia Brown?"
Jack's surprise was genuine. I hadn't told him about my meeting with Mia.
"Mia shared some interesting theories about Mrs. Thompson," Michael continued, watching me closely. "Or should I call you by another name?"
I stood, moving to pour myself a drink. "My name is Zoe Thompson. But I do have a personal interest in Williams Corporation."
"And what's that?" Michael asked.
"Justice," I said simply. "For Rachel Williams."
Michael's glass paused halfway to his lips. "What did you say?"
"I know what happened on that cruise ship. What you did to her."
Michael laughed. "Rachel was my wife. She drowned in a tragic accident."
"Did she?" I placed a recording device on the table. "Mia Brown disagrees."
I pressed play. Mia's voice filled the room: "Rachel didn't fall. Michael pushed her after she confronted him about us. I helped him cover it up..."
The color drained from Michael's face. "This is absurd. A fabrication."
"The board might find it concerning," I said, sliding a folder across the table—copies of documents showing his fraud and embezzlement from Williams Corporation.
"Where did you get these?" Michael demanded, his composure cracking.
"You should be more careful about who you invite to your penthouse," I replied.
"What do you want? Money?"
"I want to watch you lose everything," I said. "Just like Rachel did."
Michael stood abruptly. "This meeting is over."
"Before you go," I said, moving in front of him, "there's one more thing you should know."
I looked directly into his eyes—eyes I had once looked into with love, then fear, and now nothing but contempt.
"Rachel Williams isn't dead."
Michael's face contorted in disbelief. "What kind of game are you playing?"
"No game," I replied, reaching up to remove the small prosthetic piece that had altered my features.
"Impossible," he whispered, stepping back. "I watched you drown."
"You watched me fall," I corrected him. "But I survived."
"You can't prove any of this," Michael said, recovering quickly.
"We've recorded everything you've said," Jack replied, gesturing to a hidden camera.
Michael lunged for it, but Jack blocked him.
"The feed is being transmitted to multiple locations," Jack warned.
"This changes nothing," Michael snarled. "I still control the board."
"Not anymore," I said. "Jack has been showing board members evidence of your crimes. An emergency meeting has been called for tomorrow to remove you as CEO."
Michael's face paled. "This isn't over," he hissed, backing toward the door. "I destroyed Rachel Williams once. I can do it again."
As he left, I called after him: "The district attorney is very interested in attempted murder charges."
The door slammed behind him.
Jack turned to me. "You met with Mia?"
"I had to," I admitted. "She was going to expose me to Michael."
"You should have told me," Jack said, hurt in his voice.
"I wasn't sure I could trust you," I replied quietly. "Not after seeing you with her."
Jack took my hands. "There was never anything between Mia and me. I was just getting information."
"I know that now," I said as he pulled me into his arms.
"We're almost there," he murmured. "After tomorrow, it will all be over."
But as I rested against his chest, I couldn't shake the feeling that Michael wouldn't go down without a final, desperate fight.
