Chapter 10
The divorce was finalized on a Wednesday.
I received the documents by courier while sitting in my office. I signed them without ceremony and sent them back.
By Thursday, the news broke.
*"Ashford Industries Founder's Son Loses Control: Hostile Takeover Imminent."*
*"Meridian Pharmaceuticals' Mystery CEO Revealed as Former Ashford Wife."*
*"The Divorce That Shook the Market: Elena Voss Takes Back Her Mother's Legacy."*
My phone exploded. Interview requests, board inquiries, congratulatory calls from investors who smelled blood.
I ignored most of them.
The one I didn't ignore came from an unexpected number.
Edward Ashford.
"Dr. Voss." His voice was stiff. Formal. Terrified. "I believe we should meet."
I met him at a neutral location—a private dining room at The Langham. He arrived looking ten years older than when I'd last seen him at a family dinner.
"I want to make a deal," he said before I'd even sat down.
"No."
"You haven't heard—"
"I don't need to. There's no deal, Mr. Ashford. The patent goes back to Meridian. The acquisition proceeds. And whatever's left of your company after we strip the stolen IP..." I tilted my head. "Well. That's your son's problem."
Edward's hand shook around his water glass.
"You'll destroy everything. Everything my family built—"
"Your family built nothing." I leaned forward. "My mother built it. Your family just stole it and put your name on the door."
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"If you do this—Dominic will have nothing."
"He'll have his life. Which is more than your family left me."
I stood up.
"This meeting is over."
As I walked out, he called after me.
"You loved him once!"
I stopped.
"Yes," I said without turning around. "And he let me die for it."
The door shut behind me.
Two days later, the Ashford board voted unanimously to accept Meridian's acquisition offer.
It was over.
I stood in my office, looking out at the city skyline, and felt nothing.
Not triumph. Not satisfaction. Not relief.
Just emptiness.
My phone rang. Marcus again.
"Elena, he's being discharged today. He's asking to see you."
"No."
"He says it's important. Something about your mother—documents his father hid."
I hesitated.
"What documents?"
"He wouldn't say. Only that he'll give them to you in person."
I closed my eyes.
Even now—even after everything—Dominic Ashford still knew how to make me come to him.
"Fine. One meeting. Public place. My lawyers present."
"I'll set it up."
I hung up and pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window.
This was supposed to be over.
Why did it feel like it was only just beginning?
---
I received the documents by courier while sitting in my office. I signed them without ceremony and sent them back.
By Thursday, the news broke.
*"Ashford Industries Founder's Son Loses Control: Hostile Takeover Imminent."*
*"Meridian Pharmaceuticals' Mystery CEO Revealed as Former Ashford Wife."*
*"The Divorce That Shook the Market: Elena Voss Takes Back Her Mother's Legacy."*
My phone exploded. Interview requests, board inquiries, congratulatory calls from investors who smelled blood.
I ignored most of them.
The one I didn't ignore came from an unexpected number.
Edward Ashford.
"Dr. Voss." His voice was stiff. Formal. Terrified. "I believe we should meet."
I met him at a neutral location—a private dining room at The Langham. He arrived looking ten years older than when I'd last seen him at a family dinner.
"I want to make a deal," he said before I'd even sat down.
"No."
"You haven't heard—"
"I don't need to. There's no deal, Mr. Ashford. The patent goes back to Meridian. The acquisition proceeds. And whatever's left of your company after we strip the stolen IP..." I tilted my head. "Well. That's your son's problem."
Edward's hand shook around his water glass.
"You'll destroy everything. Everything my family built—"
"Your family built nothing." I leaned forward. "My mother built it. Your family just stole it and put your name on the door."
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"If you do this—Dominic will have nothing."
"He'll have his life. Which is more than your family left me."
I stood up.
"This meeting is over."
As I walked out, he called after me.
"You loved him once!"
I stopped.
"Yes," I said without turning around. "And he let me die for it."
The door shut behind me.
Two days later, the Ashford board voted unanimously to accept Meridian's acquisition offer.
It was over.
I stood in my office, looking out at the city skyline, and felt nothing.
Not triumph. Not satisfaction. Not relief.
Just emptiness.
My phone rang. Marcus again.
"Elena, he's being discharged today. He's asking to see you."
"No."
"He says it's important. Something about your mother—documents his father hid."
I hesitated.
"What documents?"
"He wouldn't say. Only that he'll give them to you in person."
I closed my eyes.
Even now—even after everything—Dominic Ashford still knew how to make me come to him.
"Fine. One meeting. Public place. My lawyers present."
"I'll set it up."
I hung up and pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window.
This was supposed to be over.
Why did it feel like it was only just beginning?
---