After I Left, His Empire Collapsed Chapter 34

After I Left, His Empire Collapsed Chapter 34

I could almost feel the stillness in that conference room. My former coworkers connecting dots. Their stares landing on Sadie. Gold digger. The label she’d earned.

Dylan’s voice came back. Quieter. All the arrogance drained. Something desperate underneath.

“Vanessa. I admit it. I failed you.”

“To make it right. Twenty percent.”

“Twenty percent of the company. Shares. Yours.”

“Just come back. Fix the Sterling & Sterling situation. Handle this crisis. After that, you’re the second-largest shareholder.”

A massive offer. Three months ago, I would’ve wept with gratitude. Said yes on the spot.

But now?

The feelings were dead.

“Fine,” I said.

Relief exhaled through the phone.

Then I spoke.

“Twenty percent isn’t enough.”

“At least fifty.”

“What?”

His voice went shrill. Like I’d stepped on a cat.

“Vanessa. Are you insane? Fifty percent? Why not just rob me?”

“You really think this company can’t survive without you?”

His rage bounced off me. I felt nothing.

He’d forgotten. Completely erased it from memory.

The promise.