6
“You don’t think you’re overreaching, Miss Reese? A person should know their place,” Sienna Vaughn sneered, pointin
at me with a derisive snort.
son–painted nail
So, this was it. She had been destroying my wedding out of some delusional belief that snagging Liam Prescott would elevate her.
I gave her a slight nod before stepping closer. Quickly, I yanked the necklace off her neck and retrieved my ring.
“That ring? I designed it myself. It doesn’t suit you,” I said coldly.
“This is a gift from Mr. Prescott!” Sienna’s face twisted, and she reached for the ring, but I dodged easily.
Without a second thought, I tossed it into the nearby dumpster.
Meeting her wide, disbelieving eyes, I smirked.
“Trash belongs in the trash. If you want to dig it out, it’s yours–Liam Prescott included.”
I shot her a disdainful look, ignored whatever venom she wanted to spew, and walked away.
The following day, the pounding on my door started early.
Liam stood there, looking like a shadow of himself, with dark circles under his eyes and messy hair. Clutching a bag, he forced a smile that
didn’t reach his weary face.
“Delilah, I got your favorite raspberry Danish! It’s still warm. Come on, try it,” he said, begging for approval.
I stared at him blankly. All those little moments that used to warm my heart now felt hollow, cheapened by his betrayal.
It was pointless. I didn’t even have the energy to lash out. I pushed him aside, intending to shut the door, but he blocked it with his hand.
“Delilah, don’t be like this. It’s all my fault. I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance,” he pleaded desperately.
“It was just a moment of weakness with Sienna. She seduced me! You know I’ve only ever loved you. Please believe me.”
“Oh.”
weakness” or something more. And now he had the gall to blame
12:30 PM
<
I nodded, my voice flat. Cheating is cheating, whether a “moment of weakness” or something more. And now he had the gall to blame
someone else?
For the first time, I felt calm–clear–headed even.
I should be grateful this happened before the wedding while I still could walk away.
My lack of reaction seemed to rattle him. After a pause, Liam spoke again, trying a gentler tone.
“Delilah, we’ve been through so much to get here. Just forgive me this once, and I swear it’ll never happen again.”
“But I think you’re filthy,” I replied, slow and deliberate, meeting his gaze without flinching.
Liam blinked, stunned. His eyes reddened as tears welled up. He looked away, trying to compose himself, but his shame had morphed into anger when he turned back.
“Every guy makes mistakes like this! Can’t you let it go? I said it won’t happen again. What more do you want?”
Softening his voice again, he added,
“It was just a lapse in judgment. The only woman I’ve ever truly loved is you.”
I shook my head, done with his excuses.
“Let’s be real, Liam. Are you worried about losing me? Or losing our company’s contracts?”
His face turned ashen.
“How could you even think that?” he stammered.
I smirked.
“Good. Then we both agree–there’s no reason for our company to continue supporting yours.”
The blood drained from Liam’s face entirely.
6
“What’s the matter? Did you start thinking my company’s support was your accomplishment? Or were you under the impression that my company belonged to you?”
I leaned back, watching him squirm under my words. His silence was satisfying, almost therapeutic.
“For years, your company has thrived off the stability of my contracts. You wouldn’t qualify to bid on our projects without my intervention. Liam Prescott, I can feed you but make you spit it all back out.”
I crossed my arms, letting the silence sink in before adding,
“You forgot something, Liam. I’m the one holding the checkbook.”
His face paled further as his eyes darted in search of a lifeline.
“Delilah, don’t do this. Please.”
“Do you think I can’t live without you?” I snapped.
“A lapse in judgment“? That was my carefully decorated townhouse you trashed with Sienna. Were you thinking about me at all while you two were at it? Was it thrilling? You’re disgusting.”
Liam stammered, but no words came out. Without a second glance, I closed the door in his face and headed to work.
On the way, I called the manager handling projects with Liam’s company.
“Terminate all contracts immediately,” I instructed.
<
Those projects were minor for my business but critical to Liam’s. The move would gut his company.
Walking into his company later that day, I wasn’t surprised to find Sienna waiting for me, her heels clicking on the tiled floor and her lips painted a bold red.
“Delilah, have you no shame? There’s a time and place for tantrums, and this isn’t it!” she snapped, stepping into my path.
I sidestepped her effortlessly and kept walking.
“Stop right there! Security!” she yelled after me.
Ignoring her, I pushed open the door to the conference room. My manager immediately stood up to let me sit at the head of the table.
Sienna stormed in moments later, brimming with fury.
“You can’t just walk in here and disrupt our biggest meeting! Who do you think you are-”
“Sienna!”
Liam’s voice boomed from the doorway, silencing her.
The representatives from both companies rose, greeting me with smiles and respect.
“Miss Reese, what a surprise to see you here!”
“Please, have some tea!”
Sienna froze, looking between Liam and me with wide, confused eyes.
Liam ignored her, turning to me with desperation etched across his face.
“Delilah, can we work something out?”
I waved him off.
“All contracts are terminated. Ongoing projects will cease immediately. My team can handle any legal matters.”
Sienna blinked, struggling to process.
“You’re… you’re the CEO of Reese Enterprises?”
“Not CEO–executive president. And the majority shareholder,” I corrected with a calm smile.
I glanced at her slack–jawed expression and added,
“I like to toss out trash I don’t need. If you want it, it’s all yours.”
