Chapter 3 – Desperation Has a Price
Chapter 3 – Desperation Has a Price
Within forty-eight hours...
Andrew's world collapsed.
News outlets reported his removal.
Investors abandoned him.
Creditors demanded immediate payment.
Former business partners refused his calls.
Even friends stopped answering.
Brenda packed her designer handbags.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I didn't sign up for this."
Andrew stared at her.
"You said you loved me."
She laughed bitterly.
"I loved the lifestyle."
She walked away without looking back.
Margaret sat alone in what had once been her luxurious living room.
Only empty walls remained.
Auction stickers covered nearly every piece of furniture.
She finally understood.
The wealth she bragged about...
Had never belonged to her family.
Andrew spent three days trying to arrange a meeting with Mariana.
Every request was denied.
Until...
One invitation finally arrived.
Conference Room A.
Escalante Global.
10:00 A.M.
No exceptions.
Andrew entered wearing the same expensive suit he had once believed symbolized power.
Now it looked borrowed.
Mariana sat at the opposite end of the table.
Elegant.
Calm.
Untouchable.
She didn't stand.
She didn't smile.
"You wanted to see me."
Andrew lowered his head.
"I made a terrible mistake."
"You did."
"I loved you."
"No."
She interrupted quietly.
"You loved having someone who solved your problems while taking credit for the solutions."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I can change."
Mariana looked at him for a long moment.
"I believe people can change."
A flicker of hope appeared on his face.
She continued.
May you like
"But they don't change because they lose money."
"They change because they finally understand what they destroyed."
