Chantel hesitated outside Andrew's office door, steadying her breath. The weight of the conversation she was about to have bore heavily on her shoulders. Gathering her courage, she knocked softly and stepped closer. Sharon, Andrew's secretary, glanced up from her desk with a raised brow, immediately recognizing Chantel. Her lips thinned into a disapproving line.
"Can we talk?" Chantel asked, her voice calm but firm.
Before Sharon could respond, Andrew's deep voice called from inside the office. "Who is it?"
Sharon rose from her chair reluctantly, shooting Chantel a glare. "Sir Andrew, remember you have a meeting to prepare for," she reminded him through the slightly ajar door, her tone bordering on insistence.
Andrew appeared from behind his desk, his demeanor surprisingly calm. "It's fine, Sharon. Go back to your post. I'm sure this won't take long." He gestured for Chantel to enter.
Sharon's displeasure was evident in her pursed lips and the stiff set of her shoulders. She shot Chantel one last glare before retreating to her desk outside. Her footsteps were heavy, her frustration unmasked.
Andrew closed the door behind Chantel, signaling for her to take a seat. His expression softened ever so slightly as he regarded her, hope flickering briefly in his eyes. He wondered if Chantel's visit was about the children. Perhaps, he thought, she was finally willing to work things out.
"What brings you here, Chantel?" he asked, leaning against the edge of his desk.
Chantel took a deep breath and met his gaze directly. "I'm here to talk, but not to argue. I want to make peace."
Andrew's brow furrowed, a mixture of curiosity and suspicion crossing his face. "Does that mean you've spoken to Henry about dropping the charges against me?"
"Never," Chantel replied curtly, her voice cold.
Andrew's hope deflated instantly. Anger simmered beneath his calm exterior, and his fists clenched at his sides. "Are you really going to stand by and let the biological father of your children go to jail?"
"Yes," Chantel said, her tone unwavering. "And I can't wait for it to happen, especially after what you did to me. Don't you have any conscience? What you did was no less than assault."
Andrew flinched at her accusation but quickly regained his composure. "Assault? That's not what it was. I didn't force you—I came to you that night, and yes, it led to the kids. But this isn't the way to solve things. Let's make peace, Chantel."
Chantel's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Peace? You think I'd want peace with a man who violated my trust? You don't even regret what you did."
"I regret the way it happened," Andrew admitted, frustration lacing his words. "But if I hadn't told you the truth, would you have ever known I was their father?"
"It would have been better if I never knew," Chantel snapped. "But now that I do, I'll make sure you face justice."
Andrew's voice rose, his anger bubbling to the surface. "Chantel, I know Henry's behind this. He's using you because he wants my kids. Don't let him manipulate you. He's greedy, and he'll hurt you in the end."
Chantel's eyes flashed with fury. "You have no right to speak about Henry that way. As far as I'm concerned, he's the only father my children will ever need. He's been by my side since childhood, and I know his heart. He's nothing like you."
"People change," Andrew warned, his tone dark. "But mark my words, I'll fight for my kids. And if you get hurt in the process, don't say I didn't warn you. Now get out of my office if you have nothing constructive to say, or I'll have security escort you out."
Chantel smirked, unbothered by his threats. "Alright, I'll leave. But before I go, remember this: I recorded everything you just said." She rose from her seat, her confidence unwavering. "Have a good day, Andrew."
As she walked out, Andrew's eyes narrowed, realizing the implications of her statement.
***
Outside the office, Chantel headed toward her car, only to spot a familiar vehicle pulling into the parking lot. Claire stepped out, her expression a mix of surprise and disdain when she saw Chantel. Without hesitation, Claire stormed toward her.
"What are you doing in Andrew's office?" Claire demanded, her voice sharp. "Are you cheating on Henry? Oh my goodness, you're such a cheap cheater!"
Chantel met her accusations with a calm smile. "Andrew is the biological father of my kids. I have every right to see him if I choose. Besides, I thought you and Andrew were over, so why does it matter to you?"
Claire's face reddened with anger. "Andrew and I finalized our divorce today," she spat, glaring at Chantel.
"Then why are you jealous that I came to see him?" Chantel asked innocently, tilting her head.
Claire stammered, "I'm not jealous!"
"Then whatever Andrew does or whoever he sees is none of your business," Chantel said, turning toward her car.
Before she could get in, Claire grabbed her arm. "Where do you think you're going? You're not leaving until you tell me what you were doing here."
Chantel tried to pull away, but Claire's grip was firm. Just then, Claire's mother stepped out of her car and rushed toward them.
"Claire! Let her go," her mother scolded. "Stop creating a scene here."
Chantel continued to struggle against Claire's grip. "She must tell me what she was doing here first," Claire insisted, ignoring her mother's warning.
Before the situation could escalate further, Henry's car pulled into the lot. He jumped out and stormed toward them, his face set in a dark scowl. Without hesitation, he pried Claire's hand off Chantel.
"Are you okay?" Henry asked, his voice softening as he turned to Chantel.
"I'm fine," she replied, straightening her blouse.
Claire crossed her arms and sneered. "You should know she came to see Andrew behind your back."
Henry ignored her taunts and gently guided Chantel into his car. The driver started the engine and drove them away, leaving Claire fuming.
Claire's mother sighed heavily. "What's wrong with you, Claire? I told you to stop making scenes like this. If you're done with Andrew, why are you still here?"
Claire tossed her hair over her shoulder and huffed. "I came back to join the meeting. I'm bidding for a share in Andrew's company."
Her mother raised a skeptical brow. "Since when do you care about business?"
Claire smirked. "You've always wanted me to take an interest in the company. Isn't this what you wanted? Shouldn't you be celebrating?"
Her mother remained silent, studying Claire with an unreadable expression.
Chantel leaned back in the car seat, staring at her phone. Her finger hovered over the audio file she had just recorded during her heated conversation with Andrew. Pressing play, she listened to his words, each one a dagger to the heart of his defense.
_"I regret the way it happened, but I'll fight for my kids. If you get hurt in the process, don't say I didn't warn you."_
She smiled triumphantly, her mind racing with possibilities. "I can't wait to present this in court," she murmured to herself. "This will not only keep Andrew away from my family but also expose Claire's mother for what she did to me all those years ago." Her resolve strengthened as she stared at the phone screen, lost in thought.
---
Meanwhile, in the conference room at Andrew's company, Claire spotted Henry sitting quietly in a corner, sipping coffee. With a smirk, she walked toward him, holding her own cup of coffee as if it were a trophy.
"May I sit here?" she asked sweetly, though she didn't wait for a reply. She pulled out the chair next to him and sat down. "I'll take your silence as a yes," she added smugly.
Henry barely glanced at her, his expression cold and indifferent. Claire took a sip of her coffee and leaned closer, her tone dropping to something conspiratorial. "Don't you find it suspicious that Chantel came here behind your back? Now that she knows Andrew and I are officially divorced, what's stopping her from reconciling with him?"
Henry's jaw tightened, his patience clearly wearing thin. "And what makes you think she came here behind my back?" he asked, his voice steady but sharp. "What are you even doing here, Claire? You're not part of this meeting."
Claire shrugged nonchalantly. "I may not have been part of it before, but it's not a crime to show interest in my ex-husband's company now, is it?"
Henry stared at her, his suspicion evident, but before he could respond, the meeting was about to begin. The attendees started filing into the conference room, and Henry rose to follow them. Claire, however, was stopped at the door by Sharon, Andrew's secretary.
"You're not authorized to be here, Claire," Sharon said firmly, blocking the entrance.
"Get out of my way," Claire snapped, her tone venomous. When Sharon didn't budge, Claire pushed her aside. "When I become one of the bosses in this company, I'll make sure Andrew gets rid of you. You'll be the first to go."
Ignoring Sharon's protests, Claire strode into the meeting room and took a seat. Andrew looked up from his notes, his face darkening when he saw her. "What are you doing here, Claire?" he asked, his tone low but sharp.
Sharon appeared in the doorway, clearly flustered. "Sir Andrew, I tried to stop her, but—"
"It's fine, Sharon," Andrew said with a sigh, waving her away. "You can go back to your post."
Claire crossed her legs and smiled. "I'm here to join the meeting. I've decided I want to purchase shares in both the Smith and Williams companies. I'm prepared to invest a significant amount."
Henry's eyes widened in shock. "What? That's not possible."
"And why not, Henry?" Claire shot back, turning her attention to him. "Last I checked, you were still looking for a partner to invest in your company. I'd say my proposal is worth discussing at the next board meeting."
Henry glared at her. "I already have someone interested, Claire. And we'll finalize the deal at our next meeting."
Claire turned to Andrew with a sly smile. "What about you, Andrew? Surely you haven't forgotten that I was once part of your life. This is an opportunity for us to work together again. My offer stands, and I think the board will find it quite attractive."
One of the Smith company partners, intrigued by Claire's proposal, chimed in. "It's an interesting offer. We should discuss it at the next board meeting."
Andrew clenched his fists under the table, his anger barely contained. "Shall we start the meeting now?" Claire's mother interjected, sensing the tension and eager to move forward.
The meeting dragged on for two hours, with Claire sitting smugly throughout. When it finally ended, the attendees began to disperse. Claire lingered, watching Andrew closely as he gathered his notes.
"Claire, we should leave," her mother urged, placing a hand on her arm.
Claire ignored her. "Andrew," she said, her voice dripping with mock concern. "I know you want me gone, but I promise you, I'm not going anywhere. You want my downfall, but it won't happen."
Andrew shot her a withering look. "We'll see about that," he said before storming out of the room.
---
In his office, Andrew paced restlessly. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," he called, and the company accountant entered, carrying a black duffel bag.
"Sir, here's what you requested," the accountant said, placing the bag on the desk.
Andrew unzipped it, revealing stacks of cash. He nodded. "Thank you. You can leave now."
As the accountant exited, Sharon entered, her eyes immediately drawn to the bag. "Andrew, is everything okay?" she asked, noticing the tension in his posture.
Andrew sighed heavily. "Claire's trying to buy shares in the company. She's offering a large amount, and I fear the board might accept her proposal."
Sharon's eyes widened. "If that happens, it could ruin everything."
"I know," Andrew said grimly. "But there's not much I can do if the board decides to go with her offer."
Sharon hesitated, her mind racing. "We need someone else to outbid her. That's the only way to stop her."
Andrew nodded slowly. "I'll think about it. For now, you should get going. I know you're visiting your dad at the hospital."
"Right," Sharon said, grabbing the bag of cash from his desk. As she left the office, she dialed a number. "Jake, meet me at our usual spot in an hour," she said before ending the call.
---
At home, Henry walked through the door to find Chantel beaming. She ran down the stairs to greet him, her excitement contagious.
"You look happy," Henry remarked, smiling as he took in her glowing expression.
Chantel held up her phone and pressed play on the recording. As Andrew's incriminating words filled the room, Henry's smile widened.
"This is perfect," Chantel said. "We have enough evidence now to take him to court."
"Yes, we do," Henry agreed, pulling her into a hug.
"How was your meeting?" Chantel asked as they sat down.
Henry sighed. "Stressful. Claire was there, stirring up trouble. She said she wanted to buy shares in the company."
Chantel frowned. "Claire? At the meeting? That's strange."
"She's up to something," Henry said. "But for now, I'm just glad we have this evidence. I'll call the lawyer first thing tomorrow."
Chantel smiled and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Henry."
"I love you too," he replied, pulling her close.
---
At a secluded café, Sharon handed Jake the bag of cash. "Here's the money," she said curtly. "Don't call me again until you've handled what you promised."
Jake frowned. "What's going on?"
"Claire's trying to buy shares in the company," Sharon explained. "She's offering a high amount, and I'm certain her goal is to ruin Andrew."
Jake's expression darkened. "What's the plan to stop her?"
"We need someone to outbid her," Sharon said. "That's the only way."
Jake nodded thoughtfully. "I'll figure something out."
"Good," Sharon said before walking away, leaving Jake deep in thought.