Chapter 3

3.

The next morning, news of my newly incorporated firm spread like wildfire across the financial district.

Some smelled opportunity and showed up overnight with investment proposals.

Most, however, sat back to mock and watch, taking cues from the Thorne family's displeasure.

Tabloid hit pieces, clearly backed by someone behind the scenes, ran headlines ridiculing my overconfidence.

I scrolled past the notifications with an expressionless face.

Then, unexpectedly, Garrett's call came through.

"Audrey, stop throwing this childish fit."

"Running a firm is not playing house. That settlement money will not last you a month. Your office at Thorne is still yours. Just come back."

I replied coolly, "Save your breath, Mr. Thorne."

Silence hung over the line for a few seconds. Annoyed, he tried to keep his patience.

"Audrey, can't you show a little understanding? I just found my true love."

"Besides, why run some pathetic startup when you can stay at Thorne? What about the Southside merger you were managing...?"

I hung up directly.

Predictable.

He only called because he needed his workhorse back.

That Southside acquisition took me six months of relentless grinding and an ulcer to secure.

Without me, the Thorne team had no idea how to close the deal.

Back at Thorne, despite serving as chief executive, I was paid a meager base salary.

My father-in-law had insisted that family should not count pennies.

I had foolishly believed it was a test of my devotion.

In reality, they just wanted top-tier executive talent for slave labor prices.

The anger hardened into pure resolve.

Every golden project I landed for Thorne in my past life would now be systematically redirected.

Even if my new boutique firm could not swallow them whole, I would personally feed them to Thorne's fiercest rivals.