After I delivered our twins, my husband tossed divorce papers onto my hospital bed. “Sign them. You’re too sloppy now—you embarrass a CEO like me.” With his arm around his secretary, he sneered, “She’s the one worthy to stand beside me.” I signed without hesitation. The next morning, his access card was deactivated. I stepped out of the Chairman’s office and finally told him the truth.

“Congratulations, Mark,” I said, lying back against the pillows. “You are a free man. You have your freedom. And you have Chloe.”

Mark picked up the papers, checking the signature with a greedy grin. “Finally. I should have done this years ago.”

“Get out,” I said, closing my eyes. “Take your mistress and get out of my room. The babies need to sleep.”

“Gladly,” Mark sneered. “Enjoy the diapers, Anna. I’m going to enjoy my life.”

He grabbed Chloe’s hand, and they strutted out of the room, leaving me in the silence.

I waited until their footsteps faded down the hallway. Then, I opened my eyes. I reached for the bedside phone. I didn’t call a lawyer. I called Security Command.

“This is Anna Vance,” I said into the receiver. “Code Black. Initiate the Leadership Transition Protocol. Effective immediately.”

Chapter 3: The Morning of the “Bachelor”

 

The next morning, the sun rose over the city of San Francisco, glinting off the glass towers of the financial district.

Mark woke up in the guest room of the penthouse—he hadn’t wanted to sleep in the same bed as me for months anyway. He felt fantastic. He stretched, feeling the lightness of a man who had just shed a heavy burden.

He showered, shaving carefully. He selected his most expensive suit, a navy Brioni. Today was going to be a great day. He planned to walk into the office, announce his divorce, and then introduce Chloe as his official partner. He was the King of Vance Global, and his reign was just beginning.