Chapter 3

3: 3

"Well, Ruthie? How'd it go? Did you dig up some earth-shattering scandal?"

Winifred lounged against the doorframe, smug all over her face.

"Three whole days. You shut down every core operation in the company, threw a fortune at the best audit team money can buy, and came up with nothing at all?"

She covered her mouth and let out a little laugh.

"If you ask me, this is what happens with women. The second they get married, they start seeing ghosts everywhere. If you'd known your place from the start, none of this would've gotten so embarrassing."

"Well, look at you now. You made the whole industry laugh at us, and in the end it still took Guy stepping in to clean up your mess."

I looked at her cold and steady, that petty little triumph written across her face.

"That's enough, Winnie. Let it go."

Guy stepped forward right on cue, the corner of his mouth twitching, unable to hold back the same look.

He stared down at me from above.

"Ruthie, have you made your point? The audit report's in now. You should give this up. There are tens of thousands of people depending on this company, and they can't afford to wait around while you throw a tantrum."

He paused, then held out his hand with that show of magnanimity.

Like he was coaxing a pet that had been acting up.

"I'll admit it. I've been buried in the IPO lately, and I did neglect you. That's what made you so insecure, so anxious. I'll let this little bit of willfulness slide this time."

"Just sign and restart the listing process right now, the way we planned, and I promise you—once the bell-ringing ceremony's over, I'll take you abroad to unwind. How's that?"

Unwind?

I lowered my lashes and wiped away every trace of feeling. I'm afraid you won't get the chance.

"All right, honey. It was my fault."

I looked up.

I took his outstretched hand gently and gave a bitter, self-mocking little smile.

"The pressure's been too much lately. I've been overthinking things."

Hearing me give in.

A flash of wild delight crossed Guy's face.

I went on, riding the moment.

"But I think you're right. The board and the employees can't afford these delays. Every minute we waste is a minute of loss."

"Why don't we go public tomorrow, just like we planned? As for all the bad press, once the listing's stable, I'll apologize to the public myself, in person. I'll give everyone an explanation. What do you think?"

At that, Guy's smile grew even wider. He patted the back of my hand, thoroughly pleased.

"Since you're willing to think about the bigger picture, I can rest easy. And don't worry about the board—I smoothed things over with them a while ago. All you have to do is show up and sign tomorrow. Leave the rest to me."

"Hmph. Good to see you've come to your senses."

Winifred lifted her chin in contempt.

Then, in open provocation, she flicked my hand away and slipped her arm through Guy's for everyone to see.

"There, Guy—Ruthie knows she was wrong now. Why don't we go book the tickets right away? The overseas project really can't wait any longer."

She turned her head and mouthed at me, silent.

"You idiot. You're dead."

I gave a cold smile. We'll see about that.

I pulled out my phone and typed an encrypted message.

"Christopher Dickerson. The fish has taken the bait."

"The moment the market opens tomorrow, close the net. Lock down every airport and customs checkpoint in advance. Guy Delgado and Winifred Pruitt are not to leave the country through any channel."

Then I opened the safe.

I took out a document envelope that had nearly gone to dust.

Guy thought he'd covered every last trace.

What he didn't know was that my father, before he died in the line of duty, had been famous as the Tax Reaper.

Those tangled cross-border accounts were a foreign language to other people.

To my father, they were nothing at all.

And I had inherited every bit of his talent.

The year I graduated from college, I could have taken these special appointment credentials and carried on my father's work.

But back then, my heart and mind were full of nothing but Guy.

To help him build his company and clear away the obstacles in his path, I locked these credentials away in a drawer with my own hands.

Now the game should end too.