Chapter 7: Crisis
978words
I stood at the window of Chris's office, watching him on a conference call with the board of directors. His tie was loosened, sleeves rolled up, dark circles under his eyes betraying three consecutive nights with minimal sleep. Yet there was a determined set to his jaw that I'd come to admire—a refusal to surrender even as his company crumbled around him.
"The European supply chain is completely compromised," he was saying, voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "We're looking at a thirty percent drop in production capacity for the next quarter unless we find alternative suppliers immediately."
One of the board members responded, his voice sharp through the speakerphone. "This isn't just bad luck, Chris. These are coordinated attacks. Lady Crain has acquired seven of our key suppliers in the past month alone."
"I'm aware of that," Chris replied, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of his desk. "Security is tracking her movements, but she's always one step ahead."
I turned away, guilt twisting in my stomach. This was my doing. My carefully orchestrated revenge plan had worked perfectly—too perfectly. Lady Crain's strategic acquisitions had created a stranglehold on Frost Group's operations, and now the final piece was ready to fall into place. One more move—the acquisition of their primary Asian distributor—and the company would face potential bankruptcy.
My phone vibrated with a message from my financial manager: "Asian deal ready to execute. Awaiting your final approval."
All I had to do was send one word—"Proceed"—and Chris's empire would collapse. The revenge I had dreamed of for years was within my grasp.
I glanced back at Chris. He had ended the call and was now staring at financial projections, running his hand through his hair in that familiar gesture of frustration. In the nine months we'd been married, I'd watched him work tirelessly, treat his employees with respect, and build something he genuinely believed in. This wasn't the cold-blooded killer from my previous life. This was a man who had shown me nothing but honesty and growing affection.
A man I was falling in love with.
The realization hit me with startling clarity. Somewhere between our late-night strategy sessions and quiet moments of connection, between his thoughtful gestures and unwavering support, I had crossed a line I never intended to cross.
"Lara?" Chris's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Are you okay?"
I turned to face him, forcing a smile. "Just worried. How bad is it?"
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Bad. If we don't find a solution in the next two weeks, we'll have to start laying people off. Thousands of jobs at stake."
Thousands of innocent lives affected by my revenge against one man—a man who, in this timeline, had done nothing to deserve it.
"There has to be a way out," I said, moving to sit across from him.
"I'm open to suggestions." He attempted a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Lady Crain has been thorough. It's almost like she knew exactly where to hit us to cause maximum damage."
Because she did. Because I did.
I watched him return to his work, shoulders hunched with the weight of responsibility. This was the moment I had been waiting for—Chris Frost brought to his knees, his company crumbling, his future uncertain. This was supposed to be my triumph, my justice.
Instead, it felt hollow.
I thought of the employees I'd met over the past months—the engineers excited about their projects, the marketing team celebrating campaign successes, the administrative staff who kept everything running smoothly. None of them deserved to lose their livelihoods because of my vendetta.
And Chris... I looked at him across the desk, remembering how he'd held me during a thunderstorm when he discovered my childhood fear of lightning. How he remembered exactly how I took my coffee without being told. How he valued my opinion in business matters and never once treated me as merely a trophy wife.
My phone vibrated again: "Awaiting your decision on the Asian acquisition."
I stared at the message, my finger hovering over the screen. This was it—the culmination of years of planning, the final blow in my campaign of revenge.
But I couldn't do it.
With a deep breath, I typed: "Cancel the acquisition. Immediately."
The response came quickly: "Are you certain? This contradicts the entire strategy."
"I'm certain," I replied. "And prepare to liquidate our positions in the European holdings. We're changing direction."
Next, I made a series of calls—to my father, to contacts in the Asian market, to investors I knew would listen. By evening, I had assembled a rescue package that would keep Frost Group afloat through the crisis. My revenge plan lay in ruins, but for the first time in months, I felt at peace with my decision.
I found Chris still in his office, staring out at the darkened skyline.
"It's done," I said quietly.
He turned, confusion evident on his face. "What's done?"
"The rescue package. Reed Corp will provide immediate access to our Asian manufacturing partners. And I've secured commitments for sixty million in emergency capital from private investors."
Chris stared at me in disbelief. "How did you manage that in a few hours?"
"I'm more connected than you think," I said with a small smile. "The paperwork will be ready tomorrow morning."
He crossed the room in three strides and pulled me into a tight embrace. "You saved our company," he whispered against my hair. "You saved me."
Yes, I thought as I closed my eyes and returned his embrace. I saved you from me.
