The fallout

Vivian

The rhythmic click of my designer heels echoed through the glossy corridors of the Hayes Cosmetics corporate headquarters. Employees jumped to plaster themselves against the walls, averting their eyes as I strode past. One of the perks of being the boss.

I rounded the corner and came to a stop outside the sleek frosted glass door bearing my name. Stepping inside my corner office overlooking downtown Avalon City, I paused to take in the view. My kingdom.

Rolling my neck to relieve the tension coiled there, I sank into the plush leather executive chair behind my desk. Time to tackle the mountain of paperwork and prepare for this afternoon's critical meeting. Securing a partnership with Hamilton could be the breakthrough Hayes Cosmetics desperately needed to reach the next level.

I flipped through the proposal one last time, memorizing key details. A knock at my door drew my attention. My assistant Jess poked her bubbly face in, chirping, "Vivian, your 10 o'clock is here!"

I glanced at my calendar, confused. "I didn't have any 10 AM meetings scheduled today."

"Oh it's just Margot!" Jess giggled. "She said she wanted to pop in and chat."

I leaned back in my chair, relieved it wasn't something urgent. "Of course, send her in."

Jess disappeared and a moment later, my friend from the banquet sailed through the door. "Knock knock!" Margot sang, blowing air kisses. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything terribly important."

"Not at all, I was just prepping for a meeting later today," I said, smiling politely. In truth, I needed to stay focused, but didn't want to seem rude. "What's going on?"

Instead of answering, she breezed over to the flat screen television mounted on the wall. "I just had to talk to you after seeing the craziest news report this morning," she said, already grabbing the remote.

I sat up straighter, instantly on alert. "What news report?" Had word of the Hamilton meeting leaked prematurely?

But Margot had already tuned to a trashy celebrity gossip channel. My heart seized in my chest to see Tristan's image on the massive screen. He looked exactly as I remembered - perpetually tousled hair, baggy flannel shirt, thick eyeglasses magnifying his gentle eyes.

The botoxed anchor's voice was incredulous. "In a shocking development, cosmetics mogul Vivian Hayes' ex-husband Tristan Levine was revealed to be completely homeless and penniless after their divorce just last week."

I gripped the arms of my chair until my knuckles whitened. This wasn't part of the plan. Mother promised she would handle the PR tidily and quietly.

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Margot threw her head back and cackled. "Wow, so he really was just a total gold-digging leech, huh? Guess you couldn't ditch that dead weight fast enough!"

I forced a weak, awkward chuckle. "Ha, yeah...he was really holding me back there at the end."

Inside I was reeling. This public flogging was cruel. Tristan didn't deserve to have his name and reputation dragged through the mud so callously.

Before I could spiral too far into self-recrimination, Margot draped herself across one of my office chairs. "Well, now that you're free as a bird, we need to get you back out there!" she said conspiratorially. "In fact, I know just the guy - Russell Pine. He's so handsome, totally loaded, and has been asking about you." She waggled her brows.

I lifted one corner of my mouth in an attempt at a smile. In truth, her brazen matchmaking efforts were the furthest thing from my mind right now.

After Margot finally swept out, I slowly turned back to the pile of paperwork spread across my desk. But the words blurred together meaninglessly. Behind my eyes all I could see was Tristan's face from that news clip, his gentle eyes filled with hurt and betrayal.

On impulse I hit the intercom to my assistant. "Jess, have we received any word on how Tristan is faring? Does he at least have food and lodging secured?"

There was a loaded pause before she replied tentatively, "I, um, believe Mr. Levine left town right after the divorce was finalized last week. We haven't heard anything since."

My shoulders slumped. So he was out there somewhere trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life, likely believing I had masterminded the vicious media smear campaign against him.

I should try to find him, offer money or assistance... But no. I severed that right when I cut him loose. If our paths cross again someday, I hope it's because he has found success and happiness without me. For both our sakes, a clean break was necessary.

With a heavy sigh, I attempted to refocus on preparing for the meeting that could make or break my company's future. But concentration eluded me, phantom echoes of Tristan's bemused laughter haunting the empty office.

By mid-afternoon, stress and eyestrain from reviewing financial reports and proposals had me seeing double. I decided to take a quick break to recharge before the Hamilton team arrived.

As I stepped out to use the restroom down the hall, urgent voices from Jess' desk made me pause. She was on the phone, posture tense and agitated.

"Yes of course, I will inform Ms. Hayes immediately. Please relay our deepest regrets that the deal will no longer be moving forward."

My heels clacked sharply as I changed course. Jess' head jerked up, eyes widening as I appeared. "What deal?" I demanded without preamble. "What's going on, Jess?"

"T-that was Alexander Sinclair, CEO of Hamilton Enterprises," she stammered. "He expressed his sincerest apologies, but they will no longer be acquiring an interest stake in Hayes Cosmetics."

For a moment the world tilted beneath my feet. "What? But...we've been negotiating the terms of that deal for over six months! It was as good as signed. Why the sudden about-face?"

Jess lifted her shoulders helplessly. "Mr. Sinclair didn't give a reason, only said he was very sorry they would no longer be partnering with Hayes Cosmetics."

I barely registered Jess scuttling away as I stood frozen in shock. The Hamilton Venture Enterprises investment was supposed to have vaulted Hayes Cosmetics into the big leagues. Without their capital injection, we faced major setbacks to the planned expansion initiative.

The unthinkable possibility took shape in my mind. What if Sinclair pulled out because of the PR nightmare around Tristan's portrayal in the media? What if Venture wanted to avoid the hassle of being associated with my supposed "scandal"?

If so, Mother's petty thirst for gossip and drama may have just sabotaged the most critical deal in my company's history.

I stormed back to my office, high heels clicking angrily across the marble floors. Whether due to malice or idiocy, it was now undeniable that Mother's interference had started jeopardizing everything I had worked years to build.

Something had to give. As much as it pained me, the time had come to sever my tenuous relationship with the woman who gave birth to me. As of today, I could rely only on myself.

No more mother, no more ex-husband safety nets. The company's future rested on my shoulders alone now.

This was my kingdom, and I would defend it to my last breath. The wolves were at the gates, but I'd be damned if I let them breach my walls.

Come what may, I would weather this storm. And emerge on the other side stronger than ever before.

And my first stepping stone would be none other than Russell Pine–The Third Titan