Chapter 2 - The Stolen Life
To understand the absolute, unhinged audacity of Sterling’s public lie, one had to look back at the empire Eleanor had built.
Ten years ago, Eleanor and Sterling had founded a massive biotech company together. Eleanor was the brilliant, meticulous scientist who developed the actual patents. Sterling was just the charming face, the charismatic salesman who handled the public relations.
But over the last two years, Sterling had systematically stolen her life.
He had started a highly public affair with Harper, his young, arrogant secretary. He slowly transferred massive amounts of corporate funds into hidden offshore accounts to buy Harper luxury cars, designer clothes, and the heavy sapphire jewelry she was currently wearing.
Sterling had even forged corporate documents to legally remove Eleanor from the executive board, intentionally isolating her.
Tonight was the most important night of Sterling’s life. He was hosting Julian, a massive, fifty-something billionaire investor. Julian was supposed to sign a staggering two-hundred-million-dollar buyout contract tonight. Sterling had intentionally stranded Eleanor in the rain, planning to introduce Harper as the brilliant co-founder of the company to secure the massive check for himself.
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He thought Eleanor was completely broken. He genuinely believed that the crushing humiliation of standing soaking wet in front of high society would force her to quietly run upstairs and hide.
👉 But Eleanor didn't run, because she knew exactly who the investor in the black tuxedo really was.
