On my wedding night, my new husband slapped me for refusing to wash his family’s filthy underwear—without knowing I controlled the $120 million his company desperately needed. / Chapter 7 / 20

Chapter 7 - The Desperate CallMeanwhile, across town in a modest tech incubator space, Jonathan Miller sat at his desk, nursing a horrific hangover and a deep, gnawing anxiety.

He was wearing an old sweatshirt, his eyes red-rimmed. Beside his laptop lay a copy of his marriage certificate from two days ago.

He had called Charlotte’s phone forty-three times since Saturday night. Every call went straight to voicemail. He had sent texts ranging from furious threats ("You made a huge mistake leaving me!") to pathetic apologies ("Char, please, I was drunk, Mom pushed me too far, just call me back").

Florence sat on the office sofa nearby, flipping through a magazine while sipping a latte.

"Stop pacing, Jonathan," Florence sneered softly. "She’s an assistant making fifty thousand dollars a year. She has no family, no money, and nowhere to go. She’s hiding in some cheap hotel room trying to make you feel guilty. Give it three days, and she’ll be crawling back on her knees."

"You don't understand, Mom!" Jonathan snapped, slamming his hands on his desk. "She took her laptop! She took all her things! What if she files for divorce? What if she tells people I hit her?"

"Who would she tell?" Florence scoffed. "Who’s going to believe a penniless girl over a rising CEO? Besides, you have bigger things to worry about today. Isn't Vanguard Capital sending over the term sheet today?"

At that exact moment, Jonathan’s phone chimed with an incoming email notification.

His heart leaped into his throat. He lunged for his phone, expecting an email from Charlotte or a formal approval letter from Vanguard.

Instead, the email was from Arthur & Sterling LLP — Legal Counsel for Vanguard Capital Global Fund.

ATTENTION: Jonathan Miller, CEO of NexoCloud Inc.

Dear Mr. Miller,

Please be advised that Vanguard Capital has initiated a mandatory Tier-1 Forensic Audit regarding NexoCloud’s pending $120 Million Series B application. Effective immediately, an independent forensic accounting team from Deloitte will arrive at your headquarters at 11:00 AM today.

All source code repositories, off-balance-sheet accounts, and third-party vendor agreements must be made fully accessible.

Regrettably, President Charlotte Sterling-Vance has formally recused herself from all matters regarding your firm due to personal conflict disclosures.

Sincerely, Vanguard Capital Investment Committee

Jonathan froze. The phone nearly slipped from his fingers.

He read the line again. And again.

President Charlotte Sterling-Vance...

"No..." Jonathan whispered, his face turning ghostly pale. "No, no, no... this is a mistake..."

"What is it, son?" Florence asked, standing up. "Did the money come through?"

Jonathan looked up at his mother, his eyes wide with absolute, dizzying terror.

"Mom..." Jonathan choked out, his voice shaking violently. "Charlotte... Charlotte isn't an assistant."