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Chapter 13
I next heard about Dom and Vanessa two months later, when Griffin and I returned from our honeymoon in the Maldives.
Megan was waiting at LAX arrivals, holding a ridiculous “JUST MARRIED” sign and a bouquet of peonies. “Welcome home, Mrs. Hayes!”
Griffin loaded our luggage into his Range Rover but kept one arm firmly around
my waist.
Megan pretended to fan herself. “Girl, you didn’t even call me before running off to get hitched! What happened to our thirty–step wedding plan spreadsheet?” I nestled against Griffin’s chest, breathing in his cologne. “What can I say? When Mr. Hayes sets his mind on something, resistance is futile. He’s been waiting for me since high school, apparently.”
“Hold up–what?!” Megan’s jaw dropped. “You two knew each other before? Spill. Everything. Now.”
I laughed and hugged her. “Remember that song, ‘Every Long Lost Dream Led Me to Where You Are‘? Turns out my teenage nightmare grew up to be exactly what I
needed.”
The annoying boy from my high school memories had transformed into the man of my dreams–brilliant, confident, and utterly devoted to me. He remembered I loved pistachio gelato, surprised me with weekend trips to Paris just because, and supported my career ambitions without a hint of insecurity.
“The life I’ve been waiting for is just beginning,” I told her.
That evening, Megan came over for dinner at our Malibu beach house. Griffin wore
an apron in the kitchen, making his famous seafood paella.
Megan and I sprawled on the deck overlooking the ocean, drinking rosé and
catching up.
“Have you heard about Dom?” she asked carefully.
“What about him?” I kept my voice neutral.
I truly didn’t care anymore, but of course I listened as she filled me in.
After Vanessa’s dramatic entrance at our wedding, I’d calmly walked to the podium
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and played a video I’d prepared weeks earlier.
It contained security footage from various hotels showing Dom and Vanessa’s
secret rendezvous over the past year–complete with timestamps and audio.
I’d discovered his affair months ago but waited, gathering evidence while planning
my exit strategy.
The guests watched in disgusted silence as Dom’s true character was revealed. With that, I said goodbye to the boy who’d once waited for me after class in the
rain and saved for months to buy me a silver bracelet for our first anniversary.
Since I no longer loved him, I wasn’t about to let our business interests go either.
Due to Dom’s “moral turpitude clause” in our company agreement and the PR disaster he’d created, the board voted unanimously to remove him.
And I, holding 75% of the company’s shares thanks to my initial investment, naturally became the new CEO.
