“As of this moment,” I yelled over the din, “I am stepping down as CEO of Bellamy Tech. I have submitted a full dossier of our merged financial ties to the FBI and the SEC. I am turning state’s evidence against my own company to expose the Whitmore syndicate. You wanted my empire, Grant? You can have the ashes.”
Tessa grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin like talons, her face twisted into a mask of pure, ugly panic. “You’re insane! You’ve ruined yourself!”
“I was already ruined, Tessa,” I whispered. “I’m just finally waking up.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Grant furiously typing on his phone, then whispering to his head of security. The security chief nodded, tapped his earpiece, and sprinted for the service exit.
Move the package now.
“Maren, go!” I screamed into my lapel mic.
I bolted off the stage, dodging grasping board members and confused security guards. I burst through the kitchen doors, sprinting for the loading dock where my SUV was idling. Maren slid into the passenger seat a second later, slamming the door.
