Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

53 I'm Shook (Winona)

"I will deal with each issue in turn. I think this will be the fastest. Phillip Joseph."

Phillip looks at him. "Mr. Brennan. I'm dedicated to the best outcomes for Brennan Industries. My hard work speaks for itself."

"Don't bother begging me, Joseph. Consider your contract ended. You won't work for Nexus Global, Brennan Industries or any subsidiary businesses of ours ever again."

Phillip looks horrified. My heart goes out to him knowing the work he has put in beside me. And our little business is gorie.

"I don't understand... the financials back up my digital marketing campaign."

Gus Brennan paces, well more like stalks, at the end of the table. Saying nothing for a few minutes. "The Brennan family hold something more precious to them than money and success."

He stops and stares at Phillip: "Loyalty. Loyalty to the Brennans is first and foremost. Do you have anything to say about that?"

"I.IN..no." Phillip stumbles over his words and his face is red as fire.

Gus laughs. "Really? I guess a liar will always make up a justification. If this didn't concern the respect and safety for Jayden's first-born child, I wouldn't give a rat's ass."

Wait. This is about Abby? I don't know what's happened but Phillip is looking down and looking very guilty.

Gus shuffles some large envelopes and brings one over and throws it on the table in front of me. "You really need to think about who you trust."

I look at the envelope. What the hell is in there?

"So, Mr. Joseph, anything you want to say to Ms. Nolan?"

Phillip became a gush of words. "I'm sorry. I swear, Winona, it started out like that, but I did come to love you. I told her I wasn't doing it anymore when you asked me to marry you."

I'm really confused.

"What he's saying is, Judy planted him there with you all along. She paid him well. To distract you from Jayden no doubt and to keep tabs on the baby

My whole body explodes on the inside at his words. My mind actually can't calculate this.

"Open the envelope. All the proof is in there." Gus says Take your time. I know this will be a shock. Hone your senses, Winona. Trust your gut." You bet I will be from now on. No more second guessing myself and letting people blow smoke up my ass "Mr. Joseph. Leave now. Think yourself lucky you got off so lightly."

I stare at Phillip, and he doesn't say anything else. "You bastard. How close I came to being with you but something always held me back. I don't ever want to see you again. Stay away from my home and from Abby."

53 I'm Shook

"He has a police escort waiting for him to assist him in collecting his belongings from your home." Gus Brennan tells me. "The locks will be changed immediately after that. Your new keys are in that envelope. Anne has hers."

He addresses Phillip again. "There will be twenty-four-hour protection in place for Ms. Nolan, Abby and Anne. Stay away because my security will be instructed to shoot first and ask questions later." Phillip leaves in the elevator and I'm still shaking from what I've just heard. I can't look in that envelope

yet.

I glare at Judy. "Why couldn't you just leave us the hell alone. I'd never have come back."

She just stares back like it's only a big deal because she got caught. So, she knew all along I was pregnant with Jayden's baby. She let us struggle. All she cared about was keeping me away from Jayden. That woman is evil. I've never hated anyone as much as I hate her right now.

Jayden is frowning at her. But she doesn't flinch. She'll talk her way out of it somehow, of that, I'm sure. A life with Jayden will always be a life with Judy, his crazy, obsessed mother. I'm not ever letting my child be alone with her. I don't care what Jayden says. Clearly, this is just getting started. I swallow my tears. Phillip doesn't deserve them. I will rise above all of this. Right now, I want to scream and just hit them until the hurting stops. How could I have been so blind?

I should have suspected it right away. When something is too good to be true, it usually is. Phillip was. He was too understanding, too supportive, too helpful. Once again, I believed in a dream, like I did with Jayden.

Immature and naïve choices. Well, never again. That young Winona is gone for good. I'm still young but I'm wiser. I won't trust words again. I'll question actions. I'll question everything. Abby is the one I will protect through everything.

The thing that's going through my head is why now? Presumably Gus Brennan has had his finger on the pulse of Brennan industries. If he's so worried about his family, why wait till now? Once Phillip is gone. Gus turns to me. "Ms. Nolan, you are the best at what you do, I'm inviting you to stay on and offering you a position with Nexus Global."

"I see." Nexus Global is such an impossible dream it wasn't ever on my radar. I'm thinking I'll wake up any second. Maybe it's a joke offer.

"I have the contract here. You can read through it overnight and let me know your decision by six in the morning. I can assure you, Ms. Nolan, I don't make joke offers."Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Now that's just spooky. He's inside my head. "Six in the morning?" Wow, early.

"That's what time you'll start work as a Nexus Global employee. Twelve hours shifts."

"But-

"No buts. Check the deal first. Then give me your answer."

"Okay" How can I possibly do those hours with Abby? She needs me.

53 I'm Shook

"Now, let's proceed shall we."

"Should I leave?"

"No. I think you need to stay."

Okay then.