53. Margot
53
MARGOT
E leanor King does not go down quietly. I knew she wouldn’t. Even as she slipped out of the press event last night, her face carefully blank but her fingers clutching her phone in a death grip, I knew she was already scheming. Already calculating her next move. And now we’re about to find out exactly what she has left in her arsenal.
The Perfectly Matched headquarters is eerily quiet as Grayson and I wait outside the boardroom, the tension wrapping around us like an invisible noose. The sleek, modern design of the office feels almost clinical tonight, sharp black marble floors reflecting the dim, golden glow of the recessed ceiling lights, glass walls offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. Normally, I find comfort in the view, the twinkling lights stretching out infinitely beyond us, but right now, all I can think about is the decision happening behind those closed doors. The silence isheavy. The kind that settles deep in your bones, pressing in from all sides. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, rain drizzles against the glass in a rhythmic patter, the city below flickering in a thousand golden hues. It should be beautiful. It should bepeaceful. But all I can feel is the slow, agonizing drum of waiting.
Grayson stands beside me, his reflection mirrored against the window, his posture rigid, his jaw tight. The tension in his shoulders ispalpable. I want to reach out, smooth the furrow in his brow, tell him that no matter what happens next, we’llface it together. But before I can, the boardroom doors finally swing open. And the world tilts.
Olivia steps out first, her tablet clutched in both hands, her expression unreadable.
Grayson’s voice is low, sharp. “Tell me.”
She exhales, her chin lifting just slightly. “It’s done. Eleanor’s out.”
Silence. Then, relief. A slow, creeping,all-consumingrelief spreads through my chest, my legs suddenly weak from the weight of it. Wewon. Grayson’s exhale is measured, controlled, but I see the tension in his shoulders ease just slightly.
“Finally,” he mutters.
But before we can celebrate, before we can even breathe in therealityof what this means, Olivia’s next words shatter the moment.
“She’s suing.”
The room freezes.
Grayson’s entire body goesrigid. His jaw locks, his hands curling into fists at his sides.
I feel the blood drain from my face. “She’swhat?”
Olivia sighs, handing Grayson her tablet. “She filed an injunction an hour ago. She’s suingPerfectly Matchedfor wrongful removal and breach of contract. She claims she was unlawfully forced out and that the board’s vote was manipulated byoutside interference.”
Ilaugh, a hollow, disbelieving sound. “You mean thetruth? The veryrealfinancial fraud we exposed?”
Olivia’s lips press together. “She’s twisting it. She’s framing it as aconspiracy.”
Grayson’s grip on the tablet istight. “Who’s representing her?”
Olivia’s eyes darken. “Sam Whitmore.”
Grayson swears under his breath.
My stomachtwists. Sam Whitmore. The name alone sends a cold chill down my spine.
Sam Whitmore isn’t just any corporate attorney, he’s a legend, a courtroompredator. He built his career defending theworstkinds of people andwinning. CEOs accused of embezzlement, politicians drowning in scandal, billionaires fighting to cover up theirmanymisdeeds, Whitmore doesn’t justrepresentthem. Hesavesthem, and now, he’s representing Eleanor.
I exhale sharply. “She didn’t just want any lawyer she wanted aweapon.”
Grayson clenches his jaw. “Whitmore doesn’t take cases unless heknowshe can win. He’s not just trying to get Eleanor reinstated, he’s trying togutus in the process.”
Cassian, who had been casually eavesdropping, becauseof coursehe was, lets out a low whistle. “Sam Whitmore, huh? Well,that’sunfortunate.”
I glare at him. “Do youeversay anything helpful?”
Cassian smirks. “Not usually.” Then, he crosses his arms, his expression turning thoughtful. “Whitmore is ruthless. If he’s involved, it means Eleanor isn’t just trying towin, she’s trying todestroyyou.”
Grayson nods grimly. “He’ll file injunction after injunction, drown us in legal fees, attack our credibility. He doesn’t play fair, he playsto kill.”
Olivia sighs. “That’s not even the worst part. He’s known fordragging cases outfor years. If he manages to get an injunction approved, Perfectly Matched could be stuck in limbo. No clear leadership, no forward movement, justuncertainty. And uncertainty kills a business like this.”
I inhale sharply. “She’s not just fighting us, she’s fighting time.”
Grayson’s eyes darken. “Then we don’tgiveher time.”
Cassian sighs dramatically, adjusting his cufflinks. “Well, Iknewit wouldn’t be that easy.”
Isabella appears beside him, rolling her eyes. “Itwaseasy. Eleanor’s just incapable oflosinglike a normal person.”
Cassian smirks. “That’s what makes herfun.”
Grayson gives him alook. “Do youevertake anything seriously?”
Cassian lifts a shoulder. “Sure. Butthis?” He gestures lazily to the tension in the air. “This is justdelicious. The woman’s drowning and she’s still trying toclaw her way to the surface.”
Isabella taps a finger against her chin, feigning thoughtfulness. “So, you’re telling me your plan is… towatch her struggle?”
Cassian grins. “Oh,darling, I was planning tohelp push.”
Grayson sighs. “Can wefocus?”
Cassian raises a brow. “You say that as if Ihaven’tbeen helping.”
I fold my arms. “You’ve beendramatically enjoying the chaos.”
Cassian winks. “I can multitask.”
Isabella smirks. “Doubtful.”
Cassian tilts his head toward her, his smirk darkening. “Is that achallenge, Monroe?”
She lifts an eyebrow. “You’re a walking challenge, Laurent.”
Cassian steps closer, their banter taking on a sharper edge. “And yet, youcan’t look away.”
Isabella’s lips part slightly, but she recovers quickly, smirking. “It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion. Morbidly fascinating.”
Cassian chuckles, low and amused. “Keep watching,sweetheart.”
Grayson clears his throat, muttering, “For the love of God, someone put them in separate rooms.”
I nudge him playfully. “They are entertaining.”
He exhales. “They’re exhausting.”
Cassian claps his hands together. “Alright, lovers, let’s get back to business.”
Isabella grins. “Lead the way,King.”
Just like that, the storm outside rumbles in the distance, low and foreboding and we’re about to unleash hell.