Chapter 15
Chapter 15:
Leveraging.
She looked at Dennis. He was sweating.
“You took out loans using Sterling as a guarantor?” Aurora asked. Her voice was ice.
“It’s just a formality!” Dennis blustered. “Once the deal closes, I’ll pay it back p>
“You forged his signature p>
“I… I implied his backing!” Dennis yelled. “Why do you care? You’re sitting on a gold mine p>
Aurora wiped her mouth with a napkin. She did it slowly, deliberately.
“Sterling can’t hire Tiffany,” she said.
“Why?” Dennis demanded, his face turning purple.
“Because I don’t have any influence over him anymore.” She looked Dennis in the eye.
“And neither do you p>
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. The ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to grow louder with every second.
“What do you mean?” Heather laughed nervously, a high-pitched titter. “Did you have a fight? Buy him a watch, he’ll get over it p>
“We divorced this morning,” Aurora stated flatly.
Tiffany dropped her phone. It hit the hardwood floor with a loud crack.
Dennis turned a shade of violet that looked medically concerning. “Divorced? You let him go p>
“He wanted it. I signed,” Aurora explained, picking up her water glass.
“Did you get the alimony? The shares?” Dennis leaned over the table, his greed overriding his shock. “Tell me you got the stock options p>
“I took nothing,” Aurora lied. Technically, she had refused his money because she didn’t need it, but to them, it was the same thing.
𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝕖𝗅𝕤⧽ⅽ𝗈𝗺
“Nothing?!” Heather stood up so fast her chair tipped over. “You stupid, useless girl! You had the golden ticket and you threw it away p>
“Enough!” Arthur slammed his hand on the table. The plates rattled.
Dennis ignored his father. He was hyperventilating. “We needed that connection! My business… the loans are due next week! I told the bank Sterling Thorne was my son-in-law p>
“That sounds like fraud, Uncle,” Aurora said coldly. “And since I am no longer Mrs. Thorne, I imagine the bank will be calling you very soon p>
“Get out!” Heather screamed, pointing a manicured finger at the door. “If you aren’t Mrs. Thorne, you’re nothing to us! You’re just a leech p>
“Gladly.” Aurora stood up. She smoothed her skirt.
Arthur stood too. He was shaking, not with age, but with rage.
“If she goes, I go,” Arthur declared. His voice was stronger than it had been in years.
“Fine, old man! Go rot in your tenement!” Dennis spat. “Take your trash granddaughter with you p>
Aurora walked around the table to Arthur. She offered him her arm. He took it, his grip surprisingly firm.
“Remember this moment, Dennis,” Aurora said softly.
“Get out before I call the police!” Tiffany yelled from the floor, checking her cracked screen.