Chapter 2: The Tradition of Power
"Hayes Global?" Carter stammered, his eyes widening in pure, unadulterated terror as the puzzle pieces slammed together in his head.
The entire Blackwell family stopped breathing. Hayes Global was the multi-billion-dollar maritime conglomerate that held the exclusive shipping licenses for every port on the East Coast. Blackwell Logistics was nothing more than a tiny, desperate subcontractor that had been bleeding money for three quarters.
"Let's talk about family traditions, Vivian," I said, turning my gaze to the matriarch, who was now hyperventilating. "You told my daughter that in your home, every woman learns her place. Well, in my family, we don't serve. We own."
"Mrs. Hayes—Margaret, please," Vivian begged, her sharp, glass-cutting demeanor completely shattering as she reached across the table, her manicured hands shaking. "It was a joke! A lighthearted wedding prank! A tradition to show humility!"
"Then you should have no problem wearing it," I replied, pointing a finger at the gray housekeeping uniform sitting in Vivian's expensive gift box. "Because by nine o'clock tomorrow morning, Hayes Global is pulling every single contract from Blackwell Logistics. You are overextended, leveraged to the hilt, and without my ships, your company will default by noon."
"Emily!" Carter panicked, turning to my daughter and grabbing her lace-covered arms. "Tell your mother to stop! We're married! We're a team! You love me!"
Emily looked down at his hands on her arms. Then, she looked at the gray uniform, the cheap black shoes, and the humiliating name tag still sitting on the table.
May you like
With a calmness that made my heart swell with pride, Emily reached up, untangled his fingers from her dress, and took off her diamond wedding band. She dropped the ring directly into Carter's empty champagne glass.
"To a husband who knows how to serve," Emily said, throwing his own words back in his face with a razor-sharp smile. "Have fun cleaning up your own mess, Carter."
