Chapter 4 - The Ambush
Julian and I walked down the stairs just as Eleanor barged into the main dining room.
She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me standing there.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed, her eyes darting nervously to the heavy bandages on my neck.
"I own fifty percent of this business, Eleanor," I replied smoothly, keeping my voice dangerously calm.
Chloe scoffed from behind her mother, holding up a designer coffee cup.
"Not for long, you greedy little rat," Chloe sneered.
"Mom is having the lawyers draft papers to strip you of your shares today."
I almost laughed out loud at their sheer, unbridled arrogance.
"You cannot strip me of anything," I reminded them.
"I am the sole guarantor on all the vendor accounts and the primary name on the commercial lease."
Eleanor’s face turned a violent shade of purple.
"You will sign this business over to us, or I will ruin your life!" she screamed, taking a threatening step forward.
Julian immediately stepped in front of me, his massive frame blocking her path entirely.
"If you touch her again, I will personally throw you through that plate-glass window," Julian growled.
Eleanor scoffed, trying to mask the genuine fear flashing in her eyes.
"You are fired, Julian!" she yelled, pointing a manicured finger at the door.
"He doesn't work for you, he works for me," I corrected her coldly.
"And actually, you two are the ones who are trespassing."
I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the local police precinct.
"Yes, hello, I would like to report an assault and an attempted break-in at Bennett's Bistro."
Eleanor’s jaw dropped in absolute shock.
She had honestly believed I would just roll over and take her abuse forever.
"You are making a massive mistake, Samantha," Eleanor threatened in a low, venomous whisper.
May you like
"No, Mom," I replied, holding her furious gaze.
"My only mistake was ever loving you in the first place."
