The Day I Fired My Husband Novel

3 Just as the engineering team finally restored power , my phone rang . It was my father . He needed a hard copy of the latest core data from the marketing department . It was for the main board meeting that afternoon , 07 : Chapter 1 he said , and it was critical . He told me to handle it personally and ensure there were no mistakes . I got the data on a flash drive from the head of marketing and went to the copy room . 07:32 D I had just finished printing the last page , compiling the thick stack of paper and clamping it neatly in a binder clip , when the door swung open .

It was Lexi , holding a large bubble tea . Her eyes immediately landed on the heavy - duty stapler on the counter beside me . " Ooh , can I borrow that ? My bag of chips opened up in my purse . " Without waiting for an answer , she reached for it , her movements careless and entitled . Instinctively , I shifted the stack of documents and the stapler away from her grasp . These papers were confidential . Her hand closed on empty air . Thrown off balance , her foot caught on a power cord snaking across the floor . She stumbled forward , and the bubble tea flew from her hand .

The milky brown liquid sailed through the air in a perfect , tragic arc , landing squarely on my freshly printed , absolutely critical , conf- idential report . The thick stack of A4 paper absorbed the sugary drink instantly , the dark stain spreading through the pages , warpi- ng them into a useless , sticky brick . For a moment , I just stared at the ruined report . The calm , detached observer I had been all morning finally evaporated . I lifted my head and met Lexi's eyes . There was no apology in them . Not a shred of remorse .

Just a flash of annoyance that I hadn't given her the stapler . My voice , when it came out , was dangerously quiet . " Do you have any idea what you've just done ? Can you possibly afford to take responsibility for this ? " Lexi was clearly unaccustomed to being addressed with anything other than deference . She blinked , momentarily stunned . Then , her shock curdled into indignation . " How dare you talk to me like that ? " she snapped . " Do you have any idea who I am ? " She drew herself up , her chest puffing out . " I am Mr. Hayes's wife ! " I looked at her , my expression flat .

A small , cold laugh almost escaped my lips , " Oh ? " I asked , my voice still level . " And does being Mr. Hayes's wife give you the right to destroy company property ? Does it exempt you from every rule of professional conduct ? " My challenge seemed to ignite a fuse . Her face flushed with rage . She jabbed a finger at my nose . " Of course it does ! This company belongs to Carter , which means it belongs to me ! I can do whatever I want ! " Her voice rose , bec- oming shrill . " Who the hell do you think you are , anyway ? Some new girl , trying to lecture me ?

" A few people had drifted over , drawn by the noise . They saw the scene - the ruined documents , my cold fury , Lexi's tantrum - and froze , their eyes wide with fear . A couple of women from the admin team tugged gently at my sleeve , their expressions pleading with me to just apologize and de - escalate . I didn't move . I just held her gaze . Seeing my refusal to back down , Lexi's rage morphed into a smug , triumphant cruelty . She pulled out her phone . " Okay . You want to be tough ? " she sneered . " You think I can't handle you ? " A malicious smile spread across her face .

" I'm going to let Carter tell you exactly who I am . And who you are . " She stabbed at the screen and initiated a video call .