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The doorbell suddenly rang.
“Are you expecting someone?” Jolene asked, taking on a defensive stance.
“No, but maybe it’s Amy?” I hated the hope I heard in my voice. I sounded so pathetic.
“Daniel, wait–” Jolene said as I rushed to the door.
“Who the fuck are you?” I asked the man on the other side of the door. He immediately went to punch me in the face and I tried to duck, but my alcohol-laden head made me slow. He made contact with the side of my head and it sent me reeling.
Jolene was right behind me, and the strange man grabbed her throat.
“Where is the hard drive?” he yelled. It sounded like cotton, though, as my ears rang furiously.
“What hard drive?” Jolene asked through her chokehold, struggling against him.
“Tell me where it is,” he spit out at her.
“It’s in… the kitchen,” she gasped. “Top cabinet.”
He threw her on the ground, apparently assuming we were both incapacitated. Jolene held up one finger, urging me to wait and stay still.
Her bag was still at the door and she slowly slid over to it as we heard the stranger opening and slamming cabinet doors. It sounded like glass crashed on the floor as I slowly got my hearing back.
Jolene slowly slipped her hand in her bag and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Putting a hand to her lips, she slipped off her shoes and stood up, motioning for me to follow her.
“Where is it, bitch?” he yelled from the kitchen, clearly not giving up.
We eased to the kitchen doorway, Jolene holding up her hand for me to stop. His back was turned and on her signal we rushed him. I pushed him down, his head bouncing on the hardwood, while Jolene cuffed him and secured him to the leg of the kitchen island. I lunged for my phone on the counter and called 9-1-1.
Sirens pierced through the evening silence and the rotating lights blended with the night sky. I had finished explaining the events of the evening to the police officer, at least what I could remember of it. My ears were still ringing. I was covered with a blanket and was told by a police officer that it helped to deal with the shock, but my body still fidgeted at every slight sound. Jolene was talking to another police officer. I had the hard drive in my pocket.
My head hurt, and despite having the cut treated, I could still feel the throbbing pain. I looked at myself in the mirror. The hard drive now had enough information to link Aaron Cooper to the rumors about my company and to the man who assaulted us. Plus, a number of actual crimes that had him facing many years in prison. I had to act fast so he wouldn't get away with this. Despite having no power, the remaining shareholders agreed to a meeting with me.
I had already briefed all the shareholders when Cooper angrily stormed into the office with two guards.
“Why was there a meeting held without my consent?” he asked. “You lost all right to this company the moment you were voted out. Throw him off the premises,” he ordered no one.
“They will do no such thing,” Jamie said as he stood up. “Your crimes against this company have been brought to light, effective immediately,yourrelationship with this company is dissolved.”
“You can’t do that. I'm the CEO of this company,” he said.
“Then we will put it to a vote. Those in favor of Aaron Cooper remaining as the CEO should raise their hands.”
I was lazily seated at the head of the table and I watched as no one raised their hands.
“Those in favor of Daniel being reinstated?” Jamie asked. They all raised their hands.
“This is not over,” Cooper said as he pointed at me. I got up and walked toward him.
“You're right. It's far from over. I have all the evidence I need to keep you in jail for a very long time. You may have power and connections, but I know some powerful people that will be very happy to assist me, seeing as you extorted them.” I forced a smile. “You'll pay for what you did.”
I waved for the security guards to escort him out of the building where police officers were waiting for him to put him under arrest.
One crisis somewhat resolved for now. I called Amy again but she didn’t answer. I went up to my office to look around. It looked untouched. I guessed Cooper hadn’t been there yet. I sunk into the couch and hoped Amy would miraculously appear at the door.
The past few hours had given me the clarity I had been looking for. She was the one for me, and I knew that now. I had known it all along, but was too afraid to admit that I really, truly loved her.
I heard a knock on the door and sat up to see Anastasia and Damien walk in.
