The $600K Mattress Chapter 2

Thorne Industries provides the capital; Sterling Corp provides the proposal.

In the conference room, as Will prattled on, I saw several of our shareholders begin to frown. I couldn’t believe Carol would entrust such a critical project entirely to this intern, only for him to make a complete mess of it. Our investors had only agreed to partner with Sterling Corp on this venture as a favor to me, to Thorne Industries.

If this proposal failed, it wasn’t just Sterling Corp that would look incompetent. It would be a reflection on me.

I stopped the meeting immediately and demanded that Sterling Corp replace the project lead.

Not long after, Carol stormed into my office with Will in tow. She was radiating a fury I had never seen before.

“Nolan Thorne, you are a manipulative, treacherous snake! How dare you sabotage Will like this!”

“Do you have any idea how disgusting you look, using your power for petty revenge?”

She didn’t even bother to get the facts, just pointed a finger at my nose and started screaming. I was baffled. We had only been married a year. How could she have changed so dramatically? Or was her past sweetness all just an act?

Several of my secretaries rushed in, trying to block her and Will.

“Please, ma’am, you can’t shout in here!”

Carol, enraged, raised her hand to strike one of them, but a security guard intercepted her arm.

“How dare you touch me! Do you have any idea who I am?” she shrieked. “I am the wife of the heir to Thorne Industries! Your future boss!”

The guard glanced at me. I gave a subtle nod, and he released her.

I had no intention of lowering myself to her level. I simply asked, my voice dangerously quiet, “You remember you’re my wife? From the way you’re acting, I thought you were a business rival.”

“I suggest you ascertain whether Will is actually competent enough to lead this project before you come in here making accusations.”

“Let’s talk about who’s mixing business with pleasure, shall we?”

She was stunned into silence. A look of belated regret flickered across her face as she calmed down.

I turned to Will.

“Tell me your perspective on the Southern New City development project.”

Will stammered, unable to produce a single coherent word. I then asked one of my secretaries the same question.

As my secretary delivered a clear, concise, and insightful analysis, Carol’s face went from white to red, then to a mottled purple. It was quite a spectacle.

Carol tried to save face.

“Will is leading a project for the first time. He’s just nervous. He’s not usually like this. He’s very capable.”

“Why don’t you give him another chance, for my sake?”

I almost laughed. “If you insist on using him, then this partnership is suspended. Effective immediately.”

The color drained from Carol’s face. She knew how important this deal was. The Sterling stock had already taken a massive hit because of her. If she lost the Thorne partnership on top of that, her position as heir would be untenable.

As she hesitated, Will put on a pained expression, his voice thick with unshed tears.

“Carol, it’s all my fault. I’m always being targeted. I’ve dragged you into this.”

“I’ll just quit. It’s better that way. I won’t let you be put in a difficult position. Don’t worry about me.”

Any lingering resentment Carol felt towards him evaporated, replaced by a wave of protective sympathy.

I had no more time to waste on their melodrama. I had them escorted out. As she was leaving, Carol shot me a look of pure hatred, as if I were the one who had ruined everything.

A sharp pain pierced my chest. For another man, she was truly ready to become my enemy.