Fallen Grandeur, Shattered Oaths

Whitney was stunned momentarily. She then picked up the file. As she went through it, the scowl on her face only deepened.

Maxwell dropped to his knees with a loud thud and hugged her legs.

"Whit, it's not what it seems! That was all in the past… I only started gambling because someone lured me into it. I've stopped gambling now! Harv is falsely accusing me. Everything in that document is fake! Some of them are even from way back in the day!"

He cried so hard that tears and snot covered his face.

Whitney wavered again. Lowering the documents, she turned to me.

In a firm tone, she said, "Everyone makes mistakes. Maxwell might've gone astray in the past, but what's more important is that he's turned over a new leaf. As for the company's imprest funds, consider them a loan from me to him. I'll reimburse the company later."

I stared at her in disbelief. Even with solid proof of Maxwell's past doings, she still chose to take his side.

"Whitney, have you lost your mind?"

Whitney rose to her feet with a righteous expression on her face.

"I trust my judgement. Maxwell has made mistakes before because of unavoidable circumstances in life, but he isn't evil. On the other hand, you are being overbearing and jumping at shadows—hardly the behaviour I'd expect from a real man."

To think she'd say that I wasn't behaving like a real man because of that pretentious, manipulative Maxwell…

"Whitney, since you insist on taking his side, we might as well put an end to our marriage."

Whitney frowned. Impatient and convinced I wasn't serious, she snapped, "Harvey, stop it. Do you think it's proper to bring up a divorce over a small issue like this? I know you're mad, so I'll overlook how you've made a fuss out of nothing today."

I calmly returned her gaze. "I'm serious about this. I'll send you the divorce papers tomorrow. As for him…"

I walked up to Maxwell, who was hiding behind Whitney. He peeked out from behind her, and the smug look in his eyes was clear as day.

He thought he'd won.

I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out from behind Whitney.

He yelped, "Whit!"

"Harvey, what are you doing?" Whitney reached out to stop me.

I snatched the iced coffee from the table and splashed it on Maxwell's face. He gasped for air as the coffee dripped off his face. It was a pathetic sight.

"Here's some coffee for you." I patted off any residue on my hands and used a tissue to wipe them clean, disgusted.

I continued, "You're both sorry excuses for humans—a match made in heaven indeed."

Whitney was so furious that she was shaking all over. She swung her hand high to hit me.

I caught her arm and stared at her coldly. "I dare you to hit me. If you do, you'll only prove that we truly aren't getting along.

"Remember, our company is soon getting listed. If word gets out that the vice president is having an affair with her employee, is involved in domestic abuse of her husband, and has spent the company's funds on her lover, do you think the board of directors will allow you to keep your position?"

Whitney's arm froze mid-air, and she slowly lowered it. Through gritted teeth, she hissed, "Harvey Spencer, are you threatening me?"

"So what if I'm threatening you?" I retorted, flinging her arm to one side and heading for the door. I continued, "Whitney, the fight has only just begun. I will show you that you're nothing without me."

I pulled out my phone and called the legal department. "Mr. Scott, draft me a divorce agreement. I want to make sure Whitney doesn't get a single penny from the divorce. Then, contact the media on my behalf. I have a surprise for our vice president."