She was lucky that Garrett found out about the affair and filed for divorce on the same day that Raymond took over his company. If Raymond had known that Garrett filed for divorce, her ass would have been on the streets.
Garrett packed all of her things and sent them to Raymond’s apartment. But, he wouldn’t allow her to take their son. Shannon didn’t want too. He was a better father than she was a mother. She hadn’t ever wanted to be a mother, not at this stage in her life. Garrett Jr. was probably closer to the nanny than he was to her.
In Raymond’s excitement of finally beating him, Raymond told Garrett that he was the father of their son.
Shannon hated to see Garrett look so completely broken. It wasn’t anything she’d ever seen before. His despair quickly turned to rage. On that day, she thought he was going to kill Raymond and almost did.
Since then, their perfect plan had gone to shit in just a week. How did Raymond miss the fact Garrett was transferring assets?
Raymond was out for his daily run, and she was thrilled for the time alone. He’d been unbearable to live with, and it had been pure hell. He was still reeling from another perceived loss to Garrett. Raymond was obsessed with destroying him. The more she thought about it, Shannon should have done more to make her marriage with Garrett work. Raymond wasn’t half the man Garrett was, and it was too late now.
More and more she contemplated just leaving him. She had eight million dollars in the bank from her divorce settlement. Shannon could just leave. But, when her lawyer called with the news that she and Raymond were still married, new thoughts ran through her mind. A new plan was quickly hatched. There was no way she could leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table.
Shannon continued to scroll through the newspapers on her laptop and came across a headline that had her choking on her coffee.
Surprise! Garrett Hadley Re-Marries!
After a three-week whirlwind affair, billionaire Garrett Hadley marries Imani Jones in a stunning ceremony fit for a princess! Who knew he’d divorced his wife of three years, Shannon Hadley, whom he’s been in a fierce custody battle over their young son, Garrett Tristan Hadley, Jr.
He met the blushing bride when her company was commissioned to decorate the offices of Rusche Towers.
Shannon looked up at the exact moment Raymond walked through the door. “Garrett is not going to hand over ownership of his company to us. He’s going to fight for his son.”
Out of breath and sweaty, Raymond shook his head. “He wouldn’t take the chance.”
“Really? Then why would a man who has never done an impulsive thing in his life marry a woman he’s only known for three weeks?”
“You’re lying?”
She turned her laptop towards him. “It’s right here on page six of the Chicago News Tribune.”
Raymond read the article. He looked up with an ominous smile on his face. “This time my brother is going to lose. Either way, his son or his business, I win.”
Chapter 17
Present Day
The Rusche Tower took five years to build. It was one of Garrett Hadley’s greatest accomplishments and the crowning jewel of his engineering and architectural firm.
It wasn’t the tallest building in Chicago, but Rusche more than held its own alongside other architectural masterpieces that decorated Chicago’s lakefront skyline. The beauty of its construction was what set it apart and why his company and their talent was so in demand all over the world. The beauty of the outside was equally matched by the décor on the inside. Imani had done a masterful job.
Only now, Rusche Tower was leaning slightly to the right. Who knew how long it would remain standing at all. That was their biggest fear; that the seventy-three floors above them would crumble to the ground and crush them before they had a chance to get out.
Time was ticking.
Slowly, in a single file line, they entered the stairwell. Seth was in front, followed by Anthony, Lucinda, Raymond, Imani, and Garrett at the back.
They hadn’t made it down one flight of stairs before realizing it was going to be a terrifying obstacle course.
A burning smell from possible fires in unknown locations floated through the air. Was it above them or below? Were they heading towards it or away from it? Being draped in darkness didn’t help. Their fear was only heightened by the orchestra of sounds surrounding them.
The high-pitched screaming of the building had Imani thinking her feet were going to fall away from beneath her at any moment.
“Does anyone have a cellphone? One with a light on it?” Garrett yelled from behind.
Lucinda reached into her purse that was wrapped around her body and pulled hers out. Her voice, tense with the terror, she responded. “I have one!”
“Pass it to Seth. He’s up front and leading the way. He’ll need it.”
Lucinda did as she was told.
Imani turned around to Garrett. She raised her voice above the screaming and loud sucking noise that sounded like a giant vacuum. It was almost overpowering. “I have one too.”
“Turn it off. We should try to conserve the power by using one phone at a time.”
The six of them continued to walk cautiously down the stairs.
Echoes of doors opening and closing from below could still be heard above all the noise. That meant they weren’t the only people in the stairwell and hopefully it was passable.
Periodically, faint sounds of panicked voices floated through the air, and that continued to give them all hope. It kept the very real fear
