Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 16

Taking Control

Chapter 16

Analise’s POV

I read the text again, and it made me even angrier. I know exactly what Roger was planning to do. He wanted me to sign over my designs to him. Another reminder that his company was being carried on my back. It was frustrating that he still thought I was so in love with him that I would give him everything. I might have before,

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but I had realized something in the last week. I didn’t love Roger as much as I thought I did. He was attractive and acceptable to me as a husband.

The harder revelation had been that I had truly loved Holden. To the point where I could have forgiven him anything, until I realized that I did have a bottom line. He didn’t just step across it; he obliterated it. I knew after that, it would be hard to fall in love again. What he did to me hurt much more than what I felt about Roger. It still hurts me to this day. I thought Roger respected and appreciated me. It was why I was willing to marry him and help him soar, as long as he was faithful to me. I was so naïve. I should have known better

than to trust him, especially when he kept allowing his best friends to be so derogatory towards me. I won’t be fooled again.

I had heard his mother and him discussing what needed to be done as they discussed their plans in my living room. I knew exactly what was going to happen. I’m quite sure that he will try to come looking for me on Sunday. He’s flying back on Saturday, and I’m sure he’s going to go to the office to see what the letters say. I already printed off the paperwork I needed to verify how many units were made earlier this morning.

They breached the contract and continued to make my designs. That was something he knew better than, and there was no glossing over it. I intended to ensure that each of those pieces was either paid for or melted back down after the stones were removed. I wasn’t going to fall for anything. I had asked my attorney,

Rodney, to clear some of his day to help me.

I told him what they were up to, and he was infuriated by their actions. I’m not stepping back into that company alone. Mr. Briggs will be with me, and I’m going to have him go over Roger’s new contract. I’m going to act outraged by what Roger was planning to do to me. But I won’t be signing anything. I also won’t be

telling him that we’re done. I’ll cry, ask for space to think, then ghost him. I paid a great deal of money to investigate Sasha Elliott. I know more about her than he does. I even sent the investigator to Paris with them, and I’m glad I did.

Sasha has Roger so wrapped around her finger that she was bold enough to go out with her ex–boyfriend. My investigator was good and got hired on at a club her ex–boyfriend owned. As a janitor, he had access

everywhere. He set up a camera in the owner’s office and in two of the VIP rooms that included a bed.

I had what I needed, and he managed to hack into the owner’s computer early one morning. I had plenty of evidence. Apparently, her ex liked to watch and had even taken pictures. Everything was set up and ready to go. After the wedding, no one would be condemning me. Roger’s name would be a joke in high society for marrying her willingly. I even included the best information at the end of the slideshow.

Her pregnancy was much further along than she told him. He couldn’t be the father. I would be remiss if i

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Taking Control

didn’t make sure he found out that juicy piece of information. Consider it the last nice thing that I’m willing to do for him. Her reputation would be completely destroyed. If he made an announcement that he had hired her, it would help sink the company even quicker.

I knew the aftermath was where the best part would be, but for now, I’m thoroughly enjoying this. My Condo had sold, even before the villa did. Both were sold as is, along with the furniture. I was starting fresh. A new home and all new furniture. I wasn’t moving anything, and I wasn’t asking anyone for help. Christine had

found me a new home, and tomorrow I’m selling two homes and buying a new one.

Gwen and Emily were with me when I toured the new home last night. It was in a gated community. I already knew that Roger would be trying to follow me. I felt safe as they took down my car’s information, and I met

the man who worked the gate during the day. There were a total of five guards who worked there, and the

I’m glad I walked out today. I did it early enough to call and have the decorator meet me at my new home, after closing tomorrow. I will also have the installer for my electric shades meet me there to start the

I researched paint colors and was going to decorate my room with items I liked. My home was goi

I grimace thinking about what I put up with here. I let the incidents that caused me trauma years ago form me into who I am. But that won’t happen ever again. I’m going to try therapy again. This time, my parents can’t go behind me and ask my doctor what I’d told them. When your parents have as much power as mine did, and still do, you learn quickly that confidentiality is not something you can have. It didn’t exist for me.

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Taking Control

They finally realized that I wasn’t going to cooperate and dropped pushing me into therapy.

I knew part of the reason they stopped was that they suspected it would be bad enough to tear their friendship apart. They were right. My mother would have lost her best friend. My father was great friends with Mr. Vaughn, and Seth would have lost his best friend, I mourned the loss of some of the Vaughns, but not all of them. I couldn’t ruin their friendship. I completely avoided Holden and Tiffany. I will never willingly speak to either of them again.

I hope Seth and Holden learned that I wasn’t going to fold anymore. I knew with each passing day that my newfound confidence was making a huge difference in how people perceived me. I’ve been getting much more attention over the last few days. In fact, I knew that Holden and Seth had both been shocked when they first took a good look at me. They were trying to figure out what was different, but hadn’t quite put their finger on what the changes were just yet. They just noticed that I looked nicer than I did before, before I ran away.

Which is ridiculous. Does my appearance make me nicer, happier, or more worthy than anyone else? I know many attractive people, but some are horrible. Just like Tiffany and her best friend Gretchen. I made sure that they found out that I refused to hire them as models. It had truly pissed them off when they saw me wave o

over at them. I almost wish I could do it again. Both she and Tiffany were terrible people. Vain and arrogant bullies, wrapped in beauty. They were both rotten on the inside.

There is a reason why they are both still single. I’m sure that their still waiting for Holden and Seth to make honest women of them. Seth avoids Tiffany like the plague to this day. But every holiday, he gets drug into having to play nice. Tiffany is never going to let him go. As far as she is concern, Seth is the man of her dreams. She doesn’t love him, but he is the acceptable choice to keep her in the lifestyle she wants. I know something happened between them, but having her as a sister–in–law would be the worst.

They still think they can bully me. I know they will be at the auction, and I dread seeing them. I will leave them alone unless they come for me; then the gloves come off. I’m not the same Analise that they knew. Gwen and Emily will be there as well, as it is an invitation–only event. You can’t come unless you have a certain amount verified in your bank account. As the owner of Fashion Forward, the invitation is technically mine, I think it’s a good time to start going out more and making an appearance.

I hope to see Roger there, with Sasha. I want to see him try to explain to his fiancée why he’s there with another woman. It will be the start of his demise. I didn’t ask Seth if the investors had backed out yet. I also don’t plan to ask my parents either. They know this company is headed for disaster. They would have already reached out to the investors. I sold my shares, and the other investors knew to flee a sinking ship. They’ll lose their money if they drag their feet about it. I’m sure that by Monday afternoon, the news will be out. Roger won’t be able to stop the mass exodus. After that, nothing will save him.