*****
Steve Sampson stepped up next to the Chairman and stared out at the busy actions of a city taking place all around them.
"I'm sorry Jim, that it came to this. I never imagined that she was capable of anything like what's happening. I knew she hated me, but this!" Steve exclaimed with a bitter shake of his head.
The Chairman, Jim Swanson, glanced from the window to Steve, the intended target of the entire corporate attack and said, "Well you know what the good book says Steve, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'".
Steve nodded still staring vacantly out the window, "It's the truth let me tell you!"
Jim shook his head, "Quite frankly I'm surprised at the level of her quest for revenge too. She stands to lose a fortune as a result of this takeover of Panolic and its subsequent liquidation. I know Francesca's a shrewd businesswoman and I find it hard to see why she would make such a move for the sake of revenge. She could have had you bumped off a lot cheaper than to go to all the capital and strategic planning that brought this day about."
Steve gave a sad smile, "It's not enough to kill me Jim. She wants to tear my life apart and the best way to do that is with the business that I built up with the loving attention of a father. I have no doubt that I will be bumped off in some perceived accidental way following the demise of the company. I never realized what a monster I had married until it was too late." He said, as his voice trailed off in a lamenting tone that expressed deep remorse.
Jim patted Steve's shoulder, "Happens to the best of us. In your case it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."
"If only the divorce hadn't been so ugly." Steve said almost to himself.
Jim smacked Steve on the back somewhat roughly, "Now don't go blaming yourself for that! She's the one who brought the divorce forward. She intended to take you for everything you were worth completely unjustified! You had no choice but to bring forward the evidence of her affairs and scandalous parties."
Steve shook his head negatively and said, "If I'd just let her have all the money none of this would be happening. More importantly thousands of people would still have a good job when they woke up tomorrow. No, I should've just let it all go and started over instead of defending my pride like I did!"
Jim was about to protest more in defense of his friend when all conversation within the boardroom ceased as the double doors opened to reveal the glowing eyed predatory gaze of Francesca Marelli, Steve's former wife. She was followed into the boardroom by just one attendant, one of her legal eagle hatchet girls.