Chapter 6 - THE REBUILDING
Three months passed.
The autumn leaves in Chicago turned from vibrant amber to deep crimson, dropping gently onto the manicured lawn of my house.
The divorce was officially finalized in court without a single hitch. I kept the house, my full restored inheritance, and my maiden name: Nora Vance became Nora Hayes once again.
I spent the first two months completely transforming the house. I repainted the walls from the dull grey colors Jason preferred to warm, vibrant shades of cream and soft blue. I sold his dark furniture and bought pieces that made the space feel light, open, and alive.
Most importantly, I went back to work.
Rather than returning to a high-stress corporate firm, I opened my own boutique financial consulting practice: Hayes Forensic & Advisory Services. Operating out of a sleek office suite in downtown Evanston, I specialized in helping women going through high-conflict divorces uncover hidden assets and protected trust funds locked away by deceptive spouses.
Within weeks, word-of-mouth spread. My calendar was filled with clients who needed someone sharp, relentless, and empathetic to fight for them.
One sunny Tuesday afternoon, my receptionist buzzed my desk.
"Nora, there's a gentleman here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment, but he says it's regarding a high-profile corporate audit."
"Did he give a name?" I asked, looking up from my laptop.
"David Sterling," she replied.
My breath hitched slightly. David Sterling was the newly appointed CEO of Vance Logistics—the independent executive hired by Arthur Vance's board of directors to clean up the mess left behind by Jason and Megan.
"Send him in," I said, rising from my desk.
The door opened, and David stepped inside. He was a tall man in his early fortys, with sharp blue eyes, silvering hair at his temples, and an easy, genuine smile that lacked any of the slick arrogance I had grown accustomed to in the Vance family.
"Mrs. Hayes," David said, extending his hand for a warm, firm handshake. "Thank you for seeing me without an appointment."
"Mr. Sterling," I smiled, gesturing toward the armchairs near the window. "Please, sit down. What can I do for Vance Logistics?"
David sat down, pulling a leather portfolio from his briefcase. "I've been cleaning house at the corporate headquarters for the past ninety days. And to be completely honest with you, Nora... the forensic audit you put together four months ago was a work of brilliant genius."
I leaned back in my chair. "Thank you. I take my work seriously."
"Arthur Vance gave me full authority to restructure the executive board," David explained, leaning forward. "We are launching a new compliance and internal auditing department to ensure nothing like the previous management's corruption ever happens again. I want to offer your firm an exclusive, high-yield retainer contract to oversee all forensic auditing for Vance Logistics."
I blinked in surprise. "You want to hire me? To audit the company my ex-husband used to run?"
May you like
David smiled, a genuine, warm expression. "I want to hire the best person for the job. And frankly, the board knows that no one understands where the skeletons are buried better than you."
He paused, his blue eyes locking onto mine with sincere respect. "Plus... I think it's poetic justice. What do you say?"
