Overthrown

Chapter 1

As I gaze out at the view of the city streets far below me, I can't help but think of what has led me to this point in my life. The pain both emotional and physical has numbed me deep to my core. The only emotion I feel now is rage, pure unadulterated rage. I'm not a monster though; My rage is typically directed only towards those who cross me and those who are disloyal.

Loyalty means so much to me but so little to everyone around me. How could I dedicate my entire life to building this company when it is filled with venomous snakes ready to strike? This glorious empire of mine that is simply a fragile house of cards. One tiny gust from crumbling, one misstep from wiping me out. How could I be so naïve to believe that this all could last? So naïve to think I might actually make it out unscathed.

"Mrs. Collins!"

"What??" Biting back at the intern harshly, my words piercing through her. I snap myself out of my thoughts as I watch Kimberly shrink back into the safety of the doorway.

"Ma'am, I- I'm so sorry for disturbing you." She stutters out, her long blonde hair hiding her face as she nervously picks at her perfectly polished cuticles.

Shit, I did it again.

Kimberly is fresh out of college and I scare the shit out of her at least five times a day. I don't mean to do this but there is something about her. She is so sickly sweet and innocent its nauseating. The high pitch voice, the homecoming queen smile, the doe eyed look. No wonder my husband has been obsessed with her since she was recruited from USC.

"What did I tell you about barging into my office without knocking?"

"Ma'am I did knock, three times actually but you must not have heard them. I'm sorry, I'll knock louder next time. Mr. Collins called and asked me to clear your schedule for the rest of the week because you will be working from home. I just thought I'd clear it with you first." She meekly informs me as she tries to straighten her posture pressing down the fabric of her dress.

Closing my eyes as I take a deep breath letting the oxygen fill my lungs, "Yes, that's fine. Thank you for telling me. Close the door on your way out." She bows her head before scurrying out of the room as fast as her ballet flats can take her. My eyes follow her every step, trying to contain my anger until she leaves the room.

As soon as the door shuts my arm flies across the desk scattering everything in its path. The papers float through the air like a flurry of snowflakes. Before I can stop myself, my hand is gripping a large crystal paperweight and throwing it at the door with enough force that it shatters into a million tiny pieces as it collides with its target.

That mother fucker!! You can't keep letting Jason do this to you!

"You'll be working from home." Was his way of forcing me out of the company bit by bit, meeting by meeting. Lessening my presence to the board and to society. Jason does this every other month or so to remind me who is in charge of my life. When I found out about his habitual cheating, I didn't just find out that he was an adulterer. I revealed who he truly was.

It was at that point he took off the mask of a loving husband and showed something all too sinister. The man that has made my life a living hell. The man who made me, Michelle Collins, Founder and COO of one of the largest conglomerates in the world tremble at the sound of his voice. Quake at the mere idea of defying his orders. He has been holding my company and I hostage ever since.

The company that you built!

My fist slams into the hardwood desk, my rage erupting from beneath the surface like the Yellowstone Caldera. He brings my inner demon out every time and I can't stop it; Her voice ringing through my head as clear as any person. I need to leave before I destroy my office and give him more of a reason to push me out. As I rush out of my office my glare meets Kimberly, I can tell she is trying to avoid eye contact as her gaze drops to the floor. She heard what just transpired and she knows that she now has to clean up the mess, my mess. Part of me feels bad for her, it's after 10 PM and now she must stay even later because I can't control my demon.