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 , 1 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 14 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 newest one had started five years ago . I felt safe here . The seller needed a quick sale , and I gave him just under market value for it . Selling usually takes time , and he had just been transferred for work and didn't want to leave his wife behind to sell the house . It had four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms . More than I need , but one day I had faith that I would find a man that wasn't an absolute a $$ hat . It was a modern , two - story home with a pool . I loved the large windows . I was already planning to install electric shades to block the sun when it was too bright , and so I could sleep in on the weekend . I loved how open the windows made it feel . Gwen and Emily had picked out their rooms . They laughed and teased each other . I really liked the sunroom out back near the pool , which would allow me to have some coffee and watch the sun rise . The kitchen was gorgeous , and I couldn't wait to use it . 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 installation . After I'm done with that , Gwen and Emily are meeting me at the furniture store . My mother helped me decorate my condo . She had also helped me with my villa . This time around , I'm in charge . I'm planning on going to the auction this Sunday to pick out a few pieces for my new home . I researched paint colors and was going to decorate my room with items I liked . My home was goi going to reflect me in the best way possible . I hadn't designed anything this week . I did exactly what Roger was planning on letting Sasha do . Sit there and supervise the team . I helped them as little as I possibly could . I liked my team , but they've grown too dependent on me for ideas . I'd warned them yesterday in an impromptu meeting . They needed to tighten up ; they've been designing for a while . They needed to step out of their comfort zone and design from the heart . I do like them , and several of them have talent , but Roger wouldn't allow me to run my department . I wouldn't have coddled them , but Roger had tied my hand . Refusing to let me properly develop them , stating he was the boss . When I reminded him that I was the ' boss ' too , he said it would be confusing for the team to have two bosses . This was his company , and he would be the one to handle his employees . 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 . 18 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 . KatVonBeck