Chapter 7 - The ConfrontationThe following afternoon, Ranata returned to the glass tower one final time to sign the independent consulting contract with the Hargrove Group.
The atmosphere in the building was wildly different from forty-eight hours ago. Associates who had previously ignored her in the breakroom now stood at attention as she passed. The receptionist who had watched her hold cold coffee on Monday morning offered a timid, deeply respectful smile as Ranata walked straight toward the main executive corner office.
Garrett was standing by his window, staring out at the Cumberland River. The polished, effortless charm that had defined him for a decade was gone. His tie was loosened, his hair unstyled, and his eyes were sunken with dark circles of exhaustion.
"You came," Garrett said, his voice flat and hoarse.
"I came to sign the Hargrove retainer," Ranata said, setting her briefcase on his desk. "Richard Caldwell is waiting for me in the main board room."
Garrett turned around slowly, looking at her as if searching for a trace of the woman who used to stay up until 2:00 AM double-checking his schedule.
"My father called me this morning," Garrett said softly. "He read the bar complaint. He told me I was a disgrace to the family name. He’s stripping my voting shares in the Finch foundation."
Ranata said nothing.
"Sana left for Atlanta two hours ago," he continued, taking a shaky step toward her. "She took her things and left. She told me I was an idiot for letting you go."
"Sana was right about one thing," Ranata said coolly. "You were closing deals before I passed my securities exam. But you forgot that closing a deal is just the handshake, Garrett. Keeping a deal alive requires work. And you never learned how to work."
Garrett dropped into his leather chair, burying his face in his hands. "I loved you, Ranata. In my own way... I really did."
Ranata looked down at him, feeling a strange, quiet pity—not the painful longing she had felt four days ago, but the distant sympathy one feels for a stranger who has destroyed his own home out of pure carelessness.
"You didn't love me, Garrett," she said gently. "You loved having a safety net that didn't complain when you walked all over it. You loved having someone to fix your mistakes before anyone important noticed them."
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She reached down, pulling her wedding ring from her finger. The gold band made a soft, metallic click as she set it on the polished mahogany desk beside his phone.
"I'm taking my safety net with me," she whispered.
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