Layla's POV
My pulse drummed in my ear.
"Where is he then?" I asked.
This time, she didn't look at me. "Mr Douglas is in a board meeting." She answered politely.
"I'll wait in his office ," I snapped.
I went in and waited. Minutes almost stretched to an eternity. The atmosphere was suffocating. Then finally, I saw the door burst open and Viktor stormed inside. He looked like a storm himself. He wore an immaculate charcoal suit, one I've never seen before and it was certainly not the clothes Chloe had taken earlier.
Not the ones he wore from home the previous day either.
His countenance dropped dead when he saw me.
"Layla!" He called out in a low but urgent voice. He took two strides in reaching me then he clamped his hand around my arm and dragged me into the corner of the office.
"What are you doing here?" his eyes blazed with a mix of fury and something else I couldn't read.
"You didn't return home yesterday, " I fired back and jerked my arm free. "You turned your phone off... and I--- I found my name on a fraud report you kept from me. How could I stay at home?"
His eyes furrowed. "You don't have an idea---"
"Make me then!" My voice cracked under the weight of my chest. "Tell me why my name got to that report and explain to me why Chloe is walking around our home like she belongs there while I'm kept in the dark."
He tightened his grip on my wrist again, then he darted his eyes towards the door. "You need to leave now. Don't come back here until---"
Before he could finish, the door swung open, two uniformed men stepped inside, their badges glittering under the office lights.
"Mrs Layla Douglas?"
One of them asked firmly.
My entire body froze. "Yes?"
"We'll need you to come with us," the officer said, stepping forward to me. "You're under arrest for theft and embezzlement."
My world spun. I turned and looked at Viktor, I was desperately hoping he would say something but his face looked like it was carved from stone.
"Viktor?" I cried out as the officers reached for my hands.
***
Viktor's POV
The flashing red and blue lights outside the building's glass doors blurred into streaks as the cops dragged Layla away in handcuffs. My chest ached at the sight of it, but my body did nothing. I didn't move. I didn't say a word. I just froze.
Layla turned her head one last time before she was shoved towards the back of the cruiser. Her eyes locked with mine. It was filled with tears. Her eyes searched for something I couldn't give.
The slamming of the car door jolted me back. I realised I just watched Layla hauled off like a criminal. I clenched my fists until the veins in my arms bulged, but instead of running after her, I ran back like a storm into the board room.
I met them all sitting comfortably, the bastards who overruled my authority.
Their smug faces stared back at me as I pushed the door open.
"Who called the cops on my wife?" I asked with a thunderous voice.
There was great silence.
I almost barked again when one of them cleared his throat, Harold Levinson, he leaned forward, his countenance was stiff.
"We did," Harold said with a flat tone. "As the members of this board, it is our duty to ensure that the rules of this firm are upheld. Theft of that magnitude must be taken to the law irrespective of who is involved."
I slammed my palms on the table and sent it rattling. "Irrespective of who? That is my wife. No one has the right to make such move without my approval "
A female board member, Ruth adjusted her glasses and cut in. "Mr Douglas, it's fraud we speak of. If we cover this up, we put this company and its reputation in jeopardy. Investors will walk and clients will bail. This scandal is capable of crumbling this firm."
I listened to her while my anger boiled up a little more.
"You all are sitting here because I gave you crumbs of the shares of this firm for the sake of partnership. Don't you dare mistake that for power!"
"You're only being sentimental." Harold shot back.
"Whoever made the call of arresting my wife is hereby dismissed from this board."