CEO's Revenge- She Begged After the Divorce

Chapter 6: New Beginnings

Sophia Castellano was already seated when Alex arrived at Bluestone Lane, reviewing case files with focused intensity. She looked up as he approached, her dark eyes sharp and assessing.

"Mr. Chen." She stood, extending her hand. Her grip was firm, confident. "Thank you for meeting with me."

"Please, call me Alex." He sat across from her. "And thank you for making time. I know you're busy with the Blackstone case."

"Your request was intriguing. It's not every day a billionaire offers to be a witness against his competitor." Sophia closed her file. "Though I've done my research you were married to Richard Blackstone's current girlfriend."

"Briefly." Alex signaled for coffee. "I have evidence that might help your case. During my marriage, Emma showed me text messages from Blackstone—financial projections, stock tips, investment opportunities that made no mathematical sense."

He showed Sophia the screenshots he'd saved. Her expression sharpened as she studied them.

"These reference specific transactions. If we can prove Blackstone acted on insider information..." She looked up. "Will you testify in court?"

"Absolutely. Not for revenge—though I won't pretend that's not part of it. But Richard Blackstone is a criminal who's hurt hundreds of investors. If I can help put him away, I will."

Sophia studied him carefully, then nodded. "I'll have my office contact you for a formal deposition." She paused. "Was that the only reason you wanted to meet?"

Alex smiled. "Actually, there's a charity gala tonight at the Plaza. I was wondering if you'd like to attend as my guest."

"That's quite a leap from legal testimony to asking me on a date."

"Is it? You're intelligent, accomplished, passionate about your work. Those are qualities I admire." Alex met her eyes. "Plus, you're beautiful, but I suspect you're tired of men leading with that."

"I am," Sophia admitted. "Though I appreciate you acknowledging it last." She considered. "Why me, specifically?"

"Because you're the first woman I've met since my divorce who seems to have her own life, her own goals beyond being someone's girlfriend." Alex's voice was sincere. "My ex-wife had no ambition except to spend money. You're the opposite. It's refreshing."

Sophia laughed. "You know what? Why not. I haven't been to a proper gala in years." She wrote her address on a business card. "But I'm warning you—I'm terrible at small talk with socialites."

"Perfect. I hate small talk too." Alex pocketed the card. "This might actually be fun."

That evening, Alex stood in his penthouse adjusting his bow tie, feeling genuine anticipation for the first time in weeks. His phone buzzed with a text from Jennifer: *"City council voted. Hudson Yards is ours. Also—Richard Blackstone was arrested this morning. Emma Winters was brought in for questioning."*

Alex absorbed this with grim satisfaction. Everything was falling into place.

The Bentley picked up Sophia at seven. She emerged in a midnight blue gown, elegant and confident. "You clean up well yourself," she said as Alex opened her door.

"Prepare yourself for extraordinary wealth used in extraordinarily boring ways," he warned.

The Plaza was lit up like a jewel box, photographers lining the red carpet. Alex guided Sophia through the chaos with practiced ease, her hand tightening slightly on his arm as cameras flashed.

Inside, the ballroom was exactly as he remembered—crystal chandeliers, women in gowns that cost more than cars, servers circulating with champagne and art-as-food.

"This is obscene," Sophia breathed.

"Tonight's event costs about two million. They'll raise maybe five million for charity and congratulate themselves on being so philanthropic." Alex spotted his father across the room. "Come on, I'll introduce you to people who might actually be interesting."

For an hour, Alex navigated the social landscape while Sophia impressed everyone she met, discussing policy with councilmembers and casually mentioning her prosecution work in ways that made powerful men uncomfortable.

"You're good at this," Alex observed.

"I cross-examine criminals for a living. Small talk with rich people is easier."

A commotion near the entrance drew everyone's attention. Security was arguing with someone—a woman in a disheveled evening gown, makeup smudged as if she'd been crying.

Emma.

"That's her, isn't it?" Sophia said quietly. "Your ex-wife."

"Yes." Alex watched Emma plead with security, frantic and desperate.

A security guard approached. "Mr. Chen, we have someone claiming to be your wife trying to gain entry. She's not on the guest list and has become... agitated."

Alex looked at Sophia, who raised an eyebrow. "Your call. Though you don't owe her anything."

She was right. But something in Emma's broken posture made him pause.

"Give me a moment," he said.

He crossed the ballroom, aware of hundreds of eyes watching. Emma looked up as he approached, hope flooding her face.

"Alex, thank God. I need to talk to you. Please, just five minutes—"

"Emma." His voice was cold. "You need to leave."

"I know I hurt you. I know I don't deserve anything. But please—" Tears streamed down her face. "The police questioned me about Richard. My family won't talk to me. I have nowhere to go, no money. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Alex studied her, seeing clearly for the first time. "You're not sorry for hurting me. You're sorry for losing access to my wealth."

"That's not true! If I had known who you were—"

"If you'd known I was rich, you would have been nicer? That's exactly the problem, Emma. You never loved me. You loved what you thought I could give you."

Emma's face crumpled. "I made a mistake. Don't you believe in second chances?"

"I do," Alex said carefully. "But not with you. You need to rebuild your life. Get a job, make better choices, learn to value people for who they are. But you'll do all of that without me."

"So you're just going to let me suffer?"

"You created this situation. These are consequences. Learn from them." He turned away, then paused. "You have thirty days to vacate the apartment. Use that time to figure out your next move. Goodbye, Emma."

He walked back to Sophia, who watched with an unreadable expression. The ballroom buzzed with whispers.

"Are you okay?" Sophia asked.

"I am, actually." Alex guided her toward the balcony. "For the first time in weeks."

"That was hard to watch. You were kind, all things considered."

"Or cold."

"No. Coldness would have been enjoying her suffering. You looked sad, not satisfied. There's a difference."

On the balcony overlooking Central Park, Sophia shared her own story. "My ex-husband cheated on me three years ago. I wanted revenge, fantasized about destroying his career. But revenge doesn't heal anything—it just keeps you attached to the person who hurt you." She met his eyes. "At some point, you have to decide if you want to keep looking backward or start looking forward."

"Are you saying I should forgive Emma?"

"God, no. She's toxic." Sophia smiled. "I'm saying maybe it's time to stop defining yourself by what she did and start defining yourself by what you want to build next."

Alex absorbed her words, feeling their truth. "You're wise for someone so young."

"I'm twenty-nine, not nineteen. My therapist gets most of the credit." She turned to face him fully. "So, Alexander Chen, now that you've faced your ex-wife and won your business victory... what's next?"

"Honestly? I don't know. Build Chen Industries, I suppose."

"That sounds boring."

"It is boring." Alex smiled. "What would you suggest?"

"Figure out what you actually care about beyond proving people wrong. Use that wealth for something meaningful. Date someone who challenges you." Sophia's eyes sparkled. "And maybe take a prosecutor to dinner sometime, just to keep you honest."

"Is that a hint?"

"That's an explicit statement. I don't do hints." Her smile was genuine. "I like you, Alex. You're damaged and complicated, but underneath all that, I think you might actually be a good person. Those are rare in my line of work."

"Damaged and complicated. Quite an endorsement."

"I specialize in fixing broken things." Sophia touched his arm lightly. "Take it as a compliment."

Inside, Alex could see his father watching them with approval. Emma was gone, escorted back to her crumbling life. Everything he'd wanted two weeks ago, he now had.

So why did it feel like he was just beginning to understand what he actually needed?

"Dance with me," he said, offering his hand.

"I'm a terrible dancer."

"So am I. We'll be terrible together."

They returned to the ballroom, moving across the floor in an admittedly awkward waltz. Alex felt something shift inside him. This wasn't the ending of his revenge story—this was the beginning of something else entirely.

Emma was his past. Sophia might be his future. And for the first time since his divorce, Alex Chen was looking forward instead of back.

It felt like freedom.