Wade woke before dawn and went through his morning routine like a man preparing for war. Coffee, shower, workout in his home gym.
Then a careful review of the surveillance footage from the night before. Jessica had returned home at 2.47 a.m., moving through the house like a ghost, checking her phone constantly, even going so far as to smell Wade’s pillow to see if he’d been there. When she finally woke at 9.30, Wade was already gone, ostensibly to work, but actually to begin phase one of his plan.
His first stop was the office of Maria Gamble, a private investigator who specialized in financial crimes. Maria had helped Wade investigate a potential partner years ago and had uncovered embezzlement that saved him from a disastrous merger. She was thorough, discreet, and had no qualms about operating in legal gray areas.
I need complete financial profiles on these too, Wade said, sliding photos of Jessica and Patrick across her desk. Every account. Every transaction.
Every asset. Legal and illegal. Maria studied the photos.
Your wife? My soon-to-be ex-wife. This isn’t going to be cheap, Wade. Deep financial investigations take time and resources.
Wade placed a briefcase on her desk and opened it. $50,000 in cash. How much time do you need? 72 hours.
You have 48. Next, Wade visited his accountant, Hal Stevens, who managed the books for all three of his auto shops. Hal was meticulous to the point of obsession, which made him perfect for what Wade needed.
Hal, I need you to restructure everything. Transfer ownership of the shops to a new corporation, move all liquid assets to accounts Jessica can’t access, and create a paper trail that shows the businesses are struggling financially. Hal’s face went pale.
Wade, if you’re going through a divorce, this could be considered asset hiding. The courts won’t be involved. Wade’s tone was flat.
I’m not getting divorced, Hal. I’m getting justice. The difference in his voice made Hal stop asking questions.
By afternoon, Wade had visited each of his shops, ostensibly for routine inspections, but actually to plant seeds of a much larger plan. He spoke privately with key employees, asking carefully crafted questions about loyalty, about what they would do if the business faced serious threats, about whether they could keep sensitive information confidential. Wade had learned long ago that loyalty couldn’t be bought, but it could be cultivated.
Every person he spoke with remembered specific kindnesses. The Christmas bonuses when their kids needed surgery. The promotions when other shops wouldn’t hire them.
The second chances when their own mistakes could have cost them everything. By evening, Wade had assembled a network of allies who would do almost anything to protect the man who had protected them. The final stop of the day was the most important.
A meeting with James Hernandez, a man whose official title was business consultant, but whose actual function was solving problems that couldn’t be solved through conventional means. They met at a private club downtown, the kind of place where conversations weren’t recorded and memberships couldn’t be bought with money alone. I have a situation, Wade began, that requires a delicate touch.
James listened without interruption as Wade outlined the betrayal, the theft, and the complete violation of everything he’d built. When Wade finished, James was quiet for a long moment. What’s your endgame, Wade? Complete destruction.
I want them to lose everything they’ve stolen from me and everything they think they own. I want them to understand what it feels like to have their entire life revealed as a lie. And if they fight back, Wade’s smile was cold.
They’re welcome to try. James nodded slowly. This isn’t just about money, is it? No.
It’s about respect. About consequences. About teaching two people that there are men in this world who can’t be stolen from, only awakened.
I can have resources in place within a week. You have three days. Wade drove home to find Jessica cooking dinner, humming softly to herself, playing the role of devoted wife with an expertise that would’ve been admirable if it weren’t so completely false.
She kissed him when he walked in, and Wade had to suppress the urge to grab her throat and demand the truth. Instead, he played his own role, the trusting husband, the successful businessman, the man too comfortable in his life to notice it being systematically dismantled around him. How was work? Jessica asked, her voice bright with false concern.
Interesting, Wade replied. I’ve been thinking about expanding. Maybe opening a fourth shop.
Jessica’s fork paused halfway to her mouth. That sounds expensive. I’ve been looking at a place across town.
Perfect location, but it would require a significant investment. Wade watched her face carefully. Might need to liquidate some assets to make it work.
The flash of panic in Jessica’s eyes was so brief that someone who didn’t know what to look for might’ve missed it. But Wade saw it, cataloged it, and filed it away for future use. Maybe we should discuss any major financial decisions together.
Jessica said carefully. Of course. After all, we’re partners in everything.
That night, as Jessica slept beside him, Wade lay awake planning the systematic destruction of two people who had made the mistake of thinking Wade Woo was just another mark to be conned and discarded. They were about to learn that some men weren’t victims. They were predators…
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