Open At Your Own Risk Chapter 05
I turned to Sean. “What exactly do you want?”
He gritted his teeth. “End it with him. And I’ll end it with Zoe. We’re even.”
Zoe’s face went bloodless.
I laughed. Just once. “Sean. You’ve misunderstood something. I’m not negotiating with you. I’m just done playing this game.”
He froze.
“Let’s break up.”
“Break up?” He said it like the words were foreign. He jabbed a finger at Leo. “You’re breaking up with me for him?”
I was losing patience. “Not for him. Just — you’re exhausting. Let’s part ways and both move on.”
Leo’s face brightened and then instantly wilted. “Babe, I’m not the reason?”
“Fine, you’re a factor.”
He beamed.
Sean’s face turned to stone. “Jenna, don’t be rash. Seven years and you’re throwing it away just like that?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Nobody in the room dared breathe.
Zoe stepped forward, eyes swimming. “Jenna, please don’t. It’s my fault. I’ll leave Sean. Don’t break up because of me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not breaking up with him because of you.”
Her face stiffened.
“But I am firing you. That one’s on you.”
“What—”
I opened my laptop and pulled up her intern agreement.
“Zoe Lindt. During your probationary period, you accessed restricted client files and secured access to restricted areas without authorization from the company. You’ve breached Section Four of the NDA you signed at onboarding. Your internship is terminated, effective immediately.”
Zoe panicked. “Sean—”
Sean cut in. “Jenna, don’t take this out on someone innocent.”
“You’re next.”
He blinked. “What do you mean I’m next?”
I pulled up another document, unhurried.
Marketing & Business Development Consulting Agreement.
Party A: Wynn & Star Fine Jewelry, LLC.
Party B: Sean Archer.
Signed the second month after I registered the LLC. Seven years ago.
I’d let him use the title “Co-Founder” externally, back when I still cared about his ego. But the LLC, the capital contributions, and control of every piece of IP were mine alone. Clean and clear.
Sean wasn’t the boss. He was a consultant I’d hired.
I’d never brought it up because I thought seven years meant we didn’t need to draw hard lines.
Turns out you always need to draw hard lines. Otherwise, a man will start mistaking your success for his own.
I looked up at him.
“Seven years as a consultant and you actually convinced yourself you owned this company?”
His face went white.
“Your consulting agreement is terminated as of today. Turn in your key fob by end of day. Your Slack, HubSpot, and company email access will be revoked immediately. Collect your final settlement per the contract. Then get out.”
Sean’s voice cracked. “Jenna, are you insane? Without me, this studio would never be where it is—”
I smiled. “Go start another one, then. Let’s see how it goes.”
Diane was already moving. “Jen, I’ll notify the clients this afternoon.”
Riley raised her hand. “All design files and IP registrations are in Jen’s name only. Handover’s clean.”
Chloe piped up. “I’ll call building management right now and get his fob deactivated.”
I watched Sean’s face come apart, piece by piece.
He was realizing something. Nobody at this studio was confused about who ran it. They’d been protecting his feelings — for me.
And the second I stopped, he was nothing.
Sean forced a bitter smile. “Fine. Jenna. You said everything you needed to say today. Don’t come crawling back.”
I nodded. “Don’t worry.”
“I’d have to be certifiably insane to ever ask you back.”
Leo laughed out loud.
Sean shot him a look. Leo ducked behind me. “Babe, he’s glaring at me.”
I rubbed my temples. “You. Zip it.”
Leo obediently zipped.
I turned to Chloe. “Please escort them out.”
Chloe straightened. “Of course, Jen.”
Zoe wouldn’t budge. She was crying now. “Jenna, I swear I wasn’t trying to take anything from you. Sean told me you’d be okay with it.”
“Then go ask Sean to open a studio for you. Not my problem.”
Zoe looked at Sean. Sean didn’t even glance at her. He turned and walked out.
At the door, he paused and looked back. His voice was cold and hard.
“Jenna. You’ll regret this.”
I nodded. “Sure. I’ll be waiting.”
The room stayed quiet for a beat. Then Riley collapsed onto the table, wheezing with laughter.
Leo sidled up. “Babe. What about me?”
I dumped a stack of vendor quotes into his arms. “You’re an intern. Sort the supplier list.”
He hugged the folder, betrayed. “The boss’s boyfriend has to work?”
I smiled. “The boss’s boyfriend has to set the example.”