Chapter 3

Dozens of eyes watched me. I locked mine on Julian's.

"Fine. If this is what you chose, then when the Harrington Group collapses, you remember it was your call."

The room exploded in laughter. Chloe was the loudest.

"Oh my god, she's lost it. She's reading too many romance novels. Thinks she's the secret billionaire in disguise."

"She's genuinely gone insane. Let it out, sweetie. Let it all out."

Julian looked at me with pure contempt and grabbed a plate off the nearest table. He threw it. It hit my hip and shattered down my leg.

"Spare us. You're going to bankrupt the Harringtons? You? Worry about the next ten minutes, Eve."

"Manager."

The manager came forward with two security guards. To his credit, his voice stayed professional.

"Ms. Mercer. Cash, or does another guest need to cover you?"

I looked across the room. Near the window I saw Claire Donovan, one of my longtime business contacts. I'd met her years ago negotiating on the Harringtons' behalf.

I walked toward her. The second she registered that I was coming, she stood up and backed away.

"Eve, please. I can't cover you, I can't afford to get involved—"

"I'm not asking for money. I just need your phone. One call."

"Please. I need to call a friend. She can bring cash over."

Someone cackled from another table. "A friend? In this city? Who in New York is going to cross Julian Harrington to bail her out?"

Chloe smirked. "Let her have her fun. We'll give her half an hour. After that, if her little friend hasn't shown up, the gentlemen at the back table can take her dress off themselves. Julian's leftovers should be worth something, right, boys?"

She turned toward the older men at the far end. Every single one of them was already looking at me like dessert.