Chapter 5

One of her men returned from the kitchen carrying a plate of raw filet. Blood pooled on the white porcelain. Chloe gagged and retched.

"Julian. Please. I'd rather die than—"

Chloe's scream finally cracked Julian's composure. He snapped his fingers at his own guards and ordered them to pull her out.

Julian's men went for Nadia's men. Nadia's men were ex-Secret Service. It took about fifteen seconds to end.

Chloe was white. Sweat poured down her temples.

Julian squared up, voice vicious. "Nadia. I gave you an inch. Don't make me wipe you off Wall Street by sunrise."

"Don't throw yourself on the sword for Eve. She isn't worth it."

Nadia didn't even acknowledge him. She looked at me.

"Your call, Ms. Ashford."

I smiled at Julian.

"I'm sorry. Were you the only one allowed to humiliate me tonight?"

"Also. Get your lawyers on the phone. I want divorce papers. Now. I need them fast."

Julian's voice cracked like a whip. "You don't file. I file. Since when do you call the shots?"

"Sign them and you'll understand."

"Your father, by the way, is probably on his way here to beat you himself."

"Shut up. You. My father's going to come here and beat me? Over you? Who do you think you are?"

"I'm finally seeing who you really are, Julian. I don't know what you've got on Nadia Pemberton, but whatever favor she owes you, it ends somewhere. One night. She can't carry you forever."

His lawyer arrived by the time he was done talking.

I signed first. Slid the papers across the table.

Julian grabbed a pen and signed without reading. A flourish. Performative.

"Well," I said. "Since we're divorced, I don't need to keep the Harringtons in the black anymore, do I?"

"In about thirty minutes, after I make a few calls, your stock is going to start bleeding. It won't stop until you're delisted."