waiting for the defendant to make one more mistake.
Derek made it.
“Fine,” he snapped.
“I used your name because the bank needed another guarantor.
You would have agreed if I had explained it properly.”
Arthur slowly closed the folder.
“Thank you, Mr.
Channing.”
Derek froze.
The phone on the table was still recording.
Arthur tapped the screen.
“The board heard that statement.”
A small voice came from the speaker.
“Mr.
Hale, we have enough.”
Derek stepped toward the phone.
“Who is that?”
Arthur turned up the volume.
“This is Eleanor Price, chair of the audit committee,” the voice said.
“Derek, you are suspended from all executive duties effective immediately.
Your access to company systems and accounts has been revoked pending investigation.”
Derek’s face went blank.
“Eleanor, listen to me.
This is being manipulated.
Cassano arranged this.”
“Mr.
Cassano did not forge Ms.
Bennett’s signature,” Eleanor replied.
“Nor did he force you to admit using it.”
“The company is mine.”
“The company has shareholders, directors, and laws governing its conduct.
You are not the company.”
The call disconnected.
Derek stared at the dark screen.
For years, he had spoken as though every room belonged to him.
Now he stood in the center of one that had rejected him completely.
Tiffany removed her engagement ring.
He saw the movement and turned toward her.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
She placed the ring beside the spilled coffee.
“You told me Chloe tried to use you for money,” she said.
“You built our entire relationship on a lie.”
“We can discuss this privately.”
“That is what you said to her while humiliating her in public.”
Tiffany picked up her purse and walked to the door.
One of Dante’s men opened it for her without being asked.
She paused beside me.
Her eyes were wet, but her voice was steady.
“I’m sorry I laughed.”
I believed she meant it.
“Don’t laugh the next time someone is being cornered,” I said.
She nodded and left.
Derek watched her go, then turned his anger back toward me.
“You planned this.”
“I came here for croissants.”
“You contacted the board.”
“I didn’t even know my name was on that document.”
“Then he planned it.” Derek pointed at Dante.
“Men like him don’t appear by accident.”
That question had been circling in my mind since Dante entered.
I looked up at him.
“Why are you here?”
Dante’s expression changed.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared beneath the control.
He reached inside his jacket and removed a small cream-colored card.
It was worn along the edges.
My handwriting covered one side.
Dante—thank you for making one terrible night feel less lonely.
I am not ready for anything more.
Please don’t look for me.
I had left it on his penthouse pillow before sunrise.
On the back, I had written only my first name.
“You kept it,” I said.
“I did what you asked,” he replied.
“I did not look for you.”
“Until today?”
“Until three weeks ago.”
He glanced at my stomach.
“A physician who works with my family saw you leaving a prenatal clinic.
She did not share your medical information.
She only mentioned that she had seen the woman whose description I had given my security staff after our night together.”
I stiffened.
“You gave them my description?”
“To
