Chapter 4

The client, Sean, scheduled the meeting for that evening at a private VIP lounge.

After shooting a few quick texts to my father's assistant, I tucked pepper spray into my purse and headed to the venue.

I never anticipated how brazen he would be. The second I stepped inside, he locked the private room from the inside.

"Well, well, pretty lady. I didn't think Julian would be so heartless as to send you here all by yourself to negotiate."

He reached out and squeezed my waist. "Since your boss doesn't know how to appreciate you, maybe I should take care of you instead..."

I shoved him back hard. "Mr. Sean, I came here in good faith to discuss business. Please respect yourself!"

The greasy man grinned, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. "If we're talking business, sweetie, you need to show a little good faith first."

He pushed a glass of hard liquor toward me.

I twisted open a bottle of mineral water from the table. "I'll toast you with water instead. I'm sure after reviewing the proposal, you'll see our terms are the most competitive—"

Suddenly, a wave of violent dizziness hit me.

I looked down at the water bottle in my hand, panic surging.

The seal had been tampered with. It had been repackaged.

The man chuckled darkly and slowly stepped toward me.

My eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I could barely stay on my feet.

Desperate, I grabbed a steak knife off the table and slashed it deep across my own palm.

The sharp, blinding sting cleared my head just enough.

I pointed the blade at him. "I'm Julian Vance's girlfriend! If you lay a finger on me, he will destroy you!"

He spat on the floor beside my feet, his expression dripping with contempt.

"Oh? You really think I'd believe Julian would send his own girlfriend to deal with me?"

He snatched the knife from my weakened grip, his nicotine-stained fingers clamping hard around my jaw.

"I hear you've slaved away for him for five years and only made it to junior specialist."

"Be my girl. It pays a hell of a lot better than working for Julian."

His foul breath washed over my face. He fished the pepper spray from my pocket and tossed it aside like trash.

I dug my nails into my bleeding palm with everything I had, but darkness pulled my eyelids shut anyway.

Right before I blacked out, Julian's face flashed across my mind.

All that remained was the pathetic realization that I was just a lamb led to slaughter.

Meanwhile...

Across town, Julian received urgent word that the company's primary angel investor had abruptly pulled all funding. He scrambled to implement emergency measures.

Panic rippled through the office, and Julian couldn't find his footing either.

Stepping out of his executive suite, he noticed Chloe's empty desk.

Massaging his temples, he barked at a nearby employee, "Where did Chloe go?"

"I heard she went to the Four Seasons Lounge to close the deal with Sean."

Sean had a putrid reputation in the industry, infamous for sexually harassing female staffers and clients.

Julian's nerves tightened instantly, making him forget all about the funding collapse.

"Who authorized her to meet with that scumbag?!"

Nana looped her arm around his, her voice dripping with aggrieved innocence.

"Julian, she went on her own. Why do we even care about her..."

Julian yanked his arm back in irritation. His mind was in shambles; all he cared about right now was confirming Chloe was safe.

Just then, his phone rang with an incoming call from the lead investment firm's chairman.

Julian answered, and within seconds, every drop of color drained from his face.

Grabbing his car keys, he slammed the gas pedal to the floor and sped toward the lounge...