Chapter 4

I took a seat.

Gia studied me for a moment, then gave a sudden, dry laugh. "You're prettier than I expected."

I said nothing.

"When Chad pursued me, he said his ex was plain, clingy, and petty."

She took a sip from her cup. "I imagined some miserable, haggard woman. I didn't expect Ethan Vance’s girlfriend to look like this."

"Did you ask me here just to rate my appearance?"

"Of course not." Gia set down her cup. "I came to tell you that tomorrow's wedding is off. My father announced a one-month postponement, but I know better—a postponement is a cancellation. The Sterling family won't take the hit, and Chad certainly can’t afford it."

"And?"

"So, I want to make a deal." She pulled a check from her designer bag and slid it across the table. "Here is one million dollars. Take the money, sign the equity release agreement, and cut all ties with Chad permanently."

I looked at the check without touching it.

Gia continued, "I know what you're after. You hate him; you want to publicly humiliate him. But Miss Rivers, one million is more than enough for a fresh start. Why drag yourself through the mud over a piece of trash? Your boyfriend is Ethan Vance now. Half the women in this city are dying to catch his eye. Doesn't bickering over these petty scraps lower your worth?"

"Miss Sterling," I finally spoke. "Do you think I'm doing this out of spite?"

"What else?"

"Three years ago, when I sold my grandmother's home and wired that money to Chad," I said, "I wrote 'Investment Capital,' not 'Gift.' Do you know why?"

Gia raised an eyebrow.

"Because before my grandmother passed away, she told me: 'Chloe, no matter who you help, keep the books clear. If you lend money, get a promissory note. If you invest, make sure your name is on the cap table.'"

"So you..."

"So I never intended to give him $300,000 for free," I said. "He assumed it was a gift because he's an arrogant narcissist."

Gia’s composure finally cracked.

"Miss Sterling, keep your million dollars to clean up Chad’s mess," I said, standing up. "That eight-million-dollar hole in his corporate books should keep him busy for a while. As for my shares, I will handle them strictly through legal channels. I won't settle for a penny less than what is legally mine."

I turned to leave, then paused after two steps.

"By the way, Miss Sterling, a word of advice. Your father managed to stall the wedding for a month, but whether he can stall a federal subpoena in a month’s time... that’s another story."

Gia called out behind me, "Chloe! Aren't you afraid Chad will actually trash your workplace? A desperate man like him will do anything!"

I didn't look back. "If he dares to show up, I'll make sure he rots in a cell. Siphoning eight million in corporate assets—you can ask your father's attorneys how many years in federal prison that carries."

Stepping out of the café, I saw Ethan’s sleek black sedan parked by the curb.

He rolled down the window. "All done?"

"All done." I slipped into the passenger seat. "Gia tried to buy me off with a million to drop the case."

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her to save it to bail out her future husband."

Ethan chuckled, shifting into gear.

My phone buzzed again.

It was one final text from Chad, just four words:

*See you tomorrow, Chloe.*

Tomorrow was the original date of the wedding.

Even though the Sterlings had announced a postponement, everyone on the high-society guest list knew about the drama.

What did Chad mean by "See you tomorrow"?

Ethan glanced at my screen and turned the steering wheel with one hand.

"Tomorrow, the Grand Plaza Hotel," he said calmly. "I had two invitations reserved."

I turned to look at him.

"Didn't you say it was time to settle the score once and for all?" Ethan kept his eyes on the road ahead. "Tomorrow, I’m coming with you."