Chapter 6

Chad’s face drained of every ounce of color.

"You son of a—"

"Chad." Gia suddenly glided over, linking her arm through his, wearing a practiced social grin. "What are you boys talking about? And who is..."

She looked at me, her eyes freezing over.

"This is Miss Rivers," Chad ground out through clenched teeth. "An old... acquaintance."

"Acquaintance?" Gia tilted her head slightly. "Miss Rivers, have you considered what we talked about yesterday?"

"Which part?"

"The million dollars," Gia said smoothly. "Like I said, money isn't an issue. All you need to do is sign, and we stay out of each other's hair."

Her voice was just loud enough for the neighboring tables to overhear.

I felt dozens of curious stares shifting in our direction.

Ethan stepped forward half a pace, casually shielding me.

"Miss Sterling," Ethan spoke up coolly. "A million dollars for thirty percent equity? Isn't that an insultingly lowball offer?"

The polite smile on Gia’s face stiffened.

"Mr. Vance, this is strictly between Miss Rivers and me."

"Chloe is my girlfriend," Ethan replied without missing a beat. "Her business is my business."

Gia’s gaze flickered with irritation.

"Mr. Vance, are you really willing to cross the Sterling family over a woman?"

"I’m merely helping the Sterling family rectify a catastrophic mistake," Ethan gave a mild smirk. "The man standing beside you has embezzled eight million dollars from his firm over the past three years. Four hundred thousand of which ended up in a trust under your name."

Gia’s grip on Chad’s arm tightened violently.

"What did you just say?"

"You didn't know?" Ethan looked at her with faux surprise. "Chad didn't tell you? He transferred three million into a private portfolio with you as the beneficiary. But the seed capital for that fund was routed straight through his cousin's shell company. In legal terms: money laundering."

Gia’s composure shattered completely.

She whipped around, glaring murderously at Chad.

"You told me that money was legitimate corporate profit."

"Gia, baby, let me explain—"

"Chad!" Gia’s voice spiked shrilly, cutting through the murmurs in the hall as heads turned from every direction. "You swore to my father that your balance sheets were clean and debt-free! Now you're telling me you embezzled corporate funds and laundered them through shell corporations?!"

"Gia, keep your voice down, not here—"

"WHERE ELSE SHOULD I SAY IT?!"

Gia shoved his arm away in disgust. "We were supposed to get married, and you swore your hands were clean! Turns out you're a criminal waiting for an indictment?!"