Chapter 384
“`
– For each row, replace every instance of “Chapter 384” with “Chapter N” (where N is that row’s chapter number). Do not alter any other text, HTML attributes, or formatting.
Chapter 384:
“As for your financial modeling,” he continued, his eyes filled with absolute contempt, “I understand the Stein family trust made some catastrophically poor bets in the emerging markets recently. My analysts tell me you are frantically liquidating core assets just to maintain basic cash flow. If you actually understood finance, you would be packing your bags — not begging for my attention p>
Victoria shrank back into the sofa. Her lips trembled. The brutal, surgical destruction of her confidence left her completely paralyzed.
“Do not ever disrespect my wife in my presence again,” Gaston commanded, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “You are not fit to breathe the same air as her p>
He reached over and slammed his hand down on the intercom button.
“Security,” Gaston said. “There is a piece of trash in the CEO’s office. Come remove it p>
Tears of burning humiliation spilled down Victoria’s cheeks. Before she could even stand, two massive hotel security guards burst through the door, grabbed her by the arms, and hauled her out.
Jocelyn burst into laughter the moment the doors swung shut.
ѕa𝘃𝗲 у𝗈𝘶𝗋 f𝖺vо𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘦 ո𝘰𝘃e𝗅𝗌 𝘰ո.сo𝗆
Gaston walked over, grabbed her chin, and kissed her hard. “I told you I would handle the trash p>
Down in the lobby.
The security guards shoved Victoria through the revolving doors. She stumbled onto the Manhattan sidewalk, nearly twisting her ankle. Pedestrians stopped and stared at the crying woman in the velvet dress.
Victoria stood on the concrete, shaking with a rage so violent it blurred her vision. She clutched her purse to her chest, the heavy weight of the stolen necklace pressing like a cold, satisfying knot against her ribs. If she couldn’t have Gaston, she was going to destroy Jocelyn’s reputation.
Victoria pulled out her phone.
The cold Manhattan wind whipped across the pavement, biting into Victoria Stein’s bare legs.
She stood outside the heavy revolving doors of the Wolfe Boutique Hotel, shaking with a rage so violent it blurred her vision. Her chest heaved with erratic breaths as she frantically smoothed down the wrinkled fabric of her vintage burgundy velvet dress.
Pedestrians walking down the busy avenue turned their heads to stare at the disheveled, crying woman.
The humiliation burned her skin like acid. She had just been dragged out of a building like a common criminal — all because of that worthless hotel manager. The memory of Gaston Collins looking at her with utter disdain, calling her perfume cheap and her financial acumen a joke, was a fresh, bleeding wound.
She tilted her head back and glared up at the towering glass structure, her mind racing. Her original plan to seduce Gaston was in ashes. He had not only rejected her — he had humiliated her in front of Jocelyn. A toxic jealousy gnawed at the lining of her stomach. She knew she could never have him now. But she could hurt the woman he had chosen. She could plant a thorn of doubt and chaos in their perfect little world.
Victoria’s jaw locked. She was not going to let Jocelyn win this easily.
She reached into her purse, pulled out a pair of oversized black sunglasses, and shoved them onto her face, hiding her red, tear-filled eyes.