Chapter 275
Chapter 275:
“Skye needs to learn to handle high-pressure negotiations. Consider this… field training p>
He pressed the intercom. “Grace, send Sterling up. Tell her there’s a business opportunity she can’t refuse p>
Ten minutes later, Skye walked in. She was wearing her practice clothes—leggings and an oversized hoodie. Her hair was in a messy bun.
When she saw Liam, she stopped dead. Her eyes went cold.
She turned on her heel to leave.
Liam moved fast, blocking the door. “It’s for the company, Skye. Julian already agreed p>
Skye whirled around to glare at Julian. “You sold me p>
Julian shrugged, looking unbothered. “He just handed over a personal fortune in art and real estate, Skye. That capital infusion allows us to expand our European distribution immediately. You want to be a star? Stars make sacrifices for the studio. It’s just one day p>
I looked between them. The two men who viewed me as currency. One wanted to own me; the other wanted to use me.
“Fine,” I spat. “But if he touches me, the deal is off p>
Liam flinched, but he opened the door. “I just want to talk. And… celebrate p>
He led me down to the car. He tried to open the door for me, but I pulled it open myself. I slid into the back seat. He got in beside me. The space between us felt like a minefield.
“Where are we going?” I asked, staring out the window.
“Universal Studios,” Liam said.
I turned to look at him. “Are you joking? It’s a Saturday. It will be packed p>
“Not where we’re going,” Liam said, adjusting his cuffs nervously. “I bought out the VIP sector for the evening. And I arranged for a private session on the coaster. No lines. No crowds. Just us p>
I stared at him. “You’re in the middle of a bankruptcy restructuring, Liam, and you’re burning cash on a VIP buyout p>
“I made it work,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. He didn’t tell me he’d sold his mother’s sapphires. He didn’t tell me he was now financially hollowed out.
We arrived an hour later. The park was bustling with the usual crowds, but security whisked us through a back entrance. We were led to a cordoned-off area, a bubble of silence amid the chaos. The screams of joy from the public were distant background noise.
I stepped out of the car. The exclusivity felt suffocating.
𝖱𝗲𝖼o𝗺𝘮еn𝗱 𝖻𝖾𝗹𝘯𝘰𝗏e𝗹ѕ.c𝘰𝗺 𝘁o у𝗈𝘂𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪eո𝖽𝗌
“You think isolation is romantic?” I asked, letting out a bitter laugh. “You emptied the world so you wouldn’t have to share me? Or so no one would see you with me p>
Liam looked hurt. “I thought you hated crowds. You always complained about the press pushing you p>
“I hated the press attacking me,” I shot back, my voice rising. “I didn’t hate people. I didn’t hate life. God, Liam, you don’t know me at all, do you p>
Liam stood there, looking at the expensive, empty VIP lounge. He looked small against the backdrop of the giant roller coaster.
A mascot—a minion—waved awkwardly from behind a velvet rope. It was the saddest thing I had ever seen.
“Happy Birthday, Skye,” Liam said softly, pointing to the biggest roller coaster in the park. “You used to talk about wanting to fly p>
I stopped. I had actually forgotten it was my birthday. In the chaos of revenge and training, the date had slipped my mind. A flicker of emotion crossed my face—surprise, maybe a touch of nostalgia for the girl who used to love birthdays.
Liam saw it. He took a step forward, hope lighting up his eyes. “Let’s ride. Just one ride p>
I looked at the coaster. It was a vertical drop. Then I looked at Liam. His face was pale. He was sweating.
I remembered something. Liam had severe acrophobia. He couldn’t even stand near the edge of a balcony without getting dizzy.