Chapter 24
Chapter 24:
“Your husband?” Robert sputtered, looking Gaston up and down. He registered the bespoke suit, the posture of absolute authority. “I thought you — well, never mind. Sir, I am Robert Stein.” He extended a hand.
Gaston ignored it. He pulled out a chair for Jocelyn. She sat, keeping her chin high.
Gaston remained standing. He rested a hand on Jocelyn’s shoulder — a possessive, unhurried weight.
“I apologize for our tardiness,” Gaston said. His voice filled the room, commanding every ear. “My wife had an unpleasant encounter with your son, Mr. Vincent p>
Vincent Senior turned grey. “My — my son p>
“Babe,” Gaston said. “He assaulted my wife at a club an hour ago. I had to intervene p>
“Assaulted?” Vincent’s wife gasped.
“He’s currently sleeping it off somewhere, I presume,” Gaston said coldly. “I didn’t stop to check p>
Aspen made a choking sound. “You — you’re the husband? But — you’re not —” She trailed off, utterly lost.
𝘛𝗵𝗼𝘶sа𝗻𝖽ѕ 𝗈𝘧 𝘳𝘦а𝖽𝖾𝗋s o𝗇
Gaston turned his gaze on her. It was like liquid nitrogen.
“Yes. And I understand you’ve been occupying my wife’s property in the Hamptons. You have twenty-four hours to remove your personal effects, or I will have them incinerated p>
Aspen shrank back in her chair.
Robert scrambled to recover. He rose with a shaky smile. “Sir, my apologies for my stepdaughter’s predicament. We had no idea! Welcome to the family p>
“Sit down, Robert,” Gaston said.
Robert sat.
“There will be no merger,” Gaston announced. “Jocelyn’s shares in the Wolfe Group are now under new management. We will be conducting the audit she mentioned. And if I find a single penny missing p>
He let the sentence hang. The threat was more potent for being unfinished.
“You can’t do that!” Elouise shrieked. “The trust p>
“The trust is hers,” Gaston cut her off. “And she now has my full backing. Do you really want to find out what that means, Elouise p>
Elouise looked at him. She took in the cut of his suit, the way the restaurant staff hovered nervously in the doorway. She knew power when she saw it, even if she couldn’t put a name to the face.
She slumped back in her chair, defeated.
Jocelyn looked around the table. Fear in Robert’s eyes. Envy in Aspen’s. Utter confusion and dread in the Vincents p>
For the first time in her life, she wasn’t the one being managed. She was the one holding the leash.
She reached up and covered Gaston’s hand with hers.
“I think we’re done here,” she said. “I’ve lost my appetite p>
“As you wish,” Gaston said.
He helped her up. Together, they turned and walked out, leaving the wreckage of the Schneider-Stein dynasty behind them.
The valet brought the car around — a Rolls-Royce Phantom, black and sleek, looking like a hearse for her enemies.
Gaston opened the door for her.
Jocelyn slid onto the leather seat. The moment the door clicked shut, sealing them from the world, the adrenaline crashed.
She started to shake.
Gaston got in on the other side. “Drive,” he told the chauffeur. “Home p>
The car glided into traffic.
Jocelyn turned to him. “You lied to me p>
“I omitted truths,” Gaston corrected.