Chapter 293
Chapter 293:
“Crawford,” Cole hissed, the word tearing through his teeth. “Mind your own damn business p>
Crawford did not blink. He placed both hands flat on the mahogany table.
“It is my business now,” Crawford stated, his voice dropping to absolute zero.
He glanced at his own executives, then returned his gaze to Cole.
𝘋i𝘀c𝗈𝘷𝗲𝘳 𝘩id𝖽e𝗇 g𝖾𝗆𝘴 𝘰𝗻
“If you cannot control the garbage you bring into public spaces, it forces me to reevaluate our entire partnership.” He delivered the final blow without raising his voice. “I do not sign billion-dollar media mergers with men who let their side pieces run their lives p>
A collective gasp emptied the air from the room.
It was a direct, nuclear threat. Crawford was prepared to detonate a multi-billion-dollar deal simply to punish Cole for what had happened to June that morning.
A senior Compton vice president opened his mouth to mediate. Crawford turned a single look on him — so freezing, so absolute — that the man snapped his mouth shut without uttering a sound.
Cole could not contain it any longer.
He shoved his chair back violently. The heavy wood shrieked against the floor. He rose to his full height, planted both massive hands on the table, and leaned forward, chest heaving, bloodshot eyes locked onto Crawford.
“Say that again,” Cole roared. The sound vibrated the crystal glasses along the length of the table.
Crawford stood slowly. He matched Cole’s height exactly. He did not lean in. He stood perfectly straight, radiating absolute, terrifying calm.
“Control your woman,” Crawford repeated, his voice a lethal whisper. “Or I will make sure you lose this deal — and the next ten after it p>
Crawford did not wait for Cole to respond. He turned his back on the furious billionaire and walked straight toward the heavy double doors of the meeting room.
His executives rose instantly, abandoning their expensive meals, and followed him out in absolute, disciplined silence.
The doors clicked shut.
Cole stood at the table, his chest heaving in rapid, violent jerks. The humiliation and rage were burning a hole through his lungs. He shoved past his terrified vice president and stormed out of the room.
He caught up to Crawford in the quiet, heavily carpeted hallway leading to the private elevators.
Cole lunged forward and grabbed Crawford’s shoulder, spinning him around.
Crawford’s security detail moved instantly, hands disappearing inside their jackets. Crawford raised one hand. The guards stopped and stepped back without a word, leaving the two billionaires alone in the center of the hallway.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Cole snarled, his voice a harsh, grating rasp. He stepped into Crawford’s personal space. “You are willing to detonate a twenty-billion-dollar joint venture over an insignificant woman? Have you lost your damn mind p>
He used the word insignificant like a shield, desperately trying to convince himself that June did not matter.
The word reached Crawford’s ears. The elegant, bored mask dropped from his face entirely, replaced by a look of pure, predatory danger.