Chapter 32
Chapter 32:
He was flanked by Alycia and two board members, moving through the room with the ease of a man who assumed he owned every space he entered.
Then he saw them.
He stopped. His eyes locked onto June, then moved to Easton. The air in the room seemed to contract.
Cole changed course and walked directly to their table.
“Well,” he said, his voice soaked in contempt. “I didn’t know you could still afford drinks here, June. Did you find a new card to run up p>
June did not flinch. She took a measured sip of her water. “Hello, Cole p>
“And Easton,” Cole sneered. “I should have known. The ambulance chaser and the gold digger — a match made in hell p>
Easton rose from his chair. He was not as tall as Cole, but he carried a quiet, dangerous energy that filled the space between them.
“Careful, Cole,” Easton said pleasantly. “Slander in front of witnesses? That’s another zero on the settlement figure p>
“There won’t be a settlement,” Cole said. “She gets nothing p>
Alycia pressed herself against Cole’s arm and regarded June with practiced sympathy. “Oh, June. You look so — tired. Maybe you should go home. This environment is a bit beyond your means now p>
𝗔𝘥𝘥ic𝘁𝘪𝘃𝘦 𝗇o𝘃𝘦𝗅s 𝗈𝘯
June set her glass down on the table. The sound was precise and deliberate.
She stood. She looked Alycia directly in the eye.
“You’re right,” June said. “The air in here has become rather polluted p>
She turned to Easton. “Shall we p>
Easton offered her his arm. “After you p>
Cole moved into her path, blocking her.
“You don’t walk away from me,” Cole said, his voice dropping to a low, controlled growl. “We are not finished p>
“We were finished the moment you left me standing in the mud,” June said quietly.
She stepped to the side to go around him. Cole’s hand shot out toward her arm, but Easton’s intercepted it first, his grip closing around Cole’s wrist before contact was made.
“Don’t,” Easton said, his voice low and absolutely final. “Lay a hand on her again and I will have you charged with assault before your drink reaches the table p>
Cole and Easton held each other’s gaze — a silent declaration of war.
Cole wrenched his arm back. “You’ll regret this, Hahn p>
“I genuinely doubt it,” Easton said.
He guided June away. Cole stood and watched them go, his chest rising and falling with barely contained fury. She was supposed to be falling apart. She was supposed to be broken and desperate.
Why did she look like a queen?
June walked fast, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She needed a moment to breathe. She turned toward the corridor leading to the restrooms — just a few seconds of privacy.
“June p>
Footsteps behind her. Heavy. Closing fast.
Before she could turn, a hand seized her arm and spun her around. Cole shoved her back. Her shoulders struck the wall of the narrow corridor leading to the fire exit. He caged her in, both hands planted against the wall on either side of her head.