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Chapter 474
Chapter 474:
But Easton was a predator. He had no intention of giving his rival that kind of leverage. He was going to use June’s misreading of the situation to dismantle Cole entirely.
“From a legal and psychological standpoint, June,” Easton began, his tone shifting into something authoritative and precise, “dealing with a malignant narcissist requires a different strategy altogether. Conventional legal pressure will not work on a man who believes he is above the law p>
June turned her head to look at him. “What are you suggesting p>
Easton laid out his proposition with practiced smoothness. “We need a catalyst — something that will force him into a catastrophic error in judgment, something that will compel the Compton Group’s board of directors to intervene p>
He let the suspense build for a fraction of a second.
“I propose we sign a public fauxmance agreement,” Easton said calmly.
June blinked. “A fake relationship? Easton, this isn’t a movie. How is that going to help p>
“Cole’s entire power structure relies on the illusion of control,” Easton explained, his logic flawless and unhurried. “If the Wall Street Journal and Page Six publish photographs of you happily dating a senior partner at a rival law firm, it will shatter his ego completely p>
He tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel. “He will lose his composure. He will launch erratic, emotional attacks. The Compton board will never allow their CEO to ignite a reckless corporate war over an ex-wife who has clearly moved on. The internal pressure will force him to sign the papers simply to protect his own position p>
June studied him. The strategy was aggressive — almost ruthless — but she had to admit it targeted Cole’s greatest weakness with devastating precision: his public image and his fear of the board.
J𝘰𝘪𝗇 о𝘶𝘳 𝖼o𝗺𝗆𝘂ո𝗶𝗍𝘺 о𝘯
“But Easton,” she said, hesitating as her conscience surfaced. “That is incredibly unfair to you. You would be pulling your own reputation into my messy divorce. Cole will target your firm p>
Easton let out a low, dismissive scoff. “Cole Compton does not frighten me p>
He slowed for a red light and turned his head, looking directly into her eyes. His gaze was dark, steady, and completely disarming.
“Besides,” he said, masking his deeper intentions behind the clean lines of a business arrangement, “it benefits me as well. My family is relentlessly pressuring me to settle down. Having a brilliant, beautiful woman on my arm will get my mother off my back. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement p>
June held his gaze. The logic was sound. The exit was right in front of her.
And yet her first instinct was to refuse entirely. The thought of willingly stepping back into the public spectacle surrounding Cole made her skin crawl. She had spent months scrubbing the Compton empire from every corner of her life.
“Absolutely not,” she said, her voice sharpening with sudden revulsion. “The last thing I want is my face plastered next to another powerful man’s on Page Six. That isn’t freedom, Easton — that is just changing cages p>