The brutal kiss ends before I know what I want to say and, like a coward, I run from the room the second he releases me. The only response I get from Dex is his mocking laughter.
Tears blur my vision as I weave my way to the bank of elevators. I’m grateful I don’t see anyone I need to speak to along the way. It takes all my energy to hold it together on the long ride up to my penthouse. I refuse to give the security guard monitoring the camera feed anything to gossip about.
Only when I’m able to lock the door to my penthouse behind me do I begin to feel safe. Safe from Dex physically, and safe to let the tears I’ve been holding back finally fall.
One week ago, I was going through my final fitting for my Met Gala gown. How in the world could my life fall apart so spectacularly in just one short week?
I want to blame Tristan for all my problems, and while yes, he’d certainly put things into motion, I know I’m guilty of being too naive… too trusting. I should have been monitoring his business dealings much more closely, and I should have been checking in with the lawyer on my own once a month.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda as they say.
Malee’s massage hadn’t helped, but maybe a hot soak in the tub will help me relax enough to get a better night’s sleep.
Stripping my clothes off as I enter my bedroom, I notice my bed has been turned down already. My normal nightly chocolate is waiting on my pillow along with an envelope with Katja Belov scrolled across the front in flowing, handwritten lettering. There is no address or stamp. Had a courier delivered it?
The parchment paper is thick and textured. When I open the envelope, the single sheet of letterhead inside matches the distinctive envelope. The logo for Enterprise Investments is at the top, but it’s the short paragraph in the middle of the page that makes me collapse onto my bed.
Ms. Belov,
We were sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. Unfortunately, Mr. Miller’s untimely death does not modify the terms of his loan with our firm. Per our contract, a payment in the amount of $300,000 is due this coming Friday, leaving an outstanding balance of $3,754,025.74 before interest accrual.
Sincerely,
H. Jones, CEO Enterprise Investments
FML.
It’s worse than I thought.
Chapter Eleven
DEX
The balance of the scales is crucial this time around. I’ve been given a second chance that I didn’t see happening. I had all but given up hope that Katja and I would be in business again, but somehow it seems to be working out… for now.
But I won’t allow history to repeat itself.
Katja is a powerful woman. Her presence demands respect. Her classy elegance is nearly intoxicating. But I refuse to give her control. Her need to have the upper hand, and my allowing it in the past, is how I ended up in a damn motel with nothing but poisonous thoughts to keep me company.
This time will be different.
I’ll make damn sure of it.
My one goal when it comes to her is to burn that stubborn pride of hers to the ground. The ash of yesteryear being all that’s left.
Well… it might not be my only goal. But one step at a time. My one focus to make sure I don’t end up on the curb again. But walking the hallway of the thirteenth floor feels fucking fantastic, and no matter what happens in the future, I will never lose this feeling again.
“Dex,” I hear Katja’s voice behind me, but I swear I sense her presence even before the words leave her mouth.
I turn to see her at the end of the hallway walking toward me, her high-heeled legs demanding I appreciate their beauty. She’s wearing a suit jacket, a pin skirt, and her hair is perfectly styled without a single strand out of place.
Classic beauty. Perfect beauty. Controlled beauty. Katja Belov.
“I need to speak with you,” she says, closing the distance between us.
“If this is about yesterday,” I begin, not wanting to get into it with her. I have entirely too much to do today to get fully operational, and another battle of wills is not on my agenda.
She extends her hand and hands me a folded note. “I got this last night. It was waiting for me in my room.”