Billionaire's Bloody Deal

n. Colleagues averted their eyes, conversations died down. The news of my public dismissal from the Phoenix Tower project, or at least Liam As

hout knocking, perching on the edge of my desk as if he owned the

ines, are we? Or are you already packing yo

ade my skin crawl. He was questioning not ju

pain a tight knot in my

our problem is with me, Liam. Did I st

r than I intended,

a dry, humo

around Julian like a persistent fly. He

essive, almost pr

hot back, a sarcastic edge to my words. "Or does the great

opping to a near whisper, but the threat was unmis

o be anywhere near Julian Sterling or his... associates. I have my own

ite chatty. Apparently, your ambition at Apex was always aimed at

rmine me. My attempts to network at Apex, to build a legitimate career, were now being twisted into

s voice suddenly cold and hard. An ultimatum. "Dis

. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm disgusted by you, by Julian, by

d for a moment, a flicker of s

desperate, you're surprisin

his tie. "Consider th

ell appeared in my doorway, he

heard what happened at Grant. Th

o gauge my reaction, prob

ce flat, refusing to give her anythi

nded me a thin file. "It's a new client. A bit... unconventional, but

another dead-end project m

he file.

were dwindling. My mother's MS wasn't getting any cheaper. I

rly opulent, old-school Italian restaurant in a shady part of town. Red velvet, dim lighting. It

es with a predatory smile and eyes that roam

this humble establishment. Plea

' probably cost more than

ent project, laying out my initial design concepts. Sarah,

ive hand, a large gold r

, we eat. A little wine? It hel

ntrol, making it clear this wasn'

nd lingering a little too long near mine. The

istant. "Could you be a doll and fetch my brief

sitant, but I nodded.

order on my phone, sliding it under a napkin. I'd learned t

eath smelling of gar

ould go far in this city. With the right... connections. I have

. Professional advancement in

rm. "I appreciate the offer, but I prefer my work to speak for it

a low, unpl

t's be honest, a woman with your... reputation... can't afford to be too picky about how

e very rumors Julian and Liam had a

eling shaky. "I think

widening. "You'll be back, Ava. They always

n hand. I grabbed my purse and practic

Julian Sterling's black Bentley purred to a stop right