Billionaire's Bloody Deal

ss the passenger seat, his

ther... colorful choice for a bu

ose sharp, intelligent eyes, were ass

t beside him. "Need a ride?

power play, a reminder that he

get away from him, from this whole suffocating situation. "I prefer

t lift of his should

tley pulled away smoothly, disa

I felt a sli

order. Of course. The universe had a sick sense of humor. My earlier ord

ce, Councilman Thompson's ostentatious Cadillac pulled up beside

, sweetheart? My o

trapped, pursued, w

ccept a ride from one of two powerful, manipulative men. It wa

ich had, not so coincidentally, circled the block and was now approaching again. I

ey's presence was a clear signal, a display of superior power that

, his expression unreadabl

completely unfazed, as if picking up distressed women fr

, please.

nt scent of expensive cologne – it all felt alien, a world away from my own. I couldn't relax, perched on th

olt, a screech of tires

eaped into

The one who'd been instrumental in spreading those vicious rumors about me being a gold-digger, of being involved with a

g! Is that you? I am so, s

hed, his face a mask of polit

. Vance. Just a

overly sweet. She fumbled in her designer handbag. "And maybe... your

m was sickenin

so politely,

l just give your information to him." He gestured to his d

zy hadn't changed a bit. Still manipulative, still cha

longer. I opened my door and

me. "Ava Moreno? What are *you*

familiar resentment, implying I was ut

e calm, though my insides were

the unspoken history of her mali

nd new hobbies? Because last I checked, defamation is still a crime. And I have

the lawyer, but the t

rom her previous rumor-mongering, the stern warnings from the

hat you're talking a

ckward glance, got b

is driver said coolly, before also re-entering the car.

g shot as I prepared to walk away. "Some things never change.

I'm not some desperate charity case h

sly trying to ruin someone's life for sport? That's a whole other level of pathetic. Keep my name ou

ry of the Dean's office, the threat o

led away, resum

call, his voic

m my racing heart. The encounter with

my office anymore. We were going uptown,

g?" I asked, suspi

He turned to me, his

amic, a reassertion of his power. "There's a problem with the Phoenix Tower p

ved from the project, remember? Veronica

tion. I wanted nothing more to

my protest with a

egardless of who is currently 'in charge.' Apex is about to lose the contract ent

g me, leaving

the newly poured foundation was indeed compromised, a massive crack snaking across

nical, on-the-ground issue. Men like him usually delegated such things. It highlig

d, their surprise evident. Whispers followed us, speculation undoubtedly rife about my relationshi

towards the fl

pears to be failing. A critical flaw. Perhaps tho

irect challenge to my p

ection, my mind racing. I knew

idently, kneeling to examine the concrete. "This isn't

flustered and angry,

ack could compromise the entire structural integrity! We f

rill, her malice

, facing h

trols, Veronica. Did you adhere to those? Or were you in suc

ct, and I saw a flick

a series of e

is section. My blueprints clearly indicated a denser matrix. This is your modification, Vero

critical error

knew she was caught. She turned

double-check the rebar placemen

scapegoat, deflecting b

through he

Marcus Finch no doubt, over the quality and safety my desig