Chapter 2

2

"I'm just following your lead."

"If you can 'forfeit' to kiss your assistant Brooks, why can't I forfeit to kiss Valerie Prescott?"

"Are the rules only for you? Or are we playing by the rule where the elite can set the house on fire, but the commoners can't even light a candle?"

"Bullshit!"

Elara completely lost it. She grabbed a wine glass from the table and hurled it at me.

"Cassian Reed! You're a goddamn psycho! You're doing this just to spite me! You eat my food, you live in my house, and you spend my money! What right do you have to talk back to me?! What right do you have to touch another woman?!"

The glass whistled past my ear and shattered against the wall behind me, splashing wine everywhere.

The booth fell silent for a moment. Everyone was terrified by Elara's explosive rage.

I stood my ground without even blinking, staring at her with cold eyes.

"Elara, let's get two things straight. First, I, Cassian Reed, have never spent a single dime of your Sinclair money. Second..."

My gaze swept over her, then over the pale-faced Brooks Miller, before landing back on her. I spoke every word with icy precision.

"Who I touch is my business. Just like who you choose to kiss is yours."

"We're even."

"Even?!"

Elara acted like she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. She pointed at Valerie, then at me, her voice shrill and piercing.

"Cassian, take a good look in the mirror! You're nothing but a dog the Sinclair family keeps! A doormat! When I say jump, you ask how high! And now you think you can bite the hand that feeds you?!"

The surrounding colleagues and executives had mixed expressions―some were disgusted, some sympathetic, and others were just enjoying the show.

"Exactly! Cassian, you've gone too far!"

Brooks Miller finally found his chance to shine. He supported Elara, who was swaying with anger, and pointed at me with righteous indignation.

"CEO Sinclair has been more than generous to you. Instead of being grateful, you pull this disgusting stunt in public. You insulted her and harassed another woman! Are you even human?!"

His words immediately drew support from the crowd.

"He's right! What a piece of trash!"

"Just a trophy husband living off his wife. Where does he get the nerve?"

"CEO Sinclair, let Ms. Prescott call the cops! Sue him for harassment!"

"Yeah! Ms. Prescott, sue him! Throw him in jail!"