Chapter 2

"Where are we going?" I asked.

I flipped through the plane ticket. It was for some island nation I had never even heard of.

Nicole said the climate there was pleasant and that the country had no judicial assistance treaty with the Grantham Group.

I did not understand the second half of that sentence. "Is there a mall there?"

The lawyer in the study gave me an odd look.

Nicole answered patiently anyway, "There is."

"Can I get limited editions there?"

She nodded. "I'll have someone ship them over regularly."

"And my monthly allowance?"

Connor walked in just in time to hear that last part. He snatched the ticket from my hand and slammed it onto the floor. "Lionel, is money the only thing you understand?

"My father was forced to resign. My two sisters are still locked up. My sister is about to sign over her last private account just to protect you. And you're still thinking about your allowance?"

I leaned against the doorframe and said nothing.

Nicole turned to him, her voice cold. "Pick it up."

"Sis!"

"I said pick it up."

Connor clenched his jaw, but eventually bent down and picked up the ticket. He shoved it back into my hand, his voice low. "Isn't money all you've ever cared about? Take the money and go. Don't ever come back and drag my sister down again."

Nicole's expression darkened.

On the other hand, I did not believe the Grantham family would actually fall. I truly did not take any of this to heart. Besides, I was Nicole's kept man. The most important job of a kept man was to eat well, play well, and live comfortably.

I obediently went back to my room to pack. The closet was crammed with everything Nicole had given me over the past three years. Suits, shoes, and watches filled two entire floors of shelving.

I picked out a dozen or so of the most expensive watches, then emptied the safe of all its gold jewelry and packed everything into my suitcase.

The moment I zipped it shut, a loud crash came from downstairs.

I walked to the second-floor railing and saw several people in uniform sealing off the Grantham family's private collection room. Paintings were being taken down from the walls. The wine cellar and garage had already been sealed with tape.

Dorothy tried to stop them, but Leopold caught her by the arm.

"Let them take it." His voice sounded old and weary. "These things belonged to the company to begin with."

When Nicole came back inside, a woman followed close behind her and handed her a document. "Miss Grantham, 8:00 p.m. tonight at Atmos Club. The representatives of the twelve funds will be waiting for you. This is the final negotiation."

The woman's gaze slid past Nicole and settled on me. She looked me up and down, then smiled knowingly. "Mr. Jensen, you're here too."

Nicole stepped aside, blocking her view of me. "What do you mean by that?"

The woman withdrew her gaze. "No need to get tense, Miss Grantham. Our CEO, Miss Montreux, already knows how handsome the kept man you've been supporting is. If tonight's talks go smoothly, she wouldn't mind taking him off your hands."

The words had barely left her mouth when Nicole slapped her across the face.

The sharp crack echoed through the living room.

The woman's head snapped to the side, and blood quickly welled at the corner of her lip.

The living room erupted into chaos. Nicole's bodyguards rushed forward and forced the woman several steps back.

She steadied herself and smiled. "Miss Grantham, and here you are, still putting on airs at a time like this. If you aren't there by 8:00 p.m. tonight, your sisters' cases will go through the official transfer process. And once that happens, we won't be talking about a few years behind bars anymore."

After the woman and her companion left, Nicole stood frozen in place and slowly lowered her reddened hand.

Dorothy covered her mouth and burst into tears. Leopold closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging completely.

Nicole turned around. By then, she had already forced the fury from her face. "Move the flight up. We leave now."

She had her assistant take me to the airport while she got into another car.

I sat in the back seat and watched Nicole's car disappear into the night.

The assistant started the engine. "Mr. Jensen, Miss Grantham has already arranged everything for you."

"What about her?"

The assistant said nothing.

A bad feeling rose in my chest. 'There's no way the Grantham family would really…'

I met the assistant's gaze in the rearview mirror. "Turn around."

"Mr. Jensen, this is Miss Grantham's order."

"If you don't turn around, I'm jumping out of the car."

The assistant held out for a few seconds before finally doing as I said.