Chapter 5

I never finished my sentence.

He kissed me again, swallowing the rest of my words in heat and recklessness.

***

Morning crept in, the sky just beginning to lighten.

Beside me, Joel slept soundly.

Our clothes—mine tangled with his—lay crumpled on the floor.

In the dim light slipping through the curtains, I spared him one last glance before slipping out of bed.

Downstairs, I slid into my car.

Tammy handed me an iced Americano the second I shut the door.

"Ms. Lloyd, the second phase of the stock acquisition was completed last night. No traces back to us so far."

I took a sip, listening as she ran through the details.

"Also, your father called this morning. He's demanding you return to the estate today."

I nodded. "Ignore him. If he calls again, block the number. Everything else moves forward as planned."

Tammy acknowledged with a nod but hesitated before starting the car, eyes flicking to my neck.

"Ms. Lloyd... your neck."

I checked the rearview mirror. Yeah. Obvious.

Calmly, I buttoned my shirt to the collar.

"Don't worry about it. Just a puppy bite."

***

I'd planned to swing by home for a quick change before heading to the office.

Didn't expect to find Scott there.

He lounged on the couch, shirt unbuttoned, casually flipping through a stack of documents. The second he saw me, his expression darkened.

"Leila, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

My gaze dropped to the papers in his hand.

The divorce agreement.

I stayed silent.

"Say something. What, cat got your tongue?"

He shot to his feet, closing the distance in a few strides.

"You actually think you have the right to ask for a divorce?" Scorn dripped from his voice. "Have you forgotten how pathetic you were? Clinging to my leg, begging me to marry you?"

The papers hit my face.

A sharp edge sliced the skin near my eye.

Warm blood trickled down, sticky against my fingers as I touched the wound.

I exhaled slowly. "I thought you and Gigi were in love. Just giving her the place she deserves."

"You don't get to decide anything about me."

Scott let out a low, derisive laugh, his voice dripping with malice.

"Leila, you're just a dog your family trained and threw at me. And now, because they've been treating you a little better—because you can string a few words together at Lloyd Corp—you think you matter?"

His fingers clamped around my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"The second phase of the Rivera project? Fletcher Corp is pulling out, cutting all ties with Lloyd Corp. Consider it a lesson—you only matter when I say you do. That's the only time you get to act like a person."

With a scoff, he let go, slipping right back into his usual smugness.

"Think long and hard about how you're gonna make this up to me. Maybe if you get on your knees again, I'll consider forgiving you."

***

Scott left.

I didn't move.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, stretching long shadows across the floor.

Standing there, I exhaled slowly and reached for my phone.

That's when I saw Joel's name trending.

#JoelGirlfriend

[According to inside sources, after last night's regional finals, Joel Arnoult was spotted in the parking lot with a mystery woman. The two appeared to be intimately involved...]