Chapter 2

The next afternoon, I got a text from Sterling. It read, "The original port contract is still in the study. Bring it to the club tonight."

A few minutes later, another text came in. "We can have dinner while you're here."

After a little thought, I brought him the contract anyway.

The moment I opened the door to the private room, I knew I shouldn't have come.

Almost everyone involved in the port deal from both families was there. The table was crowded with open bottles of champagne, and a cake celebrating the signing stood against the wall.

Ilona was sitting next to Sterling. When she saw me, she smiled and waved a phone at me.

She'd sent those texts from Sterling's phone.

Sterling had obviously figured that out too, and his face darkened. "Ophelia..."

I set the contract on the table, stone-faced. "Here it is." Then I turned to go.

"Wait." Ilona signaled for someone to wheel in an easel she'd prepared. "I hear you used to study oil painting."

She stood up and moved to Sterling's side.

"Today's a special occasion. Why don't you paint a portrait of us?"

I looked at her coldly. "I can't."

"Sterling told me you'd won a prize before."

She smiled and slipped her arm through his. "And you know him so well. You must know exactly how to paint him."

I looked at Sterling. He wasn't touching Ilona, but he didn't pull away either.

When I didn't move, she glanced around at everyone in the room. "Our families just signed the deal. You can't even do us this one little favor?"

Sterling frowned for a few seconds. Finally, he looked at me. "Just paint a quick portrait."

I let out a bitter laugh, but eventually took a seat at the easel. Looking pleased with herself, Ilona leaned closer to Sterling, tilting her head toward his shoulder. "Make us look a little more intimate."

I pressed my brush hard against the canvas. Sterling finally spoke, his voice cold. "Sit up straight."

Only then did Ilona pout and move back a little.

But before long, she pressed up against him again, and this time Sterling didn't stop her.

When the painting was done, I put down the brush. I hadn't eaten all day, and I stood up too fast. For a second, everything went black.

Sterling caught me at once. "You skipped meals again?"

With one arm around my waist, he was already holding a glass of water in his other hand. He told someone to get the stomach medicine I always took.

Ilona gave a soft laugh beside him. "Sterling, you're a single man right now."

He stopped. "She's not feeling well."

"There are so many people here." Ilona raised an eyebrow. "It doesn't have to be you looking after her, does it?"

Sterling's expression hardened, but he still handed the medicine off to a waiter.

I took the water and stood up straight on my own. "I'm going home."

"What's the rush?" Ilona tapped the table. A waiter quickly brought over a silver tray.

She took off her diamond bracelet and tossed it in. "Let's make this celebration more interesting. Everyone puts one personal item on the tray, and whoever gets picked takes everything."

I turned to leave, but Ilona called after me.

"Ophelia, you're not playing?"

"No."

Sterling said quietly, "Just put in one thing."

I turned to look at him. "Why should I play her games?"

"We only closed the deal today." His voice softened. "Don't make a scene."

Ilona was already standing in front of me, her eyes on the pocket watch hanging around my neck. "How about that, then?"

I covered the watch with my hand at once.

"No."

"Why not?"

"My mother left me this."

I took off my diamond wristwatch. "Take this instead."

But Ilona didn't take it. "Everyone else follows the rules. Why do you get to swap yours out?"

Sterling finally spoke. "Ilona, pick something else."

Her smile faded. "Sterling, I already gave you three years of priority at the port. And at our first celebration, you want me to change the rules for your ex-wife?"

The room went quiet.

I looked at Sterling. After a moment of silence, he actually held out his hand to me.

"Ophelia."

My heart slowly sank.

"Just put it in for now. When this is over, I'll get it back for you."

"It's all I have left of her."

Sterling frowned. "It's only for now."

Ilona reached for the watch. I stepped back, but she caught the chain and gave it a sharp yank. The clasp snapped, sending the watch straight into a wine glass on the edge of the table.

It tipped over, and dark red wine splashed everywhere.

The watch case popped open, and the old photo inside slid out. In seconds, it was soaked with wine.

I watched helplessly as the wine blurred my mother's face in the photograph. My ears rang.

Alarm flashed across Sterling's face. He reached for the photo, but I snatched it up first and shouted at him through my tears, "Get away from me!"

His hand froze in midair. Clutching the soaked photo and pocket watch, I stormed past him and out of the room.