Chapter 4

I had a lot of free time over the next few days.

Lily was spinning like a top. She was doing my old job and planning the grand reception for Marcus Sterling.

She treated my office like her personal kingdom, posting non-stop on social media:

The taste of power.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. I will protect the future of the Red Peak Pack.

A bunch of clueless young wolves commented, calling her "the pack’s new hope."

Little did they know, she was playing with fire.

Friday night, I was sipping top-shelf sake at home when my phone rang. It was Jasper.

"Aurora, where are you?" His voice was tight with rage.

"At home."

"Why the hell is the backup credit line frozen? Lily’s card declined at the banquet!"

"Oh, that line is backed by my personal credit," I said casually. "I sensed a risk, so I froze it."

"You—" Jasper choked on his words. "Unfreeze it right now! We have an even bigger dinner tomorrow!"

"I have to go to the bank in person to do that. Sorry, I'm busy this weekend."

"Aurora! Are you fucking kidding me?" Jasper finally lost it. His Alpha aura pressed through the phone. "You’re doing this out of spite because I suspended you? If you ruin the pack’s reputation, can you afford the consequences?"

"My Alpha," I cut him off. My tone was icy. "First of all, that is my personal credit. I withdraw it when I please. Second, why are you paying for a pack dinner with my card? Doesn't Finance approve a massive expense account every month?"

Dead silence on the other end.

He and Lily knew exactly whose pockets that hospitality budget went into.

Before, I didn't care because I loved him. But now? I cared.

"Fine, Aurora. Have it your way," Jasper snarled. "The Red Peak Pack can afford it! Don't even think about crawling back to us!"

"Sure thing, my Alpha."

I hung up and stared out at the Manhattan skyline. This was just the appetizer.

On Sunday night, I forwarded all the legal evidence to my lawyer. Then I pulled out the office building lease.

Black and white: Lease expires next Monday. Tomorrow.

I texted the real estate agent: Bring the new tenants to view the property tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

Right away, Miss Aurora. A financial group is willing to pay triple the rent.

Perfect. As long as it isn't Thorne Industries, anyone can take it.

After setting the stage, I poured myself a glass of Burgundy.

Tomorrow was going to be a blockbuster.

Marcus Sterling was coming. The new tenants were coming. Lily was about to reach the peak of her life.

And I was going to pull the net tight.

I grabbed a pen and started adding up the numbers.

Initial investment: $5 million.

Follow-up funding: $12 million.

Rent difference: $8 million.

Personal credit guarantee: $3 million.

Total: $28 million.

And that was just the cash. It didn't count my connections, my blood, sweat, and my love.

Looking at that number, I almost laughed. I spent nearly thirty million dollars to raise two backstabbing wolves. They took everything, bit the hand that fed them, and called me a traitor.

Pay them five million?

Bullshit.

Tomorrow, I was going to make them vomit up every single penny, with interest.