Chapter 6

Kane’s POV

The scarlet bloodstain on the white bedsheets stole my attention, drowning out Maxine's voice coming through the hotel landline.

“Boss, I'll have it ready as you've ordered. Is there anything else you need?”

“No, that will be all,” I answered, taking an unconscious step closer to the bed. Just minutes ago, I had reached for the hotel phone to order a replacement from Maxine.

And for several minutes, I simply stared at the sheets. Memories from this morning rushed in. Her trembling voice, the tears streaming down her face.

She hadn't lied.

My jaw tightened. For a split second, I questioned if I had judged her too quickly. But then, the image of yesterday afternoon flashed in my mind, and every trace of doubt vanished. A bitter laugh escaped me.

Virgin or not, it changed nothing. Whoever she was, she’d still accepted money to sleep with a total stranger. Whether it was out of greed or desperation, it made no difference to me. She was still a woman, and I refused to be fooled twice.

On the way to the office, I made two important calls; one to my personal lawyer, and one to Jayson.

When I stepped into the building, the company was bustling with activity as always. I didn't miss the surprised looks on the faces of my employees, especially Mrs. Hawkins, who looked shocked to see me resuming work so early.

Well, shit happens.

In my office, Jayson was already seated on one of the couches, coffee in hand.

“Hey man, I came as soon as I got your call. God, you look terrible. Did you get any sleep at all?” He frowned, taking in my appearance.

I ignored the question and went straight to the heart of the matter. “Who was the woman in my suite?”

“What woman?” He asked, setting his cup down.

“The blonde from last night. The one you sent to my suite.” I insisted, my fingers curling tightly around the coffee cup Mrs. Hawkins had handed me at the entrance.

I laid out the details of what had ensued this morning and last night, leaving nothing out.

He stared at me blankly before letting out a dry laugh. “I see you have finally lost your mind.”

“I'm serious!” I gritted out through clenched teeth.

“So am I.” His face turned dead serious.

“Cut the crap…” I cut in.

“Before you say another word,” Jayson continued, “I only booked that suite because you looked ready to kill somebody after what happened yesterday. I repeat, I never sent a woman to your room. I am not running a brothel, nor do I pimp out women.”

"You didn't arrange her for me?"

"No." His jaw tightened. "I did not"

"No?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Just for yourself, then."

Jayson opened his mouth, looking genuinely offended by the allegation. He pointed a finger at me, his voice firm. "That was beneath you, Kane."

I moved behind my desk and sat down, rubbing my temples. "Then how the hell did she end up in my room?"

“That, I can't explain,” Jayson said, straightening his jacket. “But if what she told you is true, there's something shady and highly illegal going on in my hotel, and I intend to investigate it.”

"Fine." I rubbed my temples, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. "Then find out who she is.”

Jayson held my gaze for a moment that stretched slightly too long, then nodded. He reached for his phone, immediately barking out orders to his security team.

In the midst of the chaos, the office door opened and Mr. Richard Holt, my private attorney, strolled in with his briefcase. We exchanged brief pleasantries and got right down to business.

“Sir,” Richard said, setting his briefcase on the edge of my desk. “I came as fast as I could. What's the emergency?”

“I want a divorce. And I want it filed before the end of the day.” I announced without mincing words.

Jayson lowered his phone slowly. Richard calmly removed his glasses. The weight of my words settled heavily in the room.

“What… today?” they blurted in unison.

“Immediately. As soon as humanly possible.”

“Sir, I have no right to inquire about your private affairs,” Richard said, recovering from the shock while Jayson just froze. “But I strongly advise you not to rush this. It would be a grave mistake.”

My patience snapped. “What mistake? I want that woman out on the street, and you had better do as I ordered!”

“Kane, calm down. Let him speak,” Jayson interrupted.

Richard closed his eyes briefly, taking a breath. "I need you to look at something before any decisions are made." He pulled a document from his briefcase and placed it on the desk between us. "The shares you transferred during last year's anniversary. Presently, Mrs. Ravello holds 10% of M&M. Filing for a divorce now without a strategy is a disaster waiting to happen. She could sell those shares to a competitor, that would tank the company's value. Then there's your grandmother's will too." He paused, letting the reality sink in. "You would be putting a weapon in her hands and pointing it directly at your own chest.”

Fuck.

“You actually went ahead with the transfer last year?” Jayson muttered in disbelief.

I ignored him, my eyes locked on the paper. Against my better judgment and the warnings of my friends, I had given her those shares to make her happy.

Every part of me wanted to dismiss Richard's legal advice and end the five-year deception right now. But deep down, I wanted more than a quick divorce now. I wanted to see Claudia and her lover completely destroyed. I wanted them on the streets.

"What do you suggest?" I asked grimly.

"We build a strategy first. Quietly. Every legal move must be perfectly prepared in secret before we strike. When you finally go after Claudia, she mustn't stand a chance, not in court, not anywhere." Richard held my gaze steadily.

"Fine," I said, leaning backwards. "We do it your way.”

Richard nodded and immediately began outlining the legal steps, diving into professional jargon. We had been at it for less than ten minutes when the office door swung open violently.

Mrs. Hawkins stumbled in, looking distraught, and right behind the last person on earth I wanted to see. “Sir... I'm terribly sorry. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen.”

‘Could this day get any worse?’ I groaned inwardly.

“Shut it,” Claudia snapped, brushing past my secretary arrogantly.

Her eyes swept across the office, flashing with anger when she spotted Jayson before her gaze locked onto mine.

Her high heels clicked loudly against the floor as she sashayed toward my desk. Her revealing clothes made my skin crawl, made me wonder what the hell I had found irresistible in her all these years.

She stopped right in front of my desk, squeezing out a voice thick with manufactured hurt. "Baby... where have you been? I've been worried sick. And when you didn't come home for our anniversary I thought you were hurt, especially when you ignored everyone of my calls.” A tear slipped down her cheek.

Her mention of the word anniversary filled me with a dangerous, indescribable rage. I took a long, hard look at the animal I had called my wife.

I said nothing. The silence in the room became suffocating.

Without offering her a single word or even a glance, I gestured to Mrs Hawkins.

"Kindly, escort Mrs Ravello out.”

Claudia blinked. “What?”