Chapter 8

The moment the door shut behind Liam, the three men closed in on Quinn.

"Sorry about this, but we're just doing what we were paid to do," one of them said.

"Fuck! We had no idea that guy was a Grant! That bitch Riley lied to us!"

They continued cursing, though the way they looked at Quinn made it clear that their fear hadn't dampened their other intentions.

"Damn, you're one sexy woman. Just looking at you has us hard. Come on, sweetheart, show us a good time."

The effects of the drug were becoming impossible to suppress, and Quinn couldn't stop herself from trembling.

Nineteen years. What did any of it matter now? They'd grown up together, fallen in love, and made promises they were supposed to keep forever. All those declarations of devotion, all those vows that nothing would ever come between them.

What a load of bullshit.

A laugh escaped Quinn as she realized just how foolish she'd been. She'd been so confident in herself, so certain of Liam's love, that she'd practically invited this humiliation. She had only herself to blame.

With her body growing hotter by the second, Quinn picked up a shard of broken glass from the floor and gripped it tightly. The sharp edge cut into her palm, and the sting of the wound, made worse by the alcohol mixing with her blood, helped clear her head.

She pressed the shard against her throat.

"Riley didn't tell you Liam was a Grant. Did she happen to tell you who I am?"

The men hesitated, suddenly uncertain.

"Go ahead. Any one of you lays a finger on me, and I'll slit my own throat."

Quinn smiled at their alarm. With blood smeared across her face, she looked almost deranged.

"My name is Quinn Walker. Ring any bells? I'm the eldest daughter of the Walker family and chairwoman of the Sterling Group. Do you really think you can lay a hand on me and live to tell the tale?"

"Fuck that bitch Riley Sutton!"

The color drained from all three men's faces. Their earlier leers vanished, replaced by frightened, ingratiating smiles.

"Miss Walker, we're so sorry. We had no idea who you were. We really..."

"Get out."

"Yes, ma'am! We're leaving right now!"

Quinn struggled to her feet and made her way to the bathroom adjoining the suite. She turned the shower to its coldest setting and stood beneath the spray, letting the icy water pour over her head.

Only after she was certain the men had left did her vision begin to darken. Her legs gave way, and she sank to the floor.

"Ms. Walker!"

At the sound of that familiar voice, Quinn finally allowed herself to lose consciousness. Help had arrived.

By the time she woke, it was already the following afternoon. She was lying in a hospital bed, with Megan keeping watch beside her.

Megan immediately called for a nurse, and once the examination confirmed that Quinn was alright, she poured her a glass of water.

"Ms. Walker, after Liam left with Riley, they went into the room next door."

Megan paused to gauge her reaction. When Quinn's expression remained unchanged, she relaxed a little and continued.

"Everything has been arranged according to your instructions. Once your flight takes off tonight, I'll put the plan into action."

Quinn nodded. "I'll be counting on you to handle things while I'm away. I'll triple your salary."

"It's all part of my job," Megan replied with a smile. "You just go and enjoy yourself. You haven't taken a proper break in years, and it's about time you got some rest."

When the driver arrived, Megan accompanied Quinn to the airport, fussing over her the entire way. She repeatedly reminded Quinn to apply her medication properly so her wounds wouldn't scar, and to avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and spicy food while she recovered.

Even as Quinn was about to board, Megan couldn't help sighing.

"Did you really have to leave so soon? Couldn't you at least wait until your injuries have healed?"

Quinn merely smiled and waved goodbye to Megan and the driver before boarding the plane. Her departure had been arranged well in advance, and she had no intention of postponing it.

She would remember every wound she'd suffered here and allow herself the time to heal.

As the engines roared and the plane began its ascent, Quinn found herself imagining Liam as he'd been at eighteen.

The boy she'd once loved needed only one look at her to understand how terribly he'd treated her. And in her imagination, his eyes filled with tears as he told her she'd done the right thing. She shouldn't look back.

Quinn withdrew her gaze and slipped on her sleep mask.

Liam Grant, there's no future for us anymore.

But mine is only just beginning.