Chapter 4

One of Eric's friends nearly let something slip, and Eric cut him off fast. He still wanted to keep the act going, after all. I hadn't finished "paying back" that debt yet, as far as he was concerned.

"What are you talking about? Liv's just scared she can't pay it back, that's all.

"Liv, quit making a scene. You just quit your job. Even if I wanted to help cover part of it, there's no way you could pay it all back now."

One breath it was him helping me pay off my debt, the next it was me owing someone else's money. I curled my lips into a bitter, absurd smile.

I was about to speak when Donna grabbed my arm, playing the generous peacemaker. "It's not much money. I'm not exactly hurting for cash. Take your time paying it back, Liv.

"Eric and I grew up together. If I hadn't spent five years abroad, who knows, we might already be married.

"Since you're his girlfriend, though, I suppose I can buy a little extra wine from you. Consider it me looking out for him."

There was a sour edge to her voice the whole time she said it. No wonder she had it out for me like this, even though we had no history between us.

The second she finished talking, Donna had someone bring over the most expensive bottles in the club. I tried to walk away, but she held onto me so hard I couldn't break free.

"I already told you, I quit, and I broke up with Eric. So who exactly owes who money here? Or does this debt not even exist in the first place? You all know the answer to that better than anyone."

My words made everyone's expressions sour. Eric shot me a guilty look, and someone muttered that I was just making excuses not to pay. That seemed to snap something into place for him, and a thin, mocking look crept over his face.

By then, the bottles had already arrived. Sure enough, they were the club's premium stock, each one worth several hundred thousand dollars. Donna ignored everything I'd said and pointed at one of them.

"Here's how it'll work, Liv. You finish this bottle, and I'll buy it. If you can't finish the whole thing, though, don't expect me to pay a cent."

Before I could even stop it, someone had already popped the cork with a loud crack. Donna kept a death grip on my hand, and a few of Eric's friends rushed over to pin me down.

"Just drink it, Liv. You'll get your commission once you do.

"Donna's the Gibbs heiress. She's not short on cash, but you can't just keep dodging what you owe forever. Once you pay it back, we can all get back to building something together."

Eric said all of this without so much as a blush, without his pulse so much as ticking up. Shamelessness, on full and total display. I'd already given up hoping he'd say a single word in my defense. He was the one who'd caused me four years of misery, after all.

"Eric, you're still putting on this act? Do you really think I don't know you own this club?

"You think you're the only one who's been hiding who you really are? Don't forget, my last name is Cameron.

"You don't know about the Cameron Group...?"

Before I could finish, Donna had already jammed the mouth of the bottle between my lips. The sharp, burning liquid hit my throat and set off a fit of coughing.

She grabbed a fistful of my hair, still not letting up, and snarled, "Oh, is that what you're trying to say? That you're the Cameron Group heiress?

"She's the woman my brother's been pining after for years. Go take a good look at yourself before you say something like that.

"You? Pretending to be a Cameron? As if."

Unlike Donna's wild, unhinged behavior, Eric's face had gone pale. He'd just spotted a tall, broad-shouldered figure striding toward them with real menace in every step.

He recognized this man. So did Donna, better than anyone.

"Stop."