Semua Bab Touched by the Billionaire, Owned by the Devil: Bab 101 - Bab 110

The red pencil lead snapped cleanly between my fingers. I looked at the broken tip resting beside my notebook, then turned the pencil over and rubbed the flattened end against the paper. The page was covered with small boxes and crossed-out errands, things I had been putting off because they seemed too insignificant to matter. A phone call to the clinic, laundry and a list of things my mother had asked me to pick up. Two books I wanted to finish before I forgot why I'd started them. None of it required much thought, and that was exactly why I had chosen it. I reached for the next pencil and drew a line through the last item. The kitchen was quiet except for the faint clink of dishes from the sink. My mug sat near my elbow, untouched long enough for the tea to lose its heat. Gideon came in carrying a fresh cup. He placed it beside my notebook and took the cold one without asking, his fingers closing around the handle as he passed behind my chair. "You've been working on that list f

I looked down at the photographs, financial statements, printed messages, and sworn affidavits spreading across the dark wood. Nothing about the arrangement was accidental. Each document had been separated into its own section, marked with tabs and clipped together so tightly that even the smallest piece of paper looked important. David remained standing at the other end of the table while Gideon took the chair beside me. Elias stayed near the window, one hand resting against the back of an empty chair as he scanned the documents without touching them. I reached for the nearest page, one of the financial records from Shane's accounts. Several withdrawals had been highlighted, each one tied to a date and location. I studied them for a few seconds before placing it back exactly where I'd found it. "So this is everything?" "Everything we can currently use," David replied. "The financial records establish the movement of money. The messages establish his attempts to interfere. The affid

The first camera flash caught me before the microphone was fully adjusted, and my eyes blinked against the brightness as my gaze dropped to the notes resting on the podium. Three lines sat on the page, written that morning, the first one rewritten twice before I left it alone. The case name filled the backdrop behind me. Rows of reporters waited in front of me with cameras raised, and the shutters clicked before anyone asked a question. My hands found the sides of the podium, and I looked across the room. "I left because I was afraid." The room quieted, and I didn't rush to fill it. "I am here because I am no longer afraid." A reporter in the second row raised her hand. "Ms. Bennett, are you saying you believe your former husband poses no further threat to you?" My answer came without hesitation. "I am saying that I won't make my decisions based on what he might do." She lowered her microphone, and another reporter stood. "Your former husband has accused you of abandoning your ma

The television was still playing when Gideon came into the living room, but he had stopped looking at it. The remote was still in his hand, his thumb resting against the button. He stood near the doorway for a moment, his attention somewhere beyond the room, then crossed to the coffee table and placed his phone beside mine. "Something happened?" He pulled out the armchair opposite me. "Security received an update." The way he said it made my spine straighten. "About Shane?" Gideon nodded. "He had two men visit him." My body went still as I waited. "They stayed inside his apartment for several minutes. They left after giving him a deadline." My eyes held his. "For what?" "Money." The word landed heavily, and my legs drew beneath me as I adjusted the cushion behind my back. "His debts?" "Among other things." My gaze moved to the dark television screen. For weeks, Shane had been throwing himself against every wall he could find. Motions. Accusations. Delays. Messages. Now ther

I pushed one folder aside and rubbed my forehead. The papers had taken over half the dining table, and I had stopped pretending I was going to read them. The pile of legal folders, printed messages, highlighted sections, and notes from David sat in front of me, but the words refused to arrange themselves. My tea had gone cold, and I was about to drink it anyway when the front door opened. Footsteps crossed the entryway, followed by the quiet sound of a coat being removed. I didn't look up until Elias appeared at the edge of the dining room. He stopped when he saw the table. "You've declared war on paperwork." I looked around at the mess. "The paperwork started it." His mouth curved up. "Then I support your position." He came farther into the room, pulled off his gloves, and placed them beside his coat before taking the chair across from me. His eyes moved over the folders again. "How long have you been doing this?" "Long enough to hate every piece of paper individually." "Th