“Happy to see me again, Isabella?”
Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
That reaction alone makes my blood heat.
Because if she’s this shaken now, she has no idea what’s coming next.
20
Bella
Idon’t know what’s worse.
The fact that Mr. Portrait is here.
The fact that Mr. Portrait owns this company now.
Or the fact thathe—who somehow manages to make my stomach drop and my core tighten at the same damn time—is smirking at me like he’s been waiting for this exact moment.
Konstantin Belov.
My new boss.
Oh, fuck.
“Happy to see me again, Isabella?” His voice is deep, smooth—too damn confident.
I snap my mouth shut because what the hell am I supposed to say to that?
The last time I saw him, I was running out of his mansion like my life depended on it. And now? Now he’s standing in themiddle of my office—except it’s not mine anymore, and it sure as hell isn’t James Cavanaugh’s either.
It belongs tohim.
Oh. Shit.
The room is dead silent.
Mark is sitting at his desk, gripping his mouse like it’s a stress ball, his foot tapping so fast it’s making Jenna twitch.Jenna, meanwhile, still hasn’t moved from her desk, fingers hovering over her keyboard like she’s debating whether to google “how to survive a mafia takeover” or just start applying for new jobs right now.
Dan and Michelle are near the break room, frozen mid-conversation, while Elijah from finance—usually the calm, corporate type—looks like he’s about three seconds away from a full-blown existential crisis.
No one dares to move. No one dares to breathe.
Then—
“You will all be paid in full within twenty-four hours.” Konstantin’s voice slices through the silence like a blade. “Every commission, every salary—everything Cavanaugh owed you. Consider it settled.”
A stunned ripple moves through the room.
Mark lets out an awkward half-laugh, like maybe he misheard. Michelle presses a hand to her forehead. Elijah’s fingers twitch over his keyboard, probably about to check his bank account right now.
Jenna is the first one to speak. “Wait—you mean… we’re actually getting paid?”
Konstantin nods, calm as ever. “Within the day.”
Another pause. Then—
“Holy shit,” Mark breathes.
