“I’ve invested hundreds of millions in making the residents happy,” he said. “I think they’ll be okay if I focus on making money for myself again.”
“So, you’ve learned absolutely nothing after all this time?”
“All this time?” He glared at me. “I’ve known you for what—a few months at best?”
“Yes.”
“And you honestly think that means I owe you something?”
“It means you promised to consider something that would be in everyone’s best interests, including mine.”
“I did consider it,” he said. “The answer is no, and contrary to what you think, the old model doesn’t do much for me at all. It won’t make as much money.”
“Because you’re in desperate need of more of that?” I hissed. “You’re already a fucking billionaire.”
“And I intend to keep it that way.” His voice was terse. “I didn’t get here by giving money away.”
“You got here by ripping people off, making shady-ass deals, and being selfish as hell.”
“Get off your high horse, Chloe,” he said. “You’re starting to think that you’re the one who has more morals between us…”
“I do.”
“Oh?” He arched a brow. “Wasn’t your shady-ass thievery what landed you on my radar?”
I said nothing.
“Exactly,” he said. “Now, please join me back in reality and focus on the work ahead that needs to be done.”
I stood still, staring at him, hoping that this was a bad dream.
“The engineers have already received my proposed updates, but they’re wary about the lobby, so I need you to?—”
“Fuck you.” I pushed his fancy mockup to the floor, shattering it to pieces. “Fuck. You.”
He clenched his jaw, looking at the damaged pieces before looking at me.
“You have ten seconds to start picking all that up.”
“Okay.” I stepped back. “Let me know what happens when I don’t.”
“You’ll realize just how fucking little you matter to me,” he said. “You’re taking a business proposition and making it personal.”
“No, that’s what you just did…” I slung my purse over my shoulder and stormed out of the room.
Rushing toward the stairwell, I ran down the first two flights of steps.
A small part of me hoped he would follow—to apologize for being so cruel and beg me to return, but no footsteps echoed. The doors above didn’t creak open.
I continued the long way down, ignoring the tears pricking my eyes.
“You’ll realize just how fucking little you matter to me…”
“Ready to head home, Miss Sterling?” One of Dante’s drivers tipped his head at me when I emerged from the side door. “Traffic isn’t too bad now.”
“I’m okay, thank you.” I barely managed. “I’d rather walk home.”
“Are you sure about that, Miss Sterling?”
