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offering. She’ll come to no harm, you have my word. I’ll fix

everything for you. I’ll make you even more successful than

you could ever have done on your own. I’ll hand you back

your empire, shiny and new and restored.”

Claire already knew what Robert’s choice would be. As

much as he loved his daughter, he loved his pride more. He

wasn’t ready to give it all up. He wasn’t ready to fall so far.

She left the next move in his hands.

And very slowly, with Jenny watching every single

movement of the man’s muscles, Robert extended a hand.

Claire didn’t shake it. She did resist the urge to spit on it.

Instead, she grabbed a stack of paperwork off her desk and

thrust it at the defeated man in front of her. Revenge was so

very sweet. It coated her tongue like sugar, but she didn’t

allow herself to revel in it yet. Not until Robert was gone. Not

until his daughter was living under her roof. Not until she was

out of his grasp, and he couldn’t protect her. Not until he knew

the full humiliation of trading worldly goods and a high-end

lifestyle for the person he was supposed to love and protect.

The agreement allowed him to do just that. If he wanted to

think of it as safeguarding his daughter’s future the only way

he could, then so be it. He’d still have to explain to her exactly

why he’d done what he’d done.

Robert sat down again, his bones creaking in the seat. He

took the paperwork—one contract for the business, another for

Haley—

and grabbed for the pen at the corner of her desk.

Two signatures, his name on both contracts, and Claire’s

victory was complete.

Chapter 2