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"You tried to ruin her, Victoria. You came after Scarlett like she was nothing more than an obstacle in your way. And for what? Jealousy? Spite?" I demanded.
Victoria’s gaze darkened, her smile fading.
"She doesn’t deserve what she has," she hissed. "Scarlett Lane is a nobody. She built that restaurant off luck and charm, not real skill. And then you?—"
Her lips curled. "You handed her everything on a silver platter. You think she loves you? She loves what you can do for her."
I slammed my fist against the table, making her jump.
"Scarlett worked for every damn thing she has," I growled. "And the only reason she’s still standing after everything you threw at her is because she’s stronger than you ever gave her credit for."
Victoria’s nostrils flared. "And what do you plan to do, Christian? Take me to court? Ruin my reputation? Be careful, darling. You have just as much to lose as I do."
I smiled, slow and sharp. "Oh, I plan to do worse than ruin your reputation. I have enough evidence to bury you under so many lawsuits, you won’t see the inside of another boardroom for the next decade. And I can assure you, Victoria—you will pay for what you did."
For the first time, true fear flickered across her face.
Good.
I stood, my pulse pounding, satisfied that I’d won this round.
"Stay away from Scarlett," I warned. "Because the next time you cross her, I won’t just settle for legal action."
Then I walked out, leaving Victoria alone with her impending downfall.
Scarlett stormed into my office like a force of nature, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.
Her eyes, burning with barely restrained fury, locked onto mine the moment she stepped inside, and I braced myself.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut.
I already knew what she was talking about.
I leaned back in my chair, keeping my expression calm. “I assume you mean Victoria.”
Scarlett threw her hands up. “Of course I mean Victoria! You went after her, you confronted her, and you didn’t think I deserved a say in how this was handled?”
I exhaled, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “I thought we were on a break.”
Her lips parted slightly, like she hadn’t expected that answer. “I know I said that but?—”
I stood, closing the distance between us.
“You pushed me away, Scarlett,” I said, my voice low but firm. “I wanted to respect your space. But that didn’t mean I was going to sit back and let Victoria destroy you.”
Scarlett let out a shaky breath, her fists clenched at her sides.
“I still should’ve known, Christian. It’s my business, my reputation. I don’t need you fighting my battles without telling me,” she pointed out.
“I wasn’t trying to take over,” I told her, my voice gentler now. “I was trying to protect you.”
Scarlett pressed her lips together, clearly still irritated, but I could see some of the tension leaving her shoulders.
“Just… tell me what happened,” she said at last, folding her arms.
I motioned to the chair across from my desk. “Sit.”
She hesitated, then sat, crossing her legs. I took my seat as well, clasping my hands together before speaking.