Page 56

Olivia stood in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
The heavy silence in the room was suffocating. The tension between Ellie and Sawyer was so thick, it was impossible to miss. And Olivia? She had caught just enough of the conversation to know exactly what was happening.
And her heart jumped in happiness.
"I just accidentally heard that Ellie already has a man? That’s great." She sauntered up beside Sawyer and slid her arm through his, grinning. "Let her be, Sawyer. She’s going to be kicked out soon anyway—she needs to find a new home. And you already have me now, so why would you care about my replacement?"
Sawyer yanked his arm out of Olivia’s grasp, his face twisting into a furious glare. But Olivia wasn’t done. She turned to Ellie with a condescending smirk.
"Why don’t you just go away? Leave now. Why are you still clinging to Sawyer? Even showing up at his office? Isn’t this a bit outrageous? This is called stalking."
Ellie exhaled sharply, her patience wearing dangerously thin. "For fuck’s sake, Olivia." Her voice was low with barely-contained rage. "I have no desire to stick to another woman’s man. If Mr. Stark approves, I’ll break up with him right now and leave. I wouldn’t be standing here watching your pathetic act!"
Sawyer’s fury ignited further. His fists clenched as he stepped closer to Ellie. "You’re fighting with me over a man you met a damn week ago?" He gritted out. "Just one one goddamn week, and you're already acting like this? Is he that fucking great?"
"Yes, he is!" Ellie shot back, unflinching. "He’s kind. He’s patient. And he doesn’t treat me like trash. He doesn’t treat me like I’m some disposable replacement or something he can buy with his money like an object. So yes, Mr. Stark—Jeremy is fucking great!"
Sawyer’s face darkened in a way it never had before. Not even when he lost billion-dollar deals. Not even when the world collapsed around him.
This? This was different.
The anger inside him boiled over, laced with something even deadlier—jealousy.
Marching forward, he got in her face, his voice low and dangerous. "Do you even know what kind of life models live, Ellie?" His tone was sharp, biting. "You’ve only seen the bright, pretty side. How do you know he doesn’t have an ulterior motive? How do you know he’s not just using you?"
Ellie scoffed, folding her arms. "What ulterior motive? Sleeping together? That’s the big scary motive you’re warning me about?" She tilted her head, her tone mocking. "So what? I’ll sleep with him. It’s not like I’m repulsed by the idea."
Sawyer’s entire body tensed, his fury snapping like a live wire.
"Henry!" he suddenly roared, his voice so thunderous that the entire office seemed to shake.
Outside, Henry jumped so hard he nearly dropped his phone. His heart pounded as he rushed inside, terrified of whatever disaster was unfolding. The moment he stepped into the office, he saw Olivia’s smug expression, Ellie’s burning rage, and Sawyer’s lethal fury.
This was bad. Really, really bad.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Stark?" Henry asked, keeping his voice calm and professional despite his racing pulse.
"Ban her cards." Sawyer’s voice was eerily calm, but his eyes never left Ellie. "Cancel everything—every fucking financial support I’ve given her. I am not financing some roadside bastard model’s lifestyle with my money."
Ellie’s mouth fell open. A laugh of disbelief escaped her before she scoffed and rolled her eyes. The fury inside her burned so fiercely it felt like it would consume her whole.
"Keep your damn money! I don’t need a single cent from you, Sawyer Stark!" she spat. "Do you really think I can’t survive without you? You can keep your money and shove it. Good luck!"
With that, she spun on her heels and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Later, as Henry gathered all of Ellie’s canceled cards and looked at Sawyer’s darkened, tensed expression, he hesitantly suggested, "Sir, perhaps you could talk to Miss Ellie calmly. Explain why you don’t want her near Mr. Nox."
Sawyer snapped his glare toward him. "What explanation?" he barked. "Why the fuck do I need a reason to keep that bastard away from my girlfriend? Isn’t it obvious?"
"So, the argument with Miss Ellie earlier—was it because you were jealous of her being with someone else?"
Sawyer’s eyes flashed dangerously. "Do I look jealous?" he snarled.
Henry wisely shut his mouth.
"Get the hell out."
And Henry, grateful for the dismissal, all but sprinted out of the office.