Page 96 of The Husband Contract

“That’s strike one. We’ll have to write you up. If there’s another complaint, you’ll be dismissed.”

“But do I not get to?—”

“This is an exclusive club, Ms. Monty. We cannot havetrashworking here.”

I gape at him. As soon as he says the wordtrash, I know who he’s talking about. Louisa. She’s complained about me. I don’t even know her. I don’t know why she has a problem with me.

I press my lips together. “Do you mind if I go to the restroom?”

“Go ahead.”

I head to the back, sit on the toilet seat, and just stare at the door in front of me. I need the money, but this isn’t a place for me. This isn’t a place I want to be. The Magnolia Club may be for the richest and most powerful people in the world, but I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be around anyone who’s a member or works here.

As I think about the photos Jack showed me, a thought hits my brain.

I quickly grab my phone and do a Google search:Sergio Laurence.

I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it before. Immediately, a few photos pop up on the screen—and it’s the man Jack was showing me. A man I’ve never seen before in my life.

Sergio isn’t Clark Kent. Sergio is someone I’ve never met before.

All of a sudden, I’m nervous. Scared. Cold.

What’s going on? Why is this man pretending I dated him? What proof does he have? How did this happen to me?

It makes sense that maybe Clark Kent exaggerated a story and tried to pin it on me because I’d spurned him, but this was deeper than that. I have no clue who Sergio Laurence is. I’ve never met this man before in my life. He’s certainly never fallen in love with me or given me any money.

But I know Sebastian won’t believe me, and at this point, I’m too tired and exhausted to even try to convince him.

Still, there’s a glimmer of hope in me. Jack showed me his photograph. Maybe Jack is questioning what the truth of the matter really is.

I told him I didn’t know who Sergio was. But I don’t know if Jack believed me.

And after what had gone on with Sebastian, I know I can’t mention to him that Jack might know the truth. He’ll just think I wanted to be with Jack. That I was targeting him.

I lean back against the toilet.

Something big is going on, bigger than I could have ever imagined, and I have no idea what it is. I’m scared. And I know I have no one to turn to. No one to help.

I have no clue what to do. But all of a sudden, I feel a strength I didn’t know existed inside of me. I have done nothing wrong. I’m innocent. And I am going to make Sebastian pay for how he’d treated me. One way or another.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Sebastian

“Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to this emergency meeting,” I say, addressing the four board members seated around the large boardroom table I trust the most. “I appreciate it.”

This is a crucial moment in my company’s history and I have to get it right. I need these men on my side if I’m to maintain control of the company. Though I need to be careful about what I say.

I glance over at my attorney, and he nods. He’s here to ensure that no ethical lines are crossed and no one is able to decimate information that I have attempted to cross those lines.

“As most of you know, the stock has been tanking. Shareholders are selling their stocks in panic all based on speculation that is unfounded.”

“Why did Sergio dump all of his shares?” Romanov Andrei, a man who’s been on the board since my father was head of the company, frowns. I’m glad he’s gotten to the crux of the issue, and it infuriates me that my brother, who is the key to all of this nonsense, is overseas not giving a shit about the disaster he’s left in his emotional wake.

“The bigger question is who leaked that information to the media and what else do they know?” Marcus Jackson, the tech whiz kid, chimes in. Marcus is new to the board, but as the brainchild behind the latest billionaire dollar Silicon Valley venture, he’s been invaluable in providing a soundboard for which investments make the most sense as we head into the future. “What does Sergio know, Sebastian? What have you not told us?”

“Sergio, as most of you know…” My voice trails off as my phone rings. I dart my eyes down to the screen and see Jack’s name. I ignore the call since I don’t have time to talk to him right now. I clear my throat. “As most of you know, Sergio has never been involved in the day-to-day running of the company. Whatever or whomever caused him to relinquish a large number of his shares is information we’re trying to gather. Right now, we must focus on the Krylon merger.”