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That’s no one’s fault but ests She’s been hovering over ot here I think she feels some sense of responsibility since she had to break the news to me But it doesn’t matter who told me or how I found out All that matters is the bottom line

Finn Marshall nons me in truth

"Or maybe it’s exactly what it looks like" My head falls forward into my hands Not only am I humiliated because I’ve been so stupid and so blind but also completely sick that I have letbut support ainst ht up in the crossfire

"He warned e and that was his sole purpose in seeking me out"

"He actually said that?" Daphne asks, horrified

Tara squeezes her aret ahead of ourselves There may be another explanation Maybe he was already in the process of buying Mercers before you guys reconnected?"

It’s possible but in my heart I know it isn’t true My mom always told me not to trust pretty words from a ood at that If I had heeded that advice, then I would have run away the first ti so haunted

"He would have told me about it if that were the case It came up in conversation way too many times No, this was deliberate I knoas"

Finally Tara speaks e’re all thinking "But if he’s doing this for revenge, then that means we just lost two major contracts And we can’t meet payroll without at least one of them"

I nod, miserable If I hadn’t already done the paperwork to push a couple of our part-timers into full-time status it wouldn’t be so bad Buthavewith the resultant benefits and taxes to pay Along with our next rent payment, we’re screwed

Totally and completely screwed

"How could he even know that was one of our od" The huainst the desk "The presentation When his lawyer asked for the quote, he also asked for references You know, other clients so they can check up on you That presentation gave hiure out our weak spots I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t try to buy all of our other clients That’s how he does things All or nothing"

"This is pretty sick There has to be so we can do" Tara paces the floor and then blows out a breath "Maybe we should go and talk to hio to the media! Hoould he like that? I’m sure the local neould cover that story Billionaire asshole bankrupts three local woh Even in the h Then o talk to him He’s mad at me so it follows that I’m the one he wants to hurt the most Maybe if I tell him what he’s really done, he’ll stop this There’s plenty of other ways he can hurt justaway the employment of a bunch of women who need their jobs"