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I stared at Emery as a dark voice in my head whispered that she’d never had money before When we’d been in Monaco, she’d been fixated on how , and this amount could be more than she’d make in her entire life

That hy I tried not to take it personally when she hesitated

“No,” she said finally, and I exhaled

Displeasure smeared across Wayne’s face “Ten million”

The room went quiet, but alarms blared in my head, and for the first time in my life, I wished my father were here He’d warn me Emery was emotionally compromised and we should walk Better to not close a deal than make a bad one, he’d say

Her chest rose and fell with her rapid, uneven breath, and her gaze went to the floor, too overwhelmed to look at either of us Orthe temptation to consider his offer

Her voice was small “I want you to delete the video”

“That’s not part of my offer,” he snapped

My father’s voice was loud in ain

It surged out of me “Turn that down because I’ll match it I’ll have ten ”

All that did was throw more chaos at her, and Emery’s wild eyes found mind

The idea of paying tendidn’t sit ith me, but what choice did I have? It was only money And it ell spent if it would secure her decision to protect my family

“This is est you be smart and take it” Wayne’s voice was colder than a nor’easter in winter “You keep your mouth shut for the watch, fifteen million, and the pro into my safe”

The fear that splashed across her beautiful face flipped the world upside-down Everything was slipping away

“You don’t have proof,” I spat out

“Maybe not yet, but I’ll find some, Vance Nobody’s perfect”