Chapter 1 - TWELVE MILLION
Vanessa Reed did not whisper.
She slammed her phone onto the glass conference table hard enough to make every head in the open-plan office turn.
Photos filled the screen.
Claire Morgan leaving the Langford Hotel.
Claire beside Adrian Hayes in a private elevator.
Claire’s hand on his chest.
Adrian kissing her.
Married Adrian Hayes.
Founder.
Chairman.
One of the richest men connected to the company.
Vanessa pointed at the phone.
“You’re sleeping with a MARRIED MAN!”
Claire shot to her feet.
Not frightened.
Annoyed.
She shoved the phone back across the table.
“So?”
The office went silent.
Vanessa stared.
“You’re proud of this?”
Claire grabbed her luxury handbag and slammed it onto the table.
“This company pays me FIVE THOUSAND a month.”
People exchanged confused looks.
Claire smiled.
Then pointed at herself.
“But HE gives me TWELVE MILLION.”
Silence became shock.
Vanessa’s face burned red.
Claire stepped closer.
“No matter what you do—”
She looked Vanessa slowly up and down.
“You’ll NEVER be as good as me.”
Then everyone turned toward the office entrance.
Claire noticed.
Her smile disappeared.
Rebecca Hayes stood in the doorway.
Adrian’s wife.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Holding printed photographs and financial records.
Rebecca crossed the room.
SLAMMED the papers onto the conference table.
Stopped inches from Claire.
“Twelve million?”
Claire took one step back.
For the first time, she looked unsure.
Rebecca opened the top document.
“Funny.”
She tapped one line.
May you like
“Because six million of it came from an account with my name on it.”
Claire stopped breathing.
