“There’s something else you should know about tonight…”
Isabella snapped her fingers.
The sharp crack echoed.
The blonde woman in the silver dress—Alex’s date—stopped in her tracks.
She turned around.
But she didn’t look at Alex.
She looked at Isabella.
Slowly, the blonde reached behind her neck.
She unclasped the massive diamond necklace from her throat.
She walked over and dropped it onto Isabella’s silver tray.
“Asset audit complete, Ms. Laurent,” the blonde said, her voice entirely devoid of emotion. “He is completely insolvent.”
Alex choked on his next breath.
“Chloe?” he gasped. “What are you doing?”
Chloe didn’t even blink.
“My job.”
Isabella held the diamonds up to the chandelier light.
“You see, Alex,” Isabella murmured, her voice slicing through the dead-silent room.
“You thought you were the guest of honor.”
“You thought this was a networking gala.”
She dropped the necklace back onto the tray with a heavy clink.
“This is an auction.”
Alex’s stomach plummeted into a bottomless void.
“Your cars. Your start-up. Your offshore accounts,” Isabella said, stepping into his personal space, her eyes like crushed ice.
“I didn’t just buy half this estate, Alex.”
“I bought your debt.”
“All of it.”
Panic seized him.
He reached out for Chloe.
She stepped back in disgust.
“That fifty grand you bet me?” Isabella whispered, her voice dangerously low.
“You don’t even have it.”
She turned her back on him, facing the breathless crowd.
“Security,” Isabella announced, her voice ringing loud and clear.
“Escort the trespasser out.”
Two massive guards materialized from the shadows.
They grabbed Alex by the arms.
Dragged him backward.
Sputtering. Flailing. Ruined.
Isabella picked up a fresh glass of champagne.
“Oh, and Alex?” she called out over his frantic, fading shouts.
He managed to look back one last time.
She took a slow, victorious sip.
“I actually *can* dance.”