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Chapter 138

Author: Ena Starr
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-18 10:37:37

Conrad

The third glass of bourbon didn’t bring the calm I’d been hoping for.

It never did, if I was being honest. The fire in my chest was one that was tight and restless. It wasn’t the kind a drink could tame. Not today, not with the kind of nonsense Elle had walked into my office with an hour ago. I downed the rest of the glass in one motion, the burn slipping down my throat uselessly. It didn’t even scratch the surface of the fury coiling under my skin.

Of all people, Ross Delaney was the last I expected to throw a wrench into the works of my plans. We’d shaken hands, laughed over overpriced steak, called each other directly to hash things out. We weren’t just partners in business, we were already friendly, goddammit. And now Elle had the nerve to stand in front of me and say he was “no longer comfortable moving forward”? That he wanted a full refund for the money he’d already invested?

I moved to the decanter again but stopped short of pouring myself a fourth glass. My hand clenc
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