Chapter 2

Nobody says a word.

The ten million dollars comes from the sale of one of my father’s properties.

Dad told me to spend it on whatever I wanted.

He even offered to help me buy another property, but I turned him down.

I was going to move the money over to Gavin’s bank anyway. I figured it would help his numbers.

But after today, why would I leave a dime there?

Jessica is the first to laugh.

“Ten million?”

Linda follows.

“She has ten million dollars?”

I look at both of them.

A few employees exchange glances.

One of them whispers, “If she really had that kind of money, why would she be standing in the regular line?”

“She would’ve booked private banking.”

Jessica smiles.

“Exactly.”

Just then, a young bank employee hurries over, looking rattled.

“Jessica.”

“We do have a private banking appointment scheduled for today.”

“It’s for a ten-million-dollar transfer.”

“The last name is Sterling. Could it be—”

“Are you kidding me?” Jessica cuts her off.

“Someone like her couldn’t possibly have ten million dollars.”

“Check the client’s information again.”

“It can’t be her.”

The employee nods and hurries back to her desk.

I’m done wasting my time here. I’d rather go home and deal with Gavin myself.

I reach down to pick up my bag.

Jessica suddenly smacks my bag to the floor.

“You heard I was checking the client’s information, and now you’re trying to leave?”

“What, getting nervous now?”

The contents of my bag spill across the floor.

I frown.

“Is this how you treat your customers?”

“Do you have any idea how fast someone can get fired for behavior like this?”

“Fired?”

Jessica lets out a scoff.

“This is private banking, sweetheart. Do you even know where you are?”

“My husband is the bank’s president and CEO. He’s the one in charge.”

“So who exactly do you think is going to fire me?”

She gives my shoulder a little poke.

“That ten million is nothing but a lie you made up to show off.”

“You’re only trying to leave because you’re embarrassed.”

Then she notices something on the floor.

Her eyes narrow.

“What’s that?”

She crouches and picks it up.

My keychain.

She turns it over in her hand.

Then looks at me.

“Why do you have my husband’s keychain?”

“Where the hell did you get that? Tell me.”

It’s one half of a limited-edition matching set I had custom-made for Gavin and me.

Gold. Diamonds. One of a kind.

His is identical to mine.

I meet Jessica’s eyes and let out a cold laugh.

“I paid for it myself. Why do I have to explain myself to you?”

“You bought it?” Her face goes red. “Don’t lie to me. That’s my husband’s!”

“And even if it’s not the exact same one, it’s from the same damn matching set!”

She hurls it at my feet.

“So that’s what this is about!”

“You’ve been on my back all morning because you’re sleeping with my husband, haven’t you?”

“Walking into his office with his things, acting like you’ve done nothing wrong. What, you think I’m stupid?”

“This is exactly what you wanted, isn’t it? To get under my skin!”

The keychain hits the floor. Tiny diamonds scatter across the floor around my feet.

Her accusation is so ridiculous that I actually laugh.

I glance up at the security cameras mounted throughout the lobby.

Then I look straight back at Jessica.

“You know we’re on camera, right?”

My voice turns cold.

“You just damaged my property. And now you’re accusing me of provoking you?”

“Seriously?”

I pull out my phone.

“Fine. I’ll call the police.”

A scoff comes from the side.

Linda.

She’s been standing there the whole time, watching the argument like it’s some kind of show.

“The police?” she says, with a laugh.

She points down at the broken keychain.

“Jessica just damaged Mr. Cole’s property, and you’re the one threatening to call the cops?”

“If anyone has a reason to call the police, it’s him.”

Then her finger swings toward me.

“Please. Don’t act so innocent.”

“You’re nothing but his side piece. So know your place.”

Just then, the bank’s front doors swing open.

My mom walks in.

Linda’s last words carry across the lobby.

My mom stops cold.

“What did you just say?”

She looks straight at Linda.

“Who did you just call a side piece?”