Chapter 4

### Chapter 4

For a second every face turned to me like I was an idiot, all of them thinking the same thing: A hundred million? Does she think that's just a string of digits? Wait until she can't produce the money, then watch her cry and beg.

But I only lifted the corner of my mouth and changed direction.

"Philip Winfield, now let's tally up what you owe me."

"First, my gown was custom-made by my superior, and your mistress ruined it so it can't be worn. Second, your mother just now—"

Philip cut me off, rough about it.

He looked down at me, sneering.

"Dirty? Dirtier than you?"

"Rose is a pure white jasmine. What's wrong with her adoring me? Not like you, loose in private, filthy from head to toe. And you've got the nerve to ask me for compensation?"

Laughter broke out around us.

Rose pointed at me with contempt. "Are you brain-damaged, you slut? It's one crappy gown. Fine, I'll just buy it."

My gaze swept slowly across the room, and I spoke coldly.

"This gown has been registered on the record. Did you really think anyone could wear it?"

"I'd like to see who ends up crying over it in the end."

"You want to die, threatening the Winfield family?" Rose shrieked like a rabid dog jumping up and down. "All that talk, you tramp, you're not trying to weasel out of paying, are you?"

"Shut up!"

I whipped my hand hard across her left cheek.

Years in a classified unit had taught me to hold back, but that slap couldn't wait.

Rose clutched the five-finger mark, pointing at me in disbelief. "You—you dare hit me?!"

Philip rushed forward and pulled her into his arms, aching over her.

"Are you out of your fucking mind? You dare touch my woman! Kneel and apologize or I promise you won't live through today."

"Young Mr. Winfield, remember what you just said."

In all my years I'd never met anyone who provoked me like this. I couldn't be bothered with more words. I pulled out my phone and dialed.

"Lawyer James, the wedding's off. Void the partnership agreement immediately."

Then I dialed that classified number.

The line connected, and my superior's warm, easy laugh came through.

"So, the wedding went off without a hitch? If the honeymoon isn't long enough, I'll get you a few more days approved."

I looked at Philip, still swaggering, and said flatly, "Sorry, sir. There's no wedding. The gown you had made for me was ruined by the groom and his mistress."

"What?!" A furious slam of a palm on a desk came down the line. "The sash sewn into that gown was awarded by the president himself. I'd say they've decided they don't want to live."

"They've also smeared my name, and even threatened to make our unit disappear—"

Before I could finish, Philip snatched the phone, put it on speaker, arrogant to the last.

"You her superior? I'm Philip Winfield, from Chicago. Today she pays me a hundred million in emotional damages and kneels to apologize, or you can come collect her body."

My superior went silent for a few seconds. His tone was oddly calm.

"All right. I'll send the money over right now. You wait."

Philip hung up, smug, not sensing anything wrong at all.

Mrs. Winfield gloated beside him. "Doesn't matter who they are. One mention of the Winfield name and they're scared stupid."

Rose covered her face, her eyes full of venom. "If I don't slap her a hundred times today, I'll never swallow this."

One look from Philip, and the bodyguards behind me stepped up at once, wrenching both my arms back behind me.

"However she bullied you, give it back to her!"

Rose walked up to me smiling, and raised her hand high.

The bodyguard was too strong. I struggled a few times and couldn't break free, and I stared her down coldly. "You dare hit me, and you think the Winfield family will still exist tomorrow? Try it if you're not afraid to die."

Rose faltered for a moment under the vicious look in my eyes.

She glanced at Philip, and Philip gave her a nod of assurance.

At once she turned smug again and lifted her palm high.

"Cut the fucking bluffing! Here in Chicago the Winfields are royalty. Today I'll hit you until your own mother won't know you!"

Her palm came down at me with a rush of wind, and I shut my eyes tight.

Just then the door was kicked in with a crash.

A squad of armed special forces filed in, bearing down hard, hemming everyone in with no way out.