Chapter 6: The Price of Defiance

A gasp rippled through the crowd—someone recognized him. But D.C. society knows how to pretend: silence quickly returned.

Nathan wiped his hands with a monogrammed handkerchief, eyes cool. "Go to my car and wait for me."

If not for the engagement ring on my finger—a modest Zales quarter-carat Derek had saved for—or the video call with my fiancé twenty minutes earlier, I might have believed I was still trapped in that old orbit.

I shook it off, gave him my best donor-charming smile. "Sorry, Mr. Brooks, I still have work to do."

His voice chilled, dropping like a cold front. "Rachel Morgan. Don’t make me angry."

I tasted the humid air, caught the scent of hot dogs. "Sorry, I need to work."

The silence was so thick you could hear a career ending. Even Thompson, his long-time secretary, looked shocked.

My face stayed calm, but sweat soaked my back. Every cell in my body screamed to run, but I held my ground. If I gave in now, I’d never stop.

I knew what he could do—one word from Nathan and my world would collapse. He’d saved my family once with a single call; he could destroy us just as fast.

But Nathan only laughed, cold as cracked ice. "I never knew you had such a temper."

He didn’t press. Just turned and left, the crowd parting, everyone pretending nothing had happened.