I stopped explaining myself to people who had already decided to underestimate me.
Vanessa tightened her grip on Daniel’s arm.
“Daniel, maybe we should go.”
“No.”
Of course not.
His pride wouldn’t allow him to retreat.
He stepped closer and lowered his voice.
“Claire, whatever happened between us shouldn’t interfere with business.”
“It hasn’t.”
He relaxed slightly.
“Good.”
“Your business practices have.”
The blood drained from his face.
For six weeks, Mercer Strategic Systems—Daniel’s technology-finance company—had been undergoing due diligence before Rhodes Capital purchased a controlling stake.
Two weeks earlier, our investigators discovered several unusual consulting payments.
Then offshore transfers.
Then invoices from companies that appeared to exist only on paper.
The deeper the review went, the worse it became.
One of those shell companies was indirectly connected to Vanessa.
Daniel glanced around the ballroom.
“What exactly are you talking about?”
I opened my clutch.
