After three sses of wine, Violet felt dizzy and lightheaded.


    "Let me go. I''m pregnant-I can''t drink..." She struggled to keep her voice steady as she looked at them. "You know I''m Mrs. Langford. You can''t treat me like this."


    The men who had been forcing drinks on her hesitated, a flicker of unease passing between them. Reluctantly, they released her.


    Simms strode over, grabbed her chin, and pped her hard across the face.


    "Pregnant? Don''t make meugh. You haven''t even got a uterus anymore. Lyinges as naturally to you as breathing, doesn''t it?" His voice was icy. "Ever since you walked through the doors of Golden Era Enterprises, you''ve belonged to thispany. You think you can just freeload and get away with it?"


    He shoved another ss into her hand. "You''re going to sit here and drink with us, and if you behave, you''ll get your bonus at the end of the month. But if you try any more of your little tricks, you''ll regret it."


    Right in front of thepany board members, Simms pped Violet not once, but three times. Her cheek swelled and burned.


    Violet stared at him in disbelief, cradling her face. She couldn''tprehend how her own father could treat her this way.


    "Mr. Miller, we''re just here to have a good time-there''s no need to lose your temper," someone tried to smooth things over.


    "Exactly, Mr. Miller. We''re just getting started. Ms. Marchand, this wine costs a fortune-over ten grand a bottle. You''re not losing out. Look, if you go along with Mr. Miller, we''ll sign the deal tonight. How''s that?"


    A handful of men in their fifties, dressed for business, looked at Violet with thinly veiled contempt.


    Simms'' expression softened when he heard the promise to sign the contract. He rested his hand on Violet''s shoulder, making her flinch and tremble.


    "Violet, maybe I was a little harsh just now. I apologize. Come, sit down. Keep these gentlemenpany tonight, and once this deal is sealed, I''ll promote you to Vice President in a few days."


    His words made Violet''s heart skip. She''d already boarded a sinking ship; it was toote to escape now. The only money she had left was that uncashed check from McNeil-half a million dors.


    "Come on, Ms. Marchand. It was just a little misunderstanding. Let''s keep drinking."


    They forced her back down at the table.


    The rest of the evening blurred into a drunken haze.


    The next morning, Violet woke up in a hotel room, a nket draped over her. When she pulled it back, she realized with a jolt that she was naked.


    A man across the room finished buttoning his shirt, nced at her, and smirked. "Last night was quite a ride, Ms. Marchand. Mr. Miller and I signed that $20 million contract, and you yed your part. He said you''ll get your cut."


    His words oozed sleaze. Before Violet could even sit up, he was out the door.


    She felt as if the sky had copsed. Her own father, Simms, had sold her-he''d made her use her body to secure that contract.


    Violet tossed aside the nket and tried to stand, but her legs buckled, and she copsed onto the carpet. It took all her strength just to get to her feet.


    She managed to stagger to the mirror. Her body was covered in bruises and scratches. No wonder everything ached-God knows what that man had done to herst night.


    She bit down on her lip so hard it bled.


    After putting on her clothes, she covered the marks on her neck and her swollen face with concealer.


    Then, furious, Violet stormed out of the hotel and headed straight for Golden Era Enterprises.


    She barreled up to Simms'' office using the staff elevator. Simms had just arrived, in a good mood after closing several big deals the night before.


    "Ms. Marchand, Mr. Miller is in a meeting. You can''t go in—" his assistant tried to block her, but Violet pushed past and burst into the office.