"Keep Mr. Ward happy tonight, and besides the Bloom & Co. deal, thepany will have plenty of other top-tier opportunities waiting for you. But if you dare pull another stunt like you did thest two times and sneak away, don''t me me for what happens next."


    Marina''s meticulously made-up face went deathly pale. “Chairman Spencer, I... I haven''t been feeling welltely. I really can''t entertain Mr. Ward.....”


    "So, you want to do this the hard way?" George cut her off, his patience gone. "This isn''t your first time sleeping with a client, Marina. Don''t y the saint with me.”


    Humiliation washed over her, and she swayed, stumbling from the sofa to her knees.


    "Chairman Spencer, I''m getting married soon," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "I can''t betray my fiancé again. Please, I''m begging you, let me go."


    George was unmoved. He reached down, grabbing her chin and tilting her face up. His eyes roamed over her features with a cruel, detached amusement, as if admiring a beautiful piece of art.


    “Such a captivating cry. No wonder Mr. Ward can''t get you out of his head," he mused. "Don''t think you can just grow wings and fly out of my control. That anonymous tip to the regtors about Nexus Media... that was you, wasn''t it?" "Wh-what tip?" Marina asked, her tear-filled eyes wide with genuine confusion.


    Seeing her sincere bewilderment, he released her. "It had better not have been. You don''t want to know what happens to people who cross me."


    He picked up the contract and the key card from the table and tossed them onto herp. “Don''t bete tonight. You keep Mr. Ward satisfied, and I''ll let you have your wedding. Otherwise, I can''t guarantee your wedding march won''t turn into a funeral dirge."


    Marina copsed on the floor, biting her pale lip so hard it nearly bled. Tears fell, one after another, sshing onto the cover of the contract.


    The next morning, Yvonne lingered in bed, habit she''d fallen into. Bullety by the side of the bed, his big puppy eyes fixed on her, his tail giving a gentle thump thump against the floor as he kept his masterpany.


    Suddenly, the phone on the nightstand rang. Bullet''s ears perked up instantly. He hopped off the bed, trotted over to the nightstand, and gently picked up the phone in his mouth, carrying it back to Yvonne.


    "Good boy," she murmured, taking the phone and patting his head before answering.


    ein


    was


    It was Helen. Her mother-inw had fully recovered, and she was anxious to have Bullet back. With Bet at the base most of the time and a cleaning service handling the apartment, Helen''s primary job was taking care of the dog. vonne extended dog-sitting had made her feel insecure; at her age, finding another job so easy and well-paying would be nearly impossible.


    Yvonne promised to bring Bullet back to Cherry Bay before noon. Even over the phone, she could hear Helen''s audible sigh of relief.


    After hanging up, Yvonne threw back the covers and got out of bed. She washed up and then started packing Bullet''s things.


    "Helen''s back, so I have to take you home to Cherry Bay today," she said to Bullet


    as she gathered his toys. "You have to be a good boy when you get back, you hear me?"


    Bullet sat by the doors, his tail wagging slowly. He looked at Yvonne with sad, helpless eyes.


    Once everything was packed, she


    leashed Bullet and headed


    downstairs. Yvonne rarely drove herself, the traumatic car crash in


    her past life had left a lingering


    shadow of fear. But today, the family


    driver was out with Teresa, a


    calling a car would be a hassle. She picked a white Porsche from the garage, loaded Bullet in, and drove


    off.