A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

"So, what's it gonna be? Can you pay it back within a week? Or do you think jail time is the better deal?"

Calliope had no intention of letting Lisette off the hook. She looked at her, lips curled in a cold, mocking smile.

Lisette's face turned ashen. One glance at Calliope told her all she needed to know. She had rock-solid evidence. There was no excuse Lisette could offer. She was completely at Calliope's mercy now.

"I'll pay it back... But a week? That's way too short. Can't you give me more time?" Lisette tried to negotiate.

She was in a deep hole. There was no way she could scrape together that kind of cash so quickly. This wasn't pocket change; it was a serious sum. How was she supposed to pull that off in just seven days?

"Oh, so you didn't think about that when you were skimming off the top, huh? You're always going on about how much you care about the company, about helping it grow. This your idea of helping?" Calliope's voice was sharp. "Because if everyone did what you did, there wouldn't be a company left."

Lisette could feel her cheeks burning. Monty was standing right there, and she'd always told him everything she did was for the good of the family business. Now Calliope had dug up the truth and thrown it right in her face.

"I get it. I'll figure something out!" she snapped, glancing at Monty. She wanted to explain, but what could she possibly say?

her needs had outgrown what they were willing to give. That's why she'd

crossed her mind that Calliope would one day be in charge,

you still want

barely able to hide her disbelief and dread. She knew Calliope wouldn't make things easy for her, not a chance. Whatever tasks were coming, they'd be the kind that made her question why she showed

doing this on purpose, just to make her

The company was Calliope's now. Even the Jewell family had changed. None of

left the

and nearly walked right into Horatio and Valerian. The two men stood in the hallway,

own face was a mess of emotions. She stared

Valerian just nodded at her, then walked into the

felt her composure cracking. She stumbled back to her own

inside, Calliope looked at Horatio and Valerian as they approached and tossed a