After the divorce, he begged

Chapter 15

Rebecca turned toward the voice,

Stanley, in a perfectly tailored suit, offered an apologetic smile that reached his eyes, his whole presence radiating a friendly warmth.

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“Please excuse my bodyguards—they can be overprotective,” Stanley said, taking a seat and pouring coffee for Rebecca. “Please take a seat. Let’s talk about your ring.”

“I’ve changed my mind about selling it,” Rebecca said, checking her dead phone signal as she plotted her escape.

“Ms. Jensen, I’d encourage you to reconsider,” Stanley said, pushing the coffee toward her. “If this is about me running late or my guys being rude, l’il make it worth your while.”

“No, it’s not that. I just want to keep it for sentimental reasons,” Rebecca said.

Stanley spun his cup slowly, his whole vibe changing. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” Rebecca said.

“I guess you don’t know how I operate, Ms. Jensen,” Stanley said, dragging out his words. “I don’t usually make offers like this. When people flake at the last minute… let’s just say it pisses me off.”

Rebecca’s knuckles went white around her bag strap.

Stanley took a slow sip of coffee. “Throw out a number.”

“Fifteen million,” Rebecca said, hoping the crazy number would make him back off.

“I’m making a real offer here, Ms. Jensen. I hope you don’t take me for some easy mark,” Stanley said, setting down his cup with a calm smile. “How about 600 dollars?”

It was painfully clear to Rebecca now–he wasn’t here to negotiate, but to mess with her.

She gripped her phone tighter. “I’m not selling it.”

“Then I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way,” Stanley said, signaling his bodyguards with a look, and the two men moved in instantly.

Sensing trouble, Rebecca thumbed her emergency call button. But before she could complete the call, they snatched the phone from her hand and pinned her arms behind her back.

“This is robbery!” Rebecca shouted.

tilting her chin up as he delivered his lines. “I couldn’t touch you when Jeffrey had your back. Now you’re going to settle your father’s

sank at

Rebecca could even form a question, Stanley snapped orders to the bodyguards. “Tie her up, blindfold her, and put her in the suite next

waiting downstairs!” Rebecca blurted out. “If I’m not back in ten minutes, she’s

leaf, Rebecca had no choice but to let the

room, “This is the woman you treat like precious

is the only way to make a lesson stick,” Jeffrey’s cool voice responded. He stepped out in his gray suit, all cold intensity. His

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Chapter 15

eyes locked

even tried to sell the ring. If I don’t teach her a lesson now, who knows what she’ll pull next?‘ Jeffrey

toward women. “If she

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had just seen, his intense gaze unconsciously dropped

uncomfortably under the gaze. “What’s

did you use to touch her?” Jeffrey’s voice held a quiet

you for real? I was following your plan. You’re not crazy enough

I’m

it’s gonna be, count me out next time.

let out a derisive snort. “Some backbone

only stare in frustration. The only thing stopping him from throwing Jeffrey out

and get out,” Jeffrey ordered, his expression darkening as he thought

though he couldn’t help adding a word of caution. “Just take it easy, man. She

shot him a sharp, warning

alright, I’m gone,” Stanley said immediately, backing

until he heard the elevator doors slide shut before finally making his way down the hall

made Rebecca flinch, her bound body trembling against her will. She tried to scream, but the tape over her mouth trapped the sound, turning it into

of dress shoes clicking on the floor grew closer, sending fresh waves of fear through

her vision taken, every

moment, her terrified expression almost made him soften. But then he remembered how she tried to sell the ring he

calloused fingertips traced a slow path across her soft

shook her head wildly, trying to escape his touch, but she