Billionaire, Let's Divorce! by BELLA

DENNIS

I slammed my fist on Cole's desk, causing everything on top to rattle.

"What the hell do you mean you can't find him?"

"Did I hear you well or have I suddenly developed an ear problem?"

Cole shrank back. His eyes were wide with fear and remorse.

"I'm sorry man, I've tried everything. James just...disappeared without a trace after taking all our investments."

Rage boiled inside me. I grabbed Cole by the lapels and shoved him against the wall.

"You're supposed to be the expert! You vouched for this guy!"

"I know, I know," Cole sputtered, hands up defensively.

"Believe me, I'm just as gutted as you are. I lost every penny too!"

I sneered.

"Yeah? Well it's a lot easier for you to be casual about losing pocket change. I put in $100,000 man! Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed for that?"

The memories flooded back, of all the rights I had to part with to raise that money. I thought that if the investment paid off, I could buy a whole new collection and more. Now all I had to show for it was NOTHING. Letting go of Cole, I ran shaky hands through my hair. I started pacing, mind racing over how I could possibly make this right. The bars were doing well, but not well enough to absorb that steep a loss quickly. "I'm ruined..." I muttered, then whirled on Cole again.

"This is on you! You talked me into this scheme with your big dreams about life-changing profits!"

Cole flinched at my booming voice.

"I didn't know he was going to run a damn Ponzi scheme! The backgrounds, documentation, it all checked out!"

and hurled it across the room.

secretary stuck her head in, alarmed. "Everything

OUT!" I roared, causing the woman to shrink back in terror before

the desk as I fought for control.

way to track this

could only shake

man. He covered his

the desk with an animalistic bellow, raining papers and office supplies across the room.

the liquor cart and heaved it against the wall, shattering

out and slammed

hard the frame nearly splintered. I ripped my suit jacket off

the parking lot

my

car, I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. I exploded with a strangled

"Stupid...fucking...idiot!"

with another bone-jarring

be

through my hands chased away any

slumped forward

on

around me. I sold off two

liquidated nearly every asset to raise that $100,000

son of a bitch," I spat at my

for more. For what? To get played like a

dreams and security I'd sacrificed so much for, gone in an instant because of my greed and one man's deception. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying in vain to somehow make this waking nightmare go away. But the throbbing ache in my

gambled

drive home.

was stuck fast, defying

wrenched the key back