Sherry tilted her head with a faint smile. "You really do not waste time, do you, Joshua? Most men in your position would milk a celebration like this for at least a week before talking about deadlines.""Celebrations are for people who think the work is finished." Joshua met her eyes with a steady look. "It has barely started."Lorenzo pointed at him with his glass. "That. Right there. That is exactly why I trust this man with my money."Their conversation flowed naturally, comfortably, as though nothing had interrupted it. As though Natalie had never walked up. As though she had never fallen. As though she did not exist at all.He does not even care. The thought hit Natalie harder than the marble floor had. I am standing right here and he does not care.She had expected anger. She had prepared for a confrontation. She could handle being yelled at, insulted, even threatened. But indifference? Complete, absolute indifference? That was something she had no defense against.A woman in a

Across the hall, several businessmen who had barely acknowledged Joshua all evening now straightened their jackets and began maneuvering closer, murmuring introductions to one another as they positioned themselves for an opportunity they had nearly let slip past."Excuse me, I do not believe we have formally met," one silver haired investor said, extending his hand toward Joshua with newfound enthusiasm. "David Kowalski, private equity. I would love five minutes of your time before the night ends."Another guest, a woman in a deep blue gown who had walked past Joshua twice without a glance, suddenly appeared at his side with a warm smile stretched across her face. "Mr. Hart, I do not think we were properly introduced earlier. Silly of me to have missed it."Joshua accepted each greeting with polite, measured nods, giving nothing away.Natalie stood frozen near the grand doors, one hand still resting uselessly against the handle. Her mind struggled to process what she was witnessing. Fr

"Accurate word." Lorenzo grinned. "Half those men in there would sell their own mothers for a five minute meeting with you now.""Then it's a good thing I'm not in the market for anyone's mother." Joshua's mouth twitched, the closest thing to a joke he'd offered all night.Kate finally laughed for the first time since the banquet, covering her mouth with one hand. "See, now that I believe."The four of them continued talking well past midnight, the conversation drifting easily between the entertainment project, the island's upcoming events, and lighter topics that had nothing to do with business at all. Sherry said little, but she watched closely, quietly filing away every calm response, every unbothered reaction, every moment Joshua remained unmoved by flattery or provocation alike."You don't say much either," Joshua said at one point, catching her studying him."I say what's worth saying." Sherry's tone stayed even, unreadable. "Most people talk to fill silence. I've never seen the

Monica ended the call and remained standing in the hallway for a long moment, her thumb tracing the edge of her phone. Mark had spent months playing the victim, painting himself as some wronged, overlooked man while quietly poisoning Natalie's trust in her own husband. He had smiled through dinners, whispered comfort into Natalie's ear, all while forging lies with the same hands he used to pour her wine.And the worst part, Monica thought, was how easily it had worked. Natalie, blinded by resentment and starved for validation, had swallowed every fabricated screenshot without question. She hadn't wanted the truth. She had wanted a reason to feel justified, and Mark had handed her exactly that, wrapped in false intimacy.Monica exhaled slowly and walked back toward her office, her heels clicking against the marble floor in a steady, unhurried rhythm. She pushed the door open, crossed to the window, and looked out over the distant skyline, the city sprawling gray and gold beneath the mo

After making discreet inquiries around the resort, Mark identified a young hotel employee responsible for coordinating guest access to the marina."Hey, man," Mark said, approaching the employee near the staff entrance with an easy grin. "Rough shift?"The young man, whose name tag read Tyler, glanced up warily. "Just doing my job, sir.""I bet it's a madhouse today with the yacht event," Mark said, leaning casually against the wall. "Bet nobody even tips you enough for dealing with all these entitled guests."Tyler shrugged. "It's fine."Pretending to be friendly, Mark slowly built a conversation with the employee, asking about his shift, his plans, complimenting how efficiently he handled the growing crowd of arriving guests. After several minutes of casual small talk, Mark's tone shifted, dropping lower, more conspiratorial."Look, Tyler, I'll be straight with you," Mark said, pulling out his wallet. "I need to get on that yacht today. And I'm willing to make it worth your while."