LAPDOG HUSBAND IS A TRILLIONAIRE HEIR

CHAPTER 40

Chapter 40

Peter slammed his fist against the mahogany desk, causing the expensive crystal tumbler to wobble precariously. Tommy's voice through the phone speaker was tinged with both fear and anger.

"I'm telling you, boss, this guy just waltzed in claiming to be the Yemin and took out three of our best men like they were nothing!" Tommy's voice cracked slightly.

At the mention of that name, a cold shiver ran down Peter's spine. Images flashed through his mind—a battlefield, the humiliating defeat, the whispers that followed. He shook his head, dispelling the memory.

"Don't be ridiculous," Peter growled, masking his momentary discomfort with aggression. "That was years ago, and certainly not here. Some punk is trying to intimidate you with a name."

"But boss—"

"Enough! I'll be there in twenty minutes. Nobody challenges my authority in my own territory. Keep them there."

Peter disconnected the call and stared out the window of his penthouse office. Could it really be him? After all these years? The thought made his stomach clench, but he quickly steeled himself. No. Just some opportunist using an old legend to throw us off balance.

Back at the club, Tommy pocketed his phone with a smug smile spreading across his face as he approached the group.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, circling Katherine and her friends like a shark. "The big boss himself is coming to deal with you. You should be honored—Peter doesn't usually bother with insignificant problems."

Katherine stepped forward. "Look, Tommy, this is all a misunderstanding. We don't want trouble."

"Should've thought about that before your friends decided to play hero," Tommy sneered, his eyes roaming over the girls in a way that made them shift uncomfortably. "But maybe we can work something out before Peter arrives."

"What do you mean?" Katherine asked cautiously.

Tommy's smile widened. "A little... private entertainment for me and my boys might smooth things over. Nothing too complicated." He reached out to touch Sophie's hair.

"Don't touch her!" Faye snapped, slapping his hand away.

Tommy's expression darkened. "You bitches really don't know what kind of trouble you're in, do you?"

Katherine pulled out her phone. "I'm calling James. He'll sort this out."

Tommy laughed cruelly. "James? That daddy's boy? Please, sweetheart, run to your boyfriend. I'd love to see his face when Peter walks in."

While Katherine frantically dialed, the other girls huddled together.

"This is all because of you and that weird friend of yours," hissed Amanda, glaring at Faye. "If you hadn't brought the Yemin or whatever here, we'd be dancing and having fun!"

"Yeah," Jessica chimed in. "Who even is that guy? Some kind of psycho you picked up?"

Faye's face burned with anger and shame. They don't understand. They never try to understand anything beyond their privileged bubble.

Meanwhile, Katherine was having no luck with James.

"Baby, you've got to help us," she pleaded into the phone. "Your dad knows people, right? Can't you call him?"

James's voice was high with panic. "I'm trying, Kat! Dad's not answering. He's at some charity gala."

"Try harder! Tommy's threatening us, and his boss Peter is on the way!"

"Peter?" James's voice dropped to a whisper. "Peter Kozlov? Oh god, Kat, do you know who that is?"

"I don't care who he is! Just get us out of here!"

"I'll—I'll figure something out," James stammered unconvincingly. "Just don't... don't piss them off, okay?"

Katherine ended the call, her previous confidence in James deflating rapidly. He sounded terrified, not at all like someone who could save them.

How did a simple night out turn into this nightmare? she thought, watching Tommy and his remaining men block the exits while leering at them.

"James will fix this," Katherine announced to the group with a conviction she didn't feel. "His father has connections."

Tommy overheard and burst into laughter. "Connections? With who? The country club board? The yacht club committee?" He slapped his knee theatrically. "You rich kids crack me up. You think your daddy's platinum card can solve everything."

"Shut up!" Katherine snapped, her composure cracking.

"Make me, princess," Tommy shot back. "In about ten minutes, you're going to learn what real power looks like when Peter walks through that door. And trust me, he doesn't care how many I*******m followers you have."

Sophie began to cry quietly while Amanda and Jessica continued to shoot venomous glares toward Faye.

"This is your fault," Amanda muttered. "You and the Yemin."

The name hung in the air like a challenge as they all waited for Peter's arrival, the clock ticking ominously in the background.