CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

RICHARD'S POV

I was poring over the details of the partnership when my secretary buzzed in. "Amelia's here to see you," she said, a note of surprise in her voice.

Amelia. I hadn't seen her since the day of the auction. A sense of unease gripped me, but I pushed it aside. "Send her in," I commanded, not sure what to expect.

She entered, a vision of distress. I raised my head to observe her, my expression guarded. "Amelia," I said, my voice neutral. "What brings you here?"

Amelia swallowed the lump in her own throat. "Richard, I need your help."

The laughter that followed wasn't cruel, but it wasn't kind either. "You need my help?"

"I know how this looks," She said quickly. "But it's not for me—it's for my family. We're about to lose everything. The company, our home, our legacy. Mr. Kingsley loaned us money, and he's calling it in. We have 48 hours to pay back $35 million."

My expression changed, the smile replaced by something colder, more calculating.

"I know we've had our difference