The Billionaire Husband They Humiliated

Chapter 006

Isaac wasn't finished with Jordan's outfit.

“That designer created the original collection while dealing with his wife's illness,” he explained. “The distorted stripe pattern was supposed to reflect what he was going through. You don't even know the story behind the clothes you're showing off.”

He glanced at Jordan. “So what exactly are you trying to say by wearing it? That you want this family to fall apart?”

His voice carried across the banquet hall.

For a moment, everyone was speechless. Nobody had expected Isaac Thornton—the family's favorite punching bag—to know anything about high fashion.

“Jordan,” Isaac continued, “my wife doesn't care much about clothes. But the shoes she's wearing? I doubt you've ever seen anything like them.”

He gestured toward Ruby's feet.

“Those are the Elysian Slingback heels. Look them up if you don't believe me. Just try not to faint when you see the price.”

A murmur rolled through the crowd.

“No way. Those are real?”

“They're beautiful!”

“Wait, aren't there only a handful of pairs in the whole world?”

The heels sparkled under the lights. Every detail was exquisite, and there was no mistaking their authenticity. Ruby, who had been mortified only moments earlier, suddenly found herself at the center of everyone's attention.

But something didn't add up.

How did Isaac know so much about that designer? Or about her shoes? For years, he'd seemed incapable of doing anything right. Where had all this knowledge come from?

He probably looked it up online, she decided. He couldn't possibly know it himself.

“You're talking nonsense!” Jordan snapped. “You don't know a damn thing!”

Two sharp cracks cut through the argument.

Ruby's mother had slapped Isaac across the face. Twice.

The hall went silent.

“What do you think you're doing?” she hissed. “Apologize to Jordan this instant! You've embarrassed us enough.”

Jordan was the patriarch's favorite grandson. Offending him could have consequences for everyone in Ruby's branch of the family, and her mother was terrified of losing favor.

“Mom! Stop!” Ruby rushed forward and caught her arm.

Isaac pressed his hand to his stinging cheek. He should have been furious. Instead, he found himself smiling faintly. In all their years together, Ruby had almost never stood up for him. She had done it now.

He turned and walked out.

“Isaac! Come back here!” his mother-in-law screamed. “Don't you dare walk away!”

A moment later, an elderly man's voice sounded from the front of the hall.

“What's all this commotion?”

The Pugh family patriarch entered with a cane, supported by an attendant. Conversation stopped as he made his way to the head table.

“Sit down, everyone. We're family. No need to stand on ceremony.”

Once he was seated, he cleared his throat.

“I hear Aether Group is appointing a new president tomorrow. Nobody seems to know who it is.”

The announcement sent a ripple of excitement around the room. Aether Group was enormous. For years, the Pughs had tried to win a contract with the company, only to be rejected. With a Thornton-backed business of that size, the potential profits were enormous.

A change of leadership might be their first real opportunity.

“Whoever secures a partnership with Aether Group will have done this family a tremendous service,” the patriarch said. “Any volunteers?”

Hands shot up.

“I'll do it!”

“Let me try!”

“I can bring them to the table!”

Ruby stayed quiet. She knew how little influence she had within the wider family. There was no reason to believe her grandfather would choose her.

He looked toward Jordan.

“You go tomorrow, Jordan. I have confidence in you.”

Jordan beamed. Finally, a chance to prove he was the family's most promising heir.

Isaac, meanwhile, had already taken a cab home. He lay awake thinking about his new position, then finally slept with a smile on his face.

The next morning, refreshed and excited, he climbed onto his battered motor scooter and headed for Aether Group.

Uncle Jake had promised that a secretary would be waiting to meet him.

Aether's headquarters stood in the heart of Oakridge City. Expensive cars filled the underground garage, and celebrities regularly came and went through the main entrance. Photographers hovered around the building, hoping to catch a recognizable face and sell the pictures.

Isaac looked at the luxury cars, then at his scooter.

I really need to buy something better.

He had just stepped off when an engine roared nearby.

A Ferrari swept past, missing him by inches—and struck the scooter instead.

Plastic shattered. The scooter spun across the pavement.

“You've got to be kidding me!” Isaac groaned. “Again?”

People gathered to watch.

The driver emerged from the Ferrari, furious.

“Who parks like that? Are you trying to cause an accident?”

Isaac looked up.

“Sara?”

It was Sara Davis, the woman from his high school reunion. She looked every bit as glamorous as she had the night before, with designer heels and clothes that drew admiring glances from the crowd.

She stopped when she recognized him.

“What are you doing here? This isn't the kind of place you belong.”

She assumed he'd come to take photographs of celebrities for money.

“Did you not see my car?” she demanded. “Do you even know how to ride that thing? I just bought this Ferrari!”

“You hit me,” Isaac said. “How is that my fault?”

“What's going on here?”

Several security guards rushed over. Their captain took one look at Sara's appearance and expensive car and decided she must be an important client.

He turned on Isaac.

“Motor scooters aren't allowed here. Don't you know the rules?”

Isaac folded his arms. “And who made that rule?”

“I did,” the captain snapped. “Around here, what I say goes. Apologize to this lady right now.”

Judging by Isaac's clothes, the guard assumed he had come to apply for a security job.

Sara raised an eyebrow. “Is this your new hire?”

“Absolutely not,” the captain assured her. “I wouldn't hire someone like him.”

Sara laughed. “Then go home, Isaac. Looks like you didn't get the job.”

Isaac shook his head. A company this successful, and the people at the front door were already acting like bullies.

“You're going to fire me?” he asked the captain. “What makes you think you have that kind of authority?”

“You little—”

Sara cut him off. “You really never know when to shut up, do you? Fine. If security can't get rid of you, maybe someone from Human Resources can.”

She made a call.

A few minutes later, a stylish woman in business attire strode toward them. The guards straightened immediately.

“Ms. Davis.”

River Davis was Aether Group's HR manager—and Sara's aunt. It was largely thanks to that family connection that Sara expected to sign with the company.

“Aunt River,” Sara greeted her.

River looked at Isaac with obvious contempt.

“Apologize to Sara.”

“Why?” Isaac asked. “And who are you to tell me what to do?”

Someone in the crowd sucked in a breath. No one spoke to River that way.

“You're not getting a job here,” River said. “I decide who gets through the door. Leave, before I have security remove you.”

Isaac smiled. “You want me gone? You may want to think carefully about that.”

“I'll pay for the damage to your scooter if that's what it takes. Just get out of here.”

Isaac's phone began to ring.

At that same moment, another luxury sedan pulled up. A woman in a sharply tailored suit stepped out, dark sunglasses hiding her eyes. She hurried toward the crowd.

“I'm so sorry I'm late, Mr. Thornton,” she said, bowing deeply.

It was Quinn Bateman, his new executive secretary.