The private diningroom was filled with the echoingsilence of Ashlee's forced removal. Lorraine was frantically grippingthe edge of the table, muttering curses under her breath, Connor and Beatrice sat frozen in their chairs, lookinglike two corpses whose souls had just been violently extracted.
Anissaignoredall of them
She sat back down in her chair. She picked up her heavy silver knife and fork. With slow, methodical precision she cut a piece of herfive-hundred ~doliar Wagyu steak, placed it inher mouth, and chewed.
She ate in absolute silence, forcing them to watch her enjoy her meal while their worlds burned to the ground
Lorraine couldn't take the psychological torture anymore. She threw the. wet napkinsonto the table.
“Anissa please!” Lorraine shrieked her voice crackingwith genuin epanic. "You have your revenge! You humiliated us! But you can't let the foundation diel If we don't get the capital from that trust fund by tomorrow, the bank is goingto liquidate the company! We will be on the street!”
Anissa swallowed her steak. She placed her knife and fork down on the porcelain plate. She picked up her linen napkinand dabbed the corners of her mouth.
She looked at Lorraine. There was no anger left in her eyes. There was only the cold, clinical detachment of a surgeonremovinga tumor.
“The charity foundations bankruptbecause Harold embezzled the funds,” Anissa said flatly . "And as for his damage control? | had Caleb pull the records from the board of directors this morning"
Lorraine's breath hitched.
“He didn't st ep down to save the kids" Anissa stated, exposingthe final lie. "He was forcibly ousted because he is hidingfrom federal creditors. He's a coward."
Lorraine's mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. The lie was dead. 0.0% 1242 N8
me) #2 +120 Points at most Her last weapon was gone.
Anissatumed her cold gaze to Beatrice and Connor
“And you two," Anissa said, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. “Stop dreaming about the trust fund, The moment | signedthe marriage certificate with Harding, Connor's share was legally absorbed into my accounts.”
Connorlet out a low, wounded whimper
“I own every single penny of it," Anissa declared, claiming her absolute power. “And | would rather burn the cash in a dumpster than give you a single cent
Beatrice slammed her fist on the table. "You arrogant bitch! Aurthur Snow will never allow you to steal our money! He wil destroy you!" Anissa let out a short, dark laugh. She reached over and picked up her Hermes bao.
Anissa's phone buzzed silently on the table. She glanced at the screen, a cold smile touchingher lips. Yourtimingis impeccable,” she murmured, before lookingup. ‘Aurthur Snow just signed the final, absolute execution of your exile order ten minutes ago,’ Anissa said, delivering the final death blow. “Your temporary grace periods over. The offshore accounts Beatrice used to sneak you back into New York are now frozen. Your properties are seized. Tomorrow morning Snow security is goingto drag you out of your cheap hotel, escort you to JFK, and put you on economy class flights to Europe You are banished Permanently.”
Beatrice's eyes rolled back in her head. She slumped sideways in her chair fainting from the shock Connor dián teven try to calch her. He just stared at the table, completely broken
Anissastogd up. She looked down at the four people whohad tormented her in her past life. They were nothing but pathetic, powerless insects now. The heavy chains of her past shattered and fell away. She was finally, completely free.
She opened her purse pulled out a crisp one hundred dollar bill, and droppedit onto the table.
“Here is the tip for the waiter,” Anissa said, Enjoy your last meal in New York Never contact me again.”
She turned on her heel, walked to the heavy oak door, and pulled it open. She st epped outintothe hallway and let the door click shut permanently sealing them in their misery.
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STAR) Ÿ% +120 Points at most Anissa walked through the restaurant and pushed through tne front doors.
The bright blinding sunlight of Manhattan hit her face. She took a de ep breath of the city air. It tasted like victory.
Parked directly infront of the restaurant, illegally blockingthe valet lane, was a massive, gleaming black Maybach.
The rear door swungopen.
Harding st epped out onto the pavement. He was wearing his dark suit, hisbroad shoulders blockingthe sun He looked incrediblydangerous and impossibly handsome. He ignoredthe stares of the pedestrians. His dark eyes locked onto Anissa.
He walked right up to her. He didnt ask how it went. He wrapped his massive arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest.
“Is it done?” Harding asked, his voice low rumble.
Anissa rested her hands on his chest, feeling the steady, powerful beat of hisheart. She looked up at himand smiled-a real, brilliant smile.
“It's done,” Anissa whispered “They're gone”
Harding's eyes darkened with intense pride. Right there, in the middle of the crowded Manhattan sidewalk, he lowered his head and kissed her. it was a de ep, possessive earth-shattering kiss that claimed her completely.
Insidethe restaurant, standing by the window of the private room, Connor watched them. He saw the kiss. He saw the Maybach. The absolute reality of what he had thrown away finally crushed him His knees buckled and he collapsed onto the floor, sobbinginto his hands.
Harding broke the kiss. He opened the door of the Maybach and guided Anissa into the plush leather interior. He slid in next to her, the heavy door thuddingshut, locking the world out.
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