Chapter 2

With that, I turned and walked away without looking back.

But I felt his eyes on me, sharp, burning, like poison arrows.

The game had just begun. This time, I'd take everything from him and then I'd make him suffer like I did.

Halfway through the party, I excused myself to the bathroom. At the end of the hallway, I spotted someone familiar, yet somehow a stranger. It was Owen Spencer.

He had the same sharp eyes, the same strong features as Ivan. Five years ago, he was just a college boy Ivan used to humiliate me on our wedding night. A pawn in his game.

Now he wore a waiter's uniform. He looked thin, tired, broken. Fear lived in his eyes.

A big, rough-looking man was yelling at him. Wine had spilled on the floor.

"Are you blind? This suit costs more than you make in a year!" the man shouted, pointing in Owen's face.

Owen kept his head down. "I'm so sorry, sir. I'm so sorry..."

"Sorry? Pay up, or you're not leaving!" the man snapped.

I walked over in my heels. "Mr. Parrish, what makes you so angry?"

Layton Parrish's expression shifted on a dime. The anger melted away, replaced by a slick, insincere smile. "Ms. Quinn, it's a small misunderstanding!"

I ignored him and looked at Owen. He was shaking, too scared to meet my eyes.

I took out a check, signed it, and handed it to Layton. "This covers the suit. He'll come with me."

Layton hesitated and then grabbed the check. "Ms. Quinn, you're so generous. It's just a suit. No need to pay for it. You can have him. Do as you please!"

I walked up to Owen. "Look at me."

He hesitated and then slowly raised his head. When he saw my face, his eyes went wide with pure shock.

"M-Ms. Vance?" His voice trembled.

I smiled coldly, "Clara Vance is dead. I'm Elaine Quinn now."

*****

I took Owen back to my hotel.

He stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do with his hands.

"Have a seat." I nodded at the sofa.

He sat like a puppet, stiff, lifeless.

I handed him a glass of water and got straight to the point. "Life hasn't been easy for you."

He hung his head, voice dripping with bitterness. "After what happened five years ago, Mr. Lawson kicked me out. I have no education or connections. I couldn't find a real job in Seabrook. So I can only..."

"You can only work odd jobs in places like this, letting people walk all over you." I finished for him.

I watched his hands clench into fists. "Do you want a different life?" I asked.

He looked up, hope flickering in his eyes and then fading just as fast. "I..."

"Come with me. I can give you everything. You can have money, status, and respect." I held his gaze. "But there's one condition."

"What?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"Help me destroy Ivan," I said.

The blood drained from his face. His whole body trembled.

He couldn't believe that I was asking him to destroy Ivan, who held his entire life in his hands like it was nothing.

I saw the fear in his eyes.

I stood up. "Think about it in three days. When you're ready, find me at Solara Capital."

I walked into the bedroom without looking back.

But I knew he'd come. He'd been stepped on for years. If I gave him one glimpse of hope, he'd grab it with both hands.

The next morning, the receptionist called. Owen was waiting downstairs.

I changed and headed down. He was standing in the corner of the lobby, dark circles etched under his eyes. Clearly, he'd been awake all night.

When he saw me, he walked over fast. Desperation burned in his eyes. "Ms. Quinn. I accept it. I'll do it."

I nodded. "Good. Starting today, you're my personal assistant."