Chapter 5 5

Ervin stood at the microphone. His hand was resting on the small of Kailee's back. It felt heavy, warm, a brand of ownership. He was speaking about synergy, about the future of the two conglomerates.

The ballroom doors flew open.

Julian stood there. He was panting, his tie was crooked.

"Stop!" Julian pointed a shaking finger at the stage. "It's a lie! She's lying!"

The crowd gasped.

Julian ran down the aisle, he scrambled up the stairs to the stage, he reached for Kailee.

"You bitch!"

Viktor materialized from the shadows. He didn't use a weapon, he stepped in front of Julian and put a hand on his chest.

"Mr. Julian," Viktor said. "Step down."

Julian shoved Viktor's hand away, looked past the bodyguard at his uncle.

"She's using you, Uncle Ervin! She's doing this to hide the money laundering! The Feds are about to indict her! She's a criminal! She needs your protection to stay out of jail!"

The room went silent. Kailee's face paled slightly.

Ervin didn't flinch. He moved his hand from Kailee's back to her shoulder, pulling her slightly closer.

"I proposed to Ms. Lynn," Ervin said. His voice was calm, deadly, "Do you have an objection to my judgment?"

Julian froze. "You... you proposed?"

"Yes," Ervin lied. Smoothly, "Where were you, Julian? You were the original groom."

"I... traffic," Julian stammered. "I got stuck."

Chaya walked onto the stage, she held the tablet high, it was connected to the AV system now.

"Traffic?" Chaya said into a handheld mic. "Was the traffic in the Presidential Suite upstairs?"

Julian's eyes bulged, he lunged for Chaya.

Viktor moved. He didn't push this time, he kicked. A sharp, calculated strike to the back of Julian's knee.

Julian's leg buckled, hit the floor hard.

He landed on his knees, directly in front of Kailee and Ervin.

The visual was striking, the nephew bowing to the new power couple.

Ervin looked down at him, "You come into my engagement party, looking like a drunk, and insult my fiancée?"

"She's dirty!" Julian wheezed, holding his knee. "She's not who you think she is!"

Kailee laughed, it was a soft sound, but the microphone picked it up.

She bent down. She leaned close to Julian's ear.

"Julian," she whispered. "Look at the screen."

Julian turned his head, the massive LED screen behind them flickered. The "Lynn-Hendricks Merger" logo disappeared.

A loading bar appeared.

Julian's heart hammered against his ribs. He knew, deep down, in the sick pit of his stomach, he knew what was coming.