Chapter 3 3

Down in the lobby, Joseph stormed out of the elevator, aggressively yanking his tie loose.

Sitting on a velvet sofa was Kassandra Baird.

Seeing him, she immediately stood up, swaying her hips as she walked over.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his.

"Did she cry a lot?" Kassandra asked, her voice dripping with fake sympathy.

Joseph scowled, his pride bruised. "That woman is just putting on a brave face. She's nothing without me."

A vicious gleam flashed in Kassandra's eyes. She decided she needed to deliver the final blow herself.

"I left my sunglasses upstairs," Kassandra lied smoothly. "I'll be right back, baby."

She pressed the button for the penthouse elevator.

Upstairs, Gemma was in the master bedroom, shoving her clothes into a large suitcase.

The sound of the front door keypad beeping echoed in the hallway. Anticipating the inevitable, Gemma's hand tightened on the phone in her coat pocket. Her thumb instinctively swiped the screen, blindly opening the recording app she had prepped the moment Joseph issued his threats.

Kassandra strutted into the apartment, her stiletto heels clicking loudly against the wood floor.

Gemma stopped folding a sweater. She stared at the intruder with ice in her veins.

Kassandra looked around the room, her eyes judging the expensive decor as if she already owned the place.

She walked over to Gemma's vanity and picked up a limited-edition perfume bottle. She sprayed it into the air, inhaling deeply.

Gemma walked over, snatched the heavy glass bottle from Kassandra's hand, and dropped it straight into the trash can.

Kassandra's face twisted in anger. But she quickly forced a mocking smile and placed a hand over her flat stomach.

She leaned in close. "I'm pregnant with the Roberson heir."

Gemma didn't even blink. "Congratulations. You finally used your uterus to climb the ladder."

Kassandra's smile vanished. She pulled out her phone and tapped the screen.

She shoved the phone in Gemma's face.

It was a photo from last night's gala. Gemma looked completely out of it, her eyes unfocused, being dragged away by a stranger.

"That champagne you drank?" Kassandra whispered maliciously. "I arranged it."

Gemma's pupils shrank. Her hands curled into tight fists at her sides, her nails biting into her palms.

"If you try to take one extra cent in the divorce," Kassandra threatened, "my PR team will send this to every tabloid in the city. You'll be the drug-addicted slut of Manhattan."

Gemma fought the violent urge to rip Kassandra's hair out. Her brain worked in overdrive.

Suddenly, Gemma let out a soft laugh.

The sound was so cold it made Kassandra take a step back.

Gemma slowly pulled her hand out of her pocket, revealing her phone. The screen was already lit up, showing a voice recording app. The timer was ticking.

She waved it in front of Kassandra's face.

Kassandra's eyes widened in pure horror. She lunged forward to grab the phone.

Gemma stepped sideways, dodging the attack.

With her free hand, Gemma swung hard.

Her palm connected with Kassandra's freshly-filled cheek with a sickening, sharp crack.

The slap echoed through the massive living room.

Kassandra screamed, clutching her face as she stumbled backward.

"If that photo leaks," Gemma said, her voice deadly quiet, "this audio confession goes straight to the NYPD."

Kassandra trembled with rage and fear. She had no leverage left.

Holding her red, swelling cheek, she turned and ran out of the apartment like a beaten dog.

The door clicked shut.

Gemma leaned against the vanity, her heart hammering against her ribs. She needed to pack faster. She needed to disappear.