Chapter 7 The true heiress of the Wilder family

Silence hung heavy in the receiving room.

Ethan tapped his fingers rapidly against his thigh, calculating the risk. "Absolutely not," he muttered.

Hubert crossed his arms. "She needs to heal. She does not need to deal with a shark like you."

Daxton did not look at her brothers. His eyes stayed locked on her, waiting.

She felt the weight of his stare. Her mind flashed to Joaquin's arrogant face, to Julianne throwing the broken umbrella at her feet. Dating the most powerful man in New York would be the ultimate social death sentence for the Stafford family.

She lifted her chin and smiled coldly. "Deal."

Carter gasped loudly. Bennett nearly dropped his teacup.

A flash of dark satisfaction lit up Daxton's eyes. He closed the distance between them in two long strides. He reached out and took her hand.

He bowed his head and pressed his lips just above her knuckles. His mouth barely grazed her skin, but the heat of his breath sent a violent shiver up her arm.

She yanked her hand back. Her heart skipped a beat.

Daxton straightened up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box.

"This was meant as an apology gift for breaking the contract," Daxton said softly. "Now, it is just a hello."

She opened the box. Resting on the black silk was a flawless, unheated pigeon-blood ruby necklace.

Her gaze locked onto the heavy pendant, her professional instincts immediately taking over. She recognized the deep, unheated saturation and the distinct, meticulous facets of an antique 1920s European cut. It was an absolute masterpiece of historical jewelry making, entirely priceless.

Before she could say no, Daxton stepped behind her. He brushed her hair aside and fastened the heavy platinum clasp around her neck.

His warm fingertips dragged slowly across her bare nape. Her stomach tightened.

Declan marched over and shoved Daxton back by the shoulder. "Back off. Keep your distance."

Daxton raised his hands in mock surrender. He nodded to her parents. "I will pick Kinsley up tomorrow evening for dinner."

He turned and walked out, his presence leaving a heavy vacuum in the room.

The second the door closed, all four of her brothers surrounded her.

"Are you crazy?" Ethan yelled, pulling up Daxton's ruthless corporate takeover history on his phone. "He destroys people for fun!"

She touched the cold ruby resting against her collarbone. "Relax. I am just using him to ruin my ex-husband. I will not fall for him."

Upstairs, Amiyah stared at the glowing red jewel around Kinsley's neck.

Her chest heaved with toxic jealousy.

She retreated to her bedroom, locked the door, and pulled out a burner phone.

She dialed the number of a sleazy tabloid journalist. She was going to leak the story of Kinsley's pathetic foster background and her divorce.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, Joaquin stood in his office at Stafford Holdings. He was sweating.

His assistant ran into the room, holding an iPad. "Sir, our stock is plummeting. A massive, untraceable fund is shorting us across the board."

Joaquin ripped his tie loose. "Which competitor is doing this?" he screamed. He had no idea the Wilder family was already crushing him.

Ember walked in carrying a cup of herbal tea. She leaned her fragile body against his chest. "Do not stress, baby. You are so smart, you will fix it."

Joaquin kissed her forehead. He thought of Kinsley, convinced she was currently starving in an alley. "I will crush whoever is doing this. Just like I crushed Kinsley."