Chapter 6

The atmosphere in the Von Merri's grand lobby was thick with a lust for vengeance. Jett and the Barlowes, their public face of celebration now a mask for private fury, had decided on a new strategy. Connor wasn't just a cheating husband anymore. He was a violent criminal.

Gregory Tanner, the Uber manager, scurried into the hotel, his face pale but determined. Jett had summoned him to play his part in the public execution. This was his chance to solidify his place in Maddox's inner circle.

Connor was "escorted" into the lobby by hotel security. He offered no resistance, his calm demeanor an unnerving contrast to the baying mob that awaited him.

The wedding guests formed a circle, a makeshift tribunal.

Gregory Tanner stepped into the center, puffing out his chest. He pointed a trembling finger at Connor.

"Connor Wise!" he announced, his voice ringing with self-importance. "On behalf of Uber Technologies, for your violent and unprovoked assault, I am officially terminating your contract! You are fired!"

He let the words hang in the air, soaking in the murmurs of approval from the crowd. "Furthermore," he added, "your file will be flagged. You will never work for a ride-sharing service in this country again!"

A wave of satisfaction washed over the guests. Jett and Genevieve stood at the front, their faces triumphant.

Connor's expression didn't change. He didn't even look at Gregory.

Instead, he took out his personal phone. The sleek, unfamiliar device looked alien in his hands. He dialed a number and put it on speaker.

A crisp, deferential voice answered immediately. "Sir. How may I assist?"

The title, "Sir," caused a few brows to furrow, but most dismissed it as part of the act.

Connor's voice was devoid of emotion. "Finchley, I want you to terminate all global corporate partnership agreements between the Hoffman Group and Uber. Effective immediately."

A collective gasp, followed by a ripple of snickers, went through the crowd.

Connor wasn't finished. "Also, place a call to Uber's global CEO. Inform him that the service provided by his Ninverton regional operations manager, a Mr. Gregory Tanner, was... unsatisfactory. I want him to receive the call within five minutes. Make it happen."

"Understood, sir," Finchley replied without a moment's hesitation. "I will execute your orders at once."

Connor ended the call.

The lobby was silent for a full three seconds before it erupted. Not with fear, but with derisive, howling laughter.

"Hoffman Group?" someone shouted. "He's lost his mind!"

Jett Maddox was doubled over, tears of mirth in his eyes. "Oh, Connor," he wheezed. "The delusions are getting worse. You think a phone call can scare us?"

Gregory Tanner smirked, shaking his head in pity. The man was clearly pathetic, resorting to such childish fantasies. He glanced at his watch, a smug look on his face as he prepared to mock the five-minute deadline.

And then, Gregory's phone began to shriek. A frantic, insistent ringing.

The caller ID made his blood run cold.

CEO - NORTH AMERICA DIVISION.

The smirk vanished from Gregory's face. He stumbled away from the crowd, his hand shaking as he answered the call.

The crowd couldn't hear the words, but they saw the effect. They saw the color drain from Gregory's face, leaving it a pasty, sweaty grey. They saw his eyes widen in sheer terror. They saw the phone slip from his nerveless fingers and crash onto the marble floor.

On the other end of the line, a voice was screaming. A voice that had just learned that the company's nine-figure annual contract with the Hoffman Group-their single largest corporate account-had been vaporized. A voice that had been told, in no uncertain terms by the global CEO himself, that it was because of the actions of one Gregory Tanner.

"Tanner! You idiot! What did you do?!" the voice roared through the phone's tiny speaker. "The Hoffman Group just pulled everything! Everything! You're fired! Get out of my sight! You're finished!"

Gregory stared into the middle distance, his world collapsing in on him.

Connor watched him, his eyes as cold and unforgiving as a winter storm.

This, he knew, was only the appetizer.