Chapter 4

Cassidy jerked her gaze away, her heart slamming against her ribs so hard she was sure the woman next to her could hear it.

She spun around, putting a massive floral arrangement between herself and the door. Her hands were shaking so badly that the champagne sloshed over the rim of her glass, wetting her fingers.

Breathe. Just breathe.

She risked a glance over the orchids. Jaret was still surrounded, nodding at something a gray-haired man was saying. He hadn't moved. He hadn't noticed her.

She let out a shaky exhale. She had a job to do. She couldn't let him ruin her life twice in twenty-four hours.

She pulled out her phone, looking at the list of target investors. She took a sip of champagne to steady her nerves and approached a group near the bar.

"Excuse me, Mr. Henderson? I'm Cassidy Fox with GreenTech. We spoke last month about-"

"Not interested," the man said without even looking at her. He turned his back, resuming his conversation.

Cassidy stood there, the rejection stinging. She moved on to the next target. And the next. Each one was a variation of the same: a polite dismissal, a condescending smile, or outright ignoring her existence. They looked at her cheap dress and her lack of entourage and wrote her off. She was a minnow trying to swim with sharks.

She was fighting back tears of frustration when she felt it. That prickling sensation on the back of her neck. The feeling of being watched.

Across the room, Jaret had stopped listening to the man next to him. His gaze had drifted across the sea of heads, landing squarely on the black dress hiding behind the flowers.

His bored, arrogant expression vanished. His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened, a predatory focus replacing the disinterest. He recognized her. The woman who had knelt for him last night was now standing tall, fighting for survival in a room full of wolves.

Kade Thorne, standing beside Jaret, noticed his friend's sudden tension. He followed Jaret's line of sight and let out a low, appreciative whistle.

"Well, well," Kade murmured, a smirk playing on his lips. "Isn't that your little trophy from last night? She's got guts showing up here."

Jaret took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving Cassidy. "Looks like she needs a reminder of the rules."

Cassidy, oblivious to the crosshairs on her back, finally caught a break. An older man in a rumpled suit seemed interested in sustainable energy. She pitched with everything she had, her voice passionate and clear.

He smiled, reaching into his jacket pocket. "You've got five minutes of my attention tomorrow. Here's my card."

Cassidy took the card like it was a lifeline. "Thank you, sir. You won't regret this."

Jaret watched the exchange. He leaned over to his assistant, murmuring a few words. The assistant nodded and immediately walked toward the older man.

Within sixty seconds, the man's face went pale. He looked at the assistant, then at Jaret, and practically bowed before scurrying away, leaving Cassidy standing alone by the bar, the card still clutched in her hand.

A cold dread settled in her stomach. She hadn't seen the interaction, but she felt the shift. The door that had just opened had been slammed shut by an invisible hand.

Jaret watched her from afar, a cruel satisfaction settling over him. He loved watching her struggle. He loved watching her hope and then fall.

He turned to Kade, giving a slight nod toward the hallway.

Cassidy felt sick. She needed a minute. She needed to splash cold water on her face and figure out a new plan. She set her empty glass down and hurried toward the lobby restrooms, keeping her head down.

She was rushing around the corner when she collided with a solid chest.

"Whoa, there," a smooth voice said. Hands caught her elbows, steadying her.

Cassidy looked up, her heart in her throat. The man was handsome, with slicked-back hair and a charming smile. He looked familiar.

"I am so sorry," she stammered, stepping back.

"Kade Thorne," he said, offering his hand. "Partner at Apex Ventures."

Apex Ventures. The name was a siren song. It was one of the biggest VC firms in the city. Cassidy's desperation overrode her caution.

"Cassidy Fox," she said, shaking his hand. "I'm with GreenTech."

"Ah, the green energy folks," Kade said, his eyes glinting. "I've been hearing some buzz about your tech. It's a fascinating model."

He was lying, of course, but Cassidy was too hungry to care. "We're looking for our Series A. I'd love to tell you about our projections."

"It's a bit loud in here," Kade said, gesturing to the ballroom. "I'm actually heading up to a private suite on the second floor. A few other partners are up there. We're looking for new ventures. Why don't you join me? We can talk in peace."

Cassidy hesitated. The voice in her head screamed danger, but the image of her empty bank account was louder. This was her job. This was what she came here to do.

"Okay," she said. "Lead the way."

Kade smiled, placing a hand on the small of her back and guiding her toward the private elevator. She didn't look back toward the ballroom. If she had, she would have seen Jaret watching her walk into his trap, a slow, victorious smile spreading across his face.