Chapter 2

Jessie pushed open the door to the guest room and walked straight to the mahogany desk. She pulled out a blank sheet of hotel stationery and a pen. Her hand moved furiously across the paper, listing out survival items, water filtration systems, and tactical gear.

The sharp click of high heels sounded in the hallway.

Jessie flipped the paper over, pressing it flat against the wood just as the door swung open.

Brenda marched in, followed closely by a man in a sharp gray suit carrying a leather briefcase. The family's chief legal counsel.

The lawyer didn't waste time. He pulled a thick stack of documents from his briefcase and held them out to Jessie. "This is the formal renunciation of your rights to the Aguilar trust, Miss Rhodes."

Jessie didn't take the papers. She leaned back against the desk, crossing her arms. "One hundred million dollars in cash."

Brenda's face flushed a violent shade of red. "Are you out of your mind? That's extortion! That kind of money could buy half the startups on Wall Street!"

"The Ramsey injection is worth at least a billion to this family," Jessie stated, her voice flat, her eyes locked on the lawyer. "One hundred million is a ten percent finder's fee. It's a bargain."

The lawyer glanced at Brenda, giving her a subtle nod. His Wall Street brain was calculating the math, and he knew Jessie was right. In the long run, cutting her out now saved the family billions.

"Fine," Brenda hissed, her chest heaving. "Give her the money."

"I'm not done," Jessie said. "I also want the deed to the abandoned estate in the Appalachian Mountains."

Brenda blinked, genuinely confused. "That rotting pile of rocks? We've been trying to sell that useless land for a decade. You really are just a dirt-loving hick, aren't you?"

Brenda pulled out her phone and dialed Martin. She spoke in hushed, angry tones for a few seconds before hanging up. "He agreed. Just to get you out of our sight."

The lawyer set his briefcase on the bed, opened a portable printer, and connected it to his tablet. Within minutes, the machine hummed, spitting out the revised terms.

Jessie took the fresh papers. She read every single line, her eyes scanning the legal jargon with mechanical precision. She wasn't going to let them leave a single loophole.

Satisfied, she signed her name on the dotted lines and pressed her thumb onto the ink pad, leaving her fingerprint on the final page.

The lawyer tapped furiously on his tablet, authorizing the wire transfer.

Jessie's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out. A notification from her offshore account flashed on the screen: $100,000,000.00 deposited.

The lawyer handed her a manila envelope. "The deed and the keys to the Appalachian property."

Brenda sneered, her eyes filled with disgust. "Take your money and get as far away from us as possible."

Jessie took the envelope. A cold, dark amusement curled in her stomach. She didn't say a word. She just turned to the closet and pulled out her suitcase.

Brenda huffed, feeling like she had punched a brick wall. She spun around and stormed out of the room, the lawyer trailing behind her.

Jessie zipped up her suitcase. She looked around the sterile, luxurious guest room. It was a golden cage, and she was finally free.

She grabbed the handle and wheeled the suitcase out of the room, down the long hallway, and into the living room.

Harley was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea from a porcelain cup. When she saw Jessie's luggage, a flash of triumph crossed her eyes.

Harley stood up, smoothing down her skirt. "Do you need me to have the driver take you to the airport, Jessie?"

"I'll take a cab," Jessie replied, her tone like ice.

Harley took a step closer. Her eyes suddenly dropped to Jessie's chest.

Jessie's collar was slightly unbuttoned, revealing the silver chain of an antique necklace resting against her collarbone.

Harley's breath hitched. Her pupils dilated, and a raw, ugly greed bled into her expression.

Jessie felt the shift in the air. She saw the hunger in Harley's eyes. She casually reached up and pulled her collar tight, hiding the silver chain from view.

Without another word, Jessie walked past Harley, the wheels of her suitcase gliding smoothly toward the private elevator. She left Harley standing in the middle of the room, staring at the space where Jessie had just been.