Chapter 4 - The Girlfriend's Price
Chloe had packed two suitcases by noon.
Daniel found them beside the front door.
“What are you doing?”
She continued folding a dress.
“Going to a hotel.”
“No.”
Chloe looked at him.
“No?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“We need to present a united front.”
Chloe laughed.
“To whom?”
“My attorneys.”
“Why would your attorneys care about me?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Because Rebecca is going to use this.”
Chloe stared at him.
“You already used me when you told your wife I was moving into her house.”
Daniel clenched his jaw.
“That was different.”
“It wasn't.”
For the first time, Chloe saw something she had ignored for months.
Daniel did not handle losing control well.
When he had been confident, his arrogance seemed charismatic.
Now it looked desperate.
She zipped the suitcase.
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
“Don't walk out.”
Chloe looked down at his hand.
“Let go.”
He released her immediately.
A heavy silence followed.
Chloe picked up her coat.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His chief financial officer, Evan Brooks.
Daniel answered.
“What?”
Evan spoke quickly.
“We have a problem with Hawthorne.”
Daniel turned away from Chloe.
“What happened?”
“They rejected the extension request.”
Daniel felt the floor shift beneath him.
“Call Thomas Hawthorne.”
“I did.”
“And?”
“He said the loan terms stand.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Offer him another point.”
“He doesn't want another point.”
“Then what does he want?”
Evan hesitated.
“He wants payment.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That's not possible by Friday.”
“I know.”
Daniel walked into the study.
“Sell the Baxter position.”
“We already pledged it.”
“Then move money from operations.”
“That leaves payroll exposed.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Do it.”
Evan went silent.
“Daniel, that may violate our banking covenants.”
“Do it.”
Daniel ended the call.
When he turned around, Chloe was standing behind him.
“How bad is it?”
“Nothing I can't handle.”
She stared at him.
“That's exactly what you said about the penthouse.”
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“Don't start.”
Chloe lifted her suitcase.
“You know what you told me six months ago?”
Daniel said nothing.
“You said Rebecca had no idea where the money came from.”
Chloe stepped closer.
“You said she was financially helpless.”
Daniel looked away.
Chloe shook her head.
“She sold your home before you even knew she was leaving you.”
Daniel's face tightened.
“Stop talking about things you don't understand.”
Chloe opened the door.
“I understand one thing.”
She looked back at him.
“You didn't leave Rebecca for me because you were powerful.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You chose me because I believed you were.”
Then she walked out.
Daniel remained in the entryway.
For the first time since the confrontation, the penthouse felt empty.
His phone buzzed again.
A message from his son.
May you like
Dad.
What the hell did you do?
