Chapter 6 - The Fifty-Thousand-Dollar Joke
Liam strode across the parquet dance floor with aggressive, heavy strides, cutting through the crowd of high-society guests.
Julianne was standing near the crystal fountain, conversing quietly with the French ambassador and two senior federal judges who bowed respectfully as she spoke.
"What kind of pathetic stunt is this, Julianne?" Liam’s voice boomed, cutting rudely through the quiet conversation.
The French ambassador frowned in distaste, stepping back as Liam shoved his way into the circle.
Julianne turned slowly, holding a flute of vintage Krug champagne. Her eyes were cool, amused, and completely devoid of the warmth he had taken for granted for four years.
"Good evening, Liam," she said evenly. "Enjoying the gala?"
"Cut the crap!" Liam hissed, keeping his voice low but vibrating with fury. "Who paid for your fake dress? Did you steal my credit card before you left the townhouse? And where did you get that ridiculous costume jewelry around your neck?"
Arthur Pendelton took half a step forward, his jaw tight, but Julianne raised a single gloved finger, stopping the older trustee in his tracks.
"Costume jewelry?" Julianne asked, tilting her head slightly so the sixty-carat blue diamonds caught the crystal chandelier light, sending dazzling sapphire reflections across Liam’s arrogant face. "The Vance Imperial Choker was commissioned by King George in 1911, Liam. It was appraised at thirty-eight million dollars last Tuesday."
Liam let out a loud, mocking laugh that drew the attention of fifty surrounding guests.
"Vance?" Liam laughed, shaking his head with theatrical pity. "You’ve completely lost your mind! You’re Julianne Carter, a girl whose mother died in an Ohio trailer park! You think putting on a rented gown and using a fake last name makes you royalty?"
Victoria Sterling arrived at Liam’s side, looking Julianne up and down with sneering disgust.
"Security!" Victoria called out loudly, waving her champagne glass toward the hotel guards. "Remove this woman from our private event! She’s an unstable stalker trying to extort my fiancé!"
Several prominent bank presidents stepped closer, their brows furrowed in utter bewilderment.
"Liam," Julianne said softly, taking a slow step toward him. "Did you deposit that check you gave me yesterday?"
"What check?" Liam scoffed, rolling his eyes. "The fifty-thousand-dollar pity check? Of course I didn't cancel it, Julianne. I wanted you to have enough money to buy some dignity. Clearly, you spent it all on this pathetic masquerade."
"Actually, Liam," Julianne said, pulling a folded piece of paper from her clutch bag, "I endorsed it back to Callaway Capital this morning. With a small memo on the bottom line."
Liam snatched the paper from her fingers, unfolding it under the bright chandelier lights.
It was a bank deposit receipt showing the fifty thousand dollars had been credited back to his firm's account. Below the signature line, in Julianne’s neat handwriting, were the words: Toward your outstanding bankruptcy legal fees.
Liam’s face flushed crimson with rage. "You arrogant little bitch! Do you have any idea who is backing me tonight? In ten minutes, Marcus Sterling is announcing a six-hundred-million-dollar investment in my firm! You are nothing! You hear me? Absolutely nothing!"
At that precise moment, the chime of a silver microphone echoed through the grand ballroom.
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"Ladies and gentlemen," the master of ceremonies announced from the raised stage. "Please welcome the Chairman of Sterling Capital, Mr. Marcus Sterling!"
Liam sneered at Julianne one last time, straightening his silk tie with victorious arrogance. "Watch the stage, Julianne. Watch a real man take what belongs to him."
