Chapter 7 - The Contract is Void
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“Your grandmother gave this to you?” Adrien asked again, his thumb brushing over the tiny serial number stamped onto the base of the brass key.
“Yes. Under the table, secretly. She told me some doors only belong to me. Why? Do you know what it is?”
Before Adrien could answer, Richard Bennett approached the table again, flanked by two sweating lawyers holding thick leather binders. Richard was desperate. The rumors were true—without Moretti’s cash injection, Bennett Luxury Group would default on its loans by Monday morning.
“Adrien,” Richard said, trying to project authority but failing miserably. “I know the seating mix-up was unfortunate, but the press is outside. If we could just sign the acquisition papers, we can all put this behind us.”
Adrien didn't look at the lawyers. He didn't look at Richard. He kept his eyes fixed on the brass key resting against Norah’s skin.
Slowly, Adrien stood up. He buttoned his suit jacket, towering over Richard.
“There is no seating mix-up, Richard,” Adrien said, his voice carrying an icy finality. “There is only disrespect. You invited me here because you need my money to save your pathetic, mismanaged company.”
Richard swallowed hard. “Adrien, we agreed on the terms—”
“I agreed to the terms because I was under the impression I was marrying into a respectable family,” Adrien interrupted, his words dropping like bombs in the quiet room. “I was buying your debt as a wedding gift for Norah.”
Norah gasped, looking up at him in shock.
“But seeing how you treat her?” Adrien continued, his eyes turning pitch black. “Seeing you force my future wife to sit by the kitchen doors while you parade your other daughter around like a cheap trophy?”
Adrien reached out, took the thick leather binder from the lawyer’s hands, and dropped it into a nearby busboy’s trash bin.
“The deal is dead,” Adrien announced. “I’m pulling my funding. Bennett Luxury Group will be bankrupt by Monday morning.”
Celeste screamed. Richard staggered back as if he had been physically struck.
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“You can’t do this!” Richard gasped. “We’ll lose everything!”
“You already did,” Adrien said. He turned to Norah and extended his hand. “Let’s go home, mia bella.”
