Chapter 12
The Gala Purchase
Naomi Vale arrived in a pale suit and the expression of a woman who had never been surprised by a bad man.
“You should not have signed this,” she told Mara.
“I was busy.”
Naomi looked at Adrian. “You altered the exit clause.”
“I revised it.”
“You removed the independent review requirement.”
“It was impractical.”
“It was the only part that made the agreement defensible.”
Mara looked at the original draft. The missing paragraph allowed an independent counsel to decide disputed breaches.
“Why did you remove it?”
Adrian answered, “I did not want a third party deciding whether you could leave.”
“You wanted that decision for yourself.”
“At the time, yes.”
The room went quiet.
Before Mara could sign the restored clause, Celia Fang entered with a phone in her hand.
“The contract is public,” the journalist said.
The headline showed Mara entering Mercer Tower.
Fallen Heiress Becomes President Yan’s Private Companion.
Victor had leaked the image.
“Do you want to comment?” Celia asked.
Mara took the phone.
“I am under a legal agreement with Mercer Crown Group because that company acquired claims against me. The agreement is private. The debt is not. If anyone wishes to discuss my personal life, they may first explain why twenty-six creditors sold their claims through the same dead intermediary on the same day.”
The room filled with camera flashes.
Adrian reached for the phone.
Mara did not give it to him.
“You’re turning a private arrangement into a market statement.”
“Your uncle turned it into a headline.”
Celia lowered the phone.
“Your father called me the night before Quinn Meridian filed for protection.”
Mara went still.
“What did he say?”
“He asked whether I still had the recording.”
“What recording?”
Celia looked at Adrian.
“His final press conference.”
She moved toward the door.
“Tomorrow night, I’ll decide whether you’re worth the risk.”