Chapter 249

Rosalind shrank back as Lionel's towering figure loomed over her. She held her breath until she returned to the bidding hall.

"The next project up for bid is 0781." The auctioneer's voice cut through the tension. "Competing companies include Sterling Enterprises, Kingsley Industries, Prescott Realty, and Draco Corporation..."

Flipping through his notes, he announced, "The winning bid goes to Kingsley Industries. Congratulations!"

Evelyn and Adrian rose to their feet as thunderous applause filled the grand hall.

After the auction concluded, Lionel immediately dialed his supplier. "Mr. Monroe, we need to terminate our current agreement. There's been a change of plans."

"What? Five million dollar penalty?" His grip tightened on the phone. "Surely we can negotiate—"

The line went dead before he could finish. The dial tone mocked him.

Lionel slammed his fist against the wall. "Goddamn vultures!"

Rosalind stood frozen nearby, not daring to make a sound. When Lionel whirled around, his eyes locked onto hers with terrifying intensity.

He seized her wrist with bruising force. "Look what you've done, Rosalind!"

His roar echoed down the empty corridor. Rosalind's entire body trembled.

"Half this disaster is your fault! If you can't produce five million, I'll skin you alive!"

With a violent shove, he sent her sprawling across the marble floor. The impact knocked the wind from her lungs.

Five million dollars?

She couldn't scrape together that sum even if she auctioned off every organ in her body!

"Mr. Montgomery, please! I swear it won't happen again—"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as Lionel stormed away without a backward glance.

Rosalind pounded her fists against the cold floor until her knuckles bled. Only one thought consumed her:

She was ruined.

But she refused to go down without a fight.

As she struggled to her feet, her gaze landed on Evelyn standing nearby. The sight made her legs give out again.

For the first time in her privileged life, Rosalind Blackwell tasted true despair.

She scrambled up just as Evelyn approached. Gone was the gentle secretary she'd once bullied—now Evelyn's expression could freeze hell itself.

Before Rosalind could speak, a stinging slap cracked across her face.

Her head snapped sideways. Five angry fingerprints bloomed across her cheek.

"How dare you strike me?" Rosalind hissed through clenched teeth.

Evelyn's voice dripped ice. "Consider yourself lucky it's just a slap after what you've done."

"On what grounds—"

Evelyn thrust her phone forward, displaying damning surveillance footage. "Recognize this?"

Rosalind's face drained of color. She lunged for the device. "Give me that! Delete it now!"