For several seconds, all I can do is choke on shock. “What? I don’t owe him anything. He took ten years of my life. For nothing. I can’t believe that psycho is using my branding to try to abuse me for another year!”
Amber winces. “So, your answer is definitely no?”
I bug my eyes and come all the way off the couch to give her my obvious reply, “I’m not going to spend another day with him, so yeah, it’s a hell to the no to a whole ‘nother 365!”
I expect Amber to agree with me full-heartedly. But she just taps her fingers against her cane like she’s trying to figure out how to tell me something.
“What?” I demand, not liking the uncharacteristically hesitant look on her previously frank face.
Amber makes a calming down motion with her free hand. “Trust me. I’m on your side. This guy is an Asshole with a capital A. I know the type, and I don’t blame you for never wanting to see him ever again. I used to feel the exact same way about Luca.”
“Wait, but you’re married to Luca now,” I point out.
“And that’s why I get how guys like this operate,” Amber replies, slicker than slick.
I am easily beginning to see why she’s never lost a divorce case.
“So I used his counter as a jumping-off point to get you the deal you really want. I let him know that you absolutely did not owe him another year of your life. But we were willing to perhaps come to new terms, if he agreed in writing, never to bother you again after you fulfilled this last obligation. That means no surveillance of any kind. No calls, no texts, no emails. In fact, he needs to agree in writing not to come within a mile of you.”
I open my mouth to ask her why she would want to negotiate anything with my ruthless ex, but then I start to follow her logic.
“I figured this might be a way for you not to have to deal with a huge custody battle while you’re setting up your new life and also trying to grow a whole baby,” Amber explains, confirming my guess behind her motives. “If he can’t come near you, then maybe you’ll be able to raise his baby in peace. All you have to do is lay low.”
I like the sound of that. Of being able to keep my secret baby without fear of Victor showing up and trying to rip my child away from me unless I agree to live under his thumb again.
“So what would I have to do to make that happen?” I ask Amber. “What do I have to give him to make him leave me alone forever?”
“I negotiated him down to three dates,” Amber answers. “Three dates and you’re free. So… what’s your answer?”
5
VICTOR
Phantom’s phone vibrates just as he and Victor are climbing out of his Audi. They’re in the parking lot for Denang on Third, one of the few restaurants in New York City with parking. It’s also the same place where Victor ended their partnership with Kuang back in April.
Phantom frowns, then tells Victor, “It’s a message from that hard-ass lawyer. Dawn’s finally agreed to your terms. Amber says she’ll be in touch soon to negotiate the details.”
Phantom shakes his head. “Helluva time to finally get back to us.”
Indeed, Victor agrees.
He first offered Dawn that deal via her lawyer two weeks ago. Prior to this moment, he almost gave up on ever hearing back from her. Because of that, he started devising ways to get Dawn back through more unsavory means so that he could apologize and explain to her that he’d taken their marriage seriously even if it hadn’t been official.
But now, here is a message. She agreed to his plan. She would see him.
His heart soars with excitement. However, Phantom was right. The timing is a bit off.
Phantom seems to speak for both of them when he says, “What are the fucking chances that your girl would say yes on the same day Kuang asked to meet with us again?
Yes, what are the chances?
But perhaps this is an auspicious sign, Victor thinks to himself as he walks into the restaurant with Phantom. Not only does he have the chance to win Dawn back, but Kuang asked for this meeting. The 24K Dragon hasn’t made any retaliatory moves against The Silent Triad since Victor called off the engagement three months ago. So this might mean that they’ll be able to continue their partnership without the need for face-saving bloodshed.
However, Victor begins to have misgivings about his optimistic outlook as soon as they enter the restaurant.
Kuang is sitting at the exact same table the hostess had randomly placed them at in April. That wouldn’t be so strange. But Kuang is also wearing the exact same outfit he wore on that day. A light gray suit with a purple cravat. Victor remembers thinking back in the spring that it was a rather strange and fussy outfit choice that only a dragonhead of Kuang’s renown could pull off.