Chapter 2

"Who the hell are you?" Ethan’s voice cracked. He stepped forward. He tried to sound authoritative. He failed completely.

The man did not even look at Ethan. His dark eyes remained fixed on me.

I knew exactly who he was. I had never met him in person. I had only seen photographs. Sebastian Sprouse.

He was the man my father had chosen for me. He was the nightmare I had spent three years running from.

Now he was standing in a damp warehouse in Brooklyn.

"I am speaking to you," Ethan snapped. He took another step toward Sebastian. "Back off. That is my girlfriend."

"She was your girlfriend," Sebastian said. His voice was dangerously quiet. "Now she is my fiancée. Step aside."

Maureen let out a sharp laugh. "Fiancée? Are you insane? Vanessa is a broke assistant. She can barely afford her rent. Who did you hire to play this part, Vanessa? This is pathetic."

A man stepped out from the rain. He handed Sebastian a sleek tablet. Sebastian took it. He tapped the screen once. He held it out toward Ethan.

"Look at it," Sebastian commanded.

"What is this?" Ethan whispered.

"It is the end of your career," Sebastian stated. "You own a company. You spent the last four years building it. Ten minutes ago, I bought it. Five minutes ago, I fired you. You no longer have a company. You no longer have an income. You have nothing."

"You can't do that!" Ethan shouted. Panic laced his words. He fumbled in his pocket. He pulled out his own phone. He stared at the screen. His hands began to tremble. "My access is gone. Everything is locked. Who are you?"

"I am the man marrying the woman you just humiliated," Sebastian replied. "You wanted to prove she did not belong in your world. You were right. She belongs in mine. And your world no longer exists."

Maureen stared at Ethan. "Ethan, what is he talking about? Tell him he is lying."

"Hey!" a rough voice shouted.

I turned my head. One of the hired actors was backing away.

"This was not part of the deal!" the actor yelled. He reached into his jacket. He pulled out a gun. It was not a prop.

The heavy metal gleamed under the harsh warehouse lights.

Maureen screamed.

"Nobody move!" the man roared. "I am not going to jail for this! I want a car! I want cash right now!"

He lunged forward. He grabbed the closest person to him. It was Maureen. He yanked her against his chest. He pressed the barrel of the gun directly against her temple.

Maureen shrieked. Tears streamed down her face. "Ethan! Help me!"

Ethan stood frozen. He looked at the gun. He looked at Maureen. He looked at the exit.

"Ethan, please!" Maureen begged.

Ethan moved. He did not step forward to save her. He shoved Maureen's shoulder. He pushed her harder into the gunman's grip to create distance for himself. Then he turned and sprinted toward the side door of the warehouse.

Maureen sobbed hysterically. The gunman tightened his hold on her neck.

I stopped breathing.

Sebastian did not hesitate. He closed the distance between himself and the gunman before the man could even register the movement.

Sebastian grabbed the weapon. He twisted the man's wrist sharply.

A loud crack echoed through the room.

The gunman screamed and dropped the weapon.

Sebastian kicked the back of the man's knee. The gunman collapsed to the concrete floor.

Maureen fell to her knees. She covered her face and wailed.

Sebastian ignored her completely. He pulled me hard against his chest.

"We are leaving," he said.

He guided me toward the ruined doorway. The rain was still pouring outside. The men by the SUVs stood at attention. My mind was spinning. Ethan was gone. My old life was gone.

I was walking away with a stranger.

We stepped over the debris. We passed the man groaning on the floor.

The gunman dragged himself up onto his elbows. He spat blood onto the concrete. He looked directly at Sebastian.

"I played my part, Mr. Sprouse," the man muttered. His voice was hoarse but clear. "Where is my wire transfer?"

I froze.

My feet stopped moving. The rain beat down on my shoulders. I slowly turned my head to look at Sebastian.