The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 123

123 The Villain’s Tightening Noose

“It’s what I’m offering.” I placed the envelope on the coffee table. “Take it or leave it.”

My phone vibrated. Bianca. Again. I declined the call, but seconds later, it buzzed with

a text:

By evening, my nerves were frayed. I’d sent Liam his precious report–accurate figures this time–and left the office early, stopping at an ATM to withdraw the maximum daily limit. It wouldn’t be enough to satisfy Bianca, but it would buy me time.

The coffee shop suddenly felt too small, too public. People at nearby tables glanced

our way.

“Mr. Clairemont, the contractor is here about the floor renovations,” my secretary

announced.

She laughed. “That’s not what we agreed.”

“Fifty thousand dollars. Cash. And my job back within the week.”

“I’m working on it. These things take finesse.”

“I had matters to attend to.” I poured myself a drink, downing it in one swallow. “I have ten thousand for you now. The rest will take time.”

“I got fired because your precious daughter made up lies about me!” Her dangerously. “Now I have bills to pay and no income.”

eyes flashed

After she left, I poured another drink, my mind racing through options. Bianca was becoming a liability. She knew too much, wanted too much. The operation had always been mine–my planning, my risk. She was merely a pawn, easily replaceable.

Afterward, as she dressed, I handed her the envelope. “This buys you a week. No more.”

Once safely inside my office, I loosened my tie. Retroactive fraud detection. This was worse than I thought. Liam wasn’t just making changes; he was actively hunting.

“That’s hardly my problem.”

My apartment door was unlocked when I arrived. Bianca had already let herself in, making herself comfortable on my couch with a glass of my expensive scotch.

14:10

1/5

123 The Villain’s Thenkig Noose

Clairemont, I answered smoothly.

I watched her strut away, hips swaying dramatically. Stupid woman. She had no idea who she was threatening.

Damn that woman! I’d gotten her the position as Liam’s assistant specifically to keep an eye on him, and she’d managed to get herself fired within months. Useless.

1 forced myself to remain calm. “What exactly do you want?”

“And then we’ll discuss the rest of the arrangement.”

“Julian,” His voice was cold, clinical. “I need the quarterly projections for the Boston expansion by end of day. The actual numbers, not whatever fiction you’ve been peddling to the board.”

I would get rid of her very soon. I couldn’t stand her anymore!

“Why should I?” She took a deliberate sip of her coffee. “I have nothing to lose now.”

Julian’s POV

My intercom buzzed, interrupting my brooding.

“Oh, I know exactly who I’m dealing with.” Her hand reached for my belt. “A man who likes to win, who likes to be in control.”

I plastered on a smile. “Progress marches on. If you’ll excuse me, I have reports to prepare.”

Gilbert Harrison, an old friend and fellow board member, caught me in the hallway as I stormed toward my office.

“And my job?”

The phone call from this morning still rang in my ears. Three months. That arrogant bastard had bought himself three months.

“I’m a busy man, Bianca. What’s so urgent?”

I slammed my fist on the desk. “Tell him to come back later!”

“Lower your voice,” I hissed.

“Oh, but it is.” She smiled thinly. “Because if I don’t get what I want, I’ll tell Liam

14:10

2/5

123 The Villain’s Tightening Noose

everything. About the night we drugged him at the club. About how we forged Isabella’s pregnancy test. Everything.”

“And then?” She tucked the money into her purse.

She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “I want my job back. And I want money.”

“Impossible. I can’t just reinstate you.”

I let her continue. Sex had always been our bargaining tool, our way of negotiating. She

was skilled, I’d give her that. And right now, I needed the release.

“You’re late,” she purred, crossing her legs. Her skirt rode up her thighs.

I laughed without humor. “Your job? You got yourself fired.”

My grip tightened on the phone. “I don’t appreciate your tone or your implication.”

The line went dead before I could respond. How dare he speak to me like that! He was nothing but a spoiled child playing businessman, riding on his father’s legacy.

“Yes, apparently it can analyze patterns going back years.” Gilbert shook his head. “Between us, I think Sterling’s going overboard. But after that attempted breach last month, I suppose he’s justified.”

She stood, moving closer, her perfume cloying and strong. “I’m not a patient woman,

Julian.”

These ridiculous renovations were just another obstacle. Sterling Group’s sudden security upgrades and that absurd “no‘ overtime” policy were hampering my access.

For years,

I’d been siphoning funds through dummy accounts, but now I couldn’t even get into the building after hours.

“And I don’t appreciate having my time wasted with doctored reports. End of day, Julian. Or we can discuss your creative accounting practices in front of the board on

Monday.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify