Chapter 1 - The Two-Hundredth Strike

The two-hundredth strike landed, and I decided my husband was going to lose everything.

Tonight.

The leather belt slipped from Julian's hand and hit the marble floor with a soft slap. My back burned. My palms were flat against the rug, and the room tilted.

Selene lifted her champagne glass and studied me.

"There," she said. "Now it's two hundred."

Julian breathed hard. To the outside world, he was polished and brilliant. I knew the face underneath.

He crouched beside me. "Do you understand your place now, Elena?"

"Perfectly."

His eyebrows rose. Instead of pleading, I reached for my phone.

Julian grabbed my wrist. "Calling the cops?"

"No."

"Smart. Because there are no cameras tonight. No staff. No witnesses." He leaned close. "And if you make trouble, I'll tell them you attacked Selene. She'll cry. They'll believe her."

Selene smiled over the rim of her glass. "I cry beautifully."

I pulled my wrist free.

Julian let me. He thought the lesson was over.

I unlocked my phone, opened one contact, and pressed CALL.

My father answered on the first ring.

"Where are you?"

I swallowed. My voice almost failed me.

"Dad. It's time."

Silence.

Then his tone changed from father to something colder.

"Red Door?"

"Red Door."

"Give me five minutes."

The line went dead.

Julian stared at me, then barked out a laugh. "You called your father? Elena, your dad can't even get into my golf club."

I looked up at him.

For six years, he had believed my father was a retired consultant in Vermont. I had let him.

"You're right," I said.

Julian smirked.

"He doesn't need your golf club."

Three minutes passed.

At four minutes and forty-three seconds, Julian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

His smile vanished.

"Who is it?" Selene asked.

Julian didn't answer.

I could see the name from the floor.

RICHARD COLE - CHAIRMAN.

Julian picked up.

"Richard?"

He listened.

His face went white.

"What do you mean, suspended?"

Another phone began ringing.

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Then another.

And Julian finally looked at me like he had never seen me before.