I tucked my binder under my arm and followed them out of the café.
The moment I stepped out, my phone buzzed.
Mr. Hudson.
Shit.
I moved away from the attendees, down three storefronts, so they wouldn’t hear my betrayal.
“Hello?” I answered.
“So?” he said. “What all did they say about me and The Holden today?”
The truth… “Oh, um, I’m sure it’s the usual stuff you’ve heard before.”
“Well, tell me so I can know for sure.”
“They’re determined to do whatever it takes to block you from buying it, and they’re very well connected and organized—unhinged at times, but um—” I paused. “I’ll still try to make this new image thing work for you, but?—”
“Butwhat?”
You might be shit out of luck on this one.“But I think if you just keep believing in yourself and working hard like you said in your latestProperty Mogulinterview, your dream of buying The Holden might come true someday.”
“I don’t believe in ‘might’ come true, Miss Sterling,” he said. “Now that you’ve seen these people in action, what are you planning to do to get them on my side?”
I said nothing.
“Miss Sterling?”
“I um—” I looked around. “I can’t really hear you. The service is really bad right here.”
“I can hear you just fine.”
“Oh noooo.” I clicked my tongue a few times. “I’ll have to call you in a few minutes, okaaaay?”
“Don’t you dare fucking hang up on me.”
“Are you there?” I asked. “Mr. Hudson, I’m sorry, but I can’t hear you anymore. Bye!”
I ended the call and let out a breath. I placed my phone on silent, needing a minute to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do, and before I could walk away, a sleek gray Lamborghini pulled up next to me.
The window rolled down, revealing Mr. Hudson in the driver’s seat.
“Get in my car,” he said. “Now.”
I hesitated. Just stared at him.
Then I stepped back.
As if he could see the wheels turning in my head, he put the car in park and stepped out.
The sight of him striding toward me in a dark gray suit rendered me useless all at once, and I hated how fast my body forgot every reason I should’ve been afraid of him. Before I knew it, he was grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the car.
He opened the door and gently pushed me inside.
“Put on the seat belt,” he commanded, and I obliged.
He gazed at me in a way that made me forget our power imbalance entirely—and for one dangerous second, I forgot how to breathe.