Kayden marched up to Gianna, her heels clicking aggressively against the hardwood floor of the restaurant.
"You have no shame," Kayden hissed, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of the nearby tables. "You are just a cheap actress throwing yourself at any man with a nice suit."
Gianna looked at Kayden with absolute disgust. Her stomach tightened, not with fear, but with pure, cold anger.
"At least I am throwing myself at a real man," Gianna said, her voice deadly quiet. "Not someone else's fiancé."
Kayden's face drained of color. Asa stepped forward, his jaw tight.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Kayden shrieked, her voice pitching higher. "Asa loves me!"
Gianna let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Does he? Then why is his mother still setting him up on blind dates at the country club?"
Asa's face flushed red. He grabbed Kayden's arm. "Kayden, lower your voice. People are staring."
Kayden yanked her arm away from Asa. She was shaking with rage. She pointed a manicured finger right in Gianna's face.
"You are a whore," Kayden spat. "Do not think hooking up with some old man is going to save you from marrying the Vaughn freak."
Gianna's eyes went completely dead.
She moved faster than Kayden could blink. Gianna's hand shot out and clamped around Kayden's extended wrist. She twisted it sharply downward and squeezed.
Kayden let out a loud, sharp cry of pain. Her knees buckled slightly as Gianna applied pressure to the exact nerve cluster she had learned to target in her self-defense classes.
"Let go of her!" Asa yelled, stepping forward.
Gianna shot Asa a look so venomous he froze in his tracks.
Gianna leaned in close to Kayden's ear.
"Call me a whore one more time," Gianna whispered, her grip tightening until the bones in Kayden's wrist ground together. "And I will break this arm in three different places right here in front of everyone."
Kayden whimpered, tears springing to her eyes. She shook her head frantically.
Gianna shoved Kayden backward. Kayden stumbled and fell against Asa's chest, cradling her red, throbbing wrist.
"You are nothing but a discarded piece of trash," Kayden sobbed, hiding behind Asa. "Nobody wants you!"
Gianna smoothed the front of her silk blouse. She looked at Kayden with cold pity.
"I know exactly what I am worth," Gianna said clearly. "Unlike you, who has to beg a man for a ring just to feel relevant."
Gianna turned on her heel and walked toward the exit. She did not look back.
As she pushed through the heavy glass doors into the cool night air, a man stepped out of the shadows.
It was Alex Stone.
Gianna stopped, her muscles instantly tensing.
Alex, who had clearly just received a swift instruction from his boss as Algot exited moments prior, quickly adjusted his posture. Alex reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a thick, cream-colored envelope. He held it out to her.
"Mr. Vaughn would like you to have this," Alex said respectfully.
Gianna stared at the envelope. Her heart gave a hard thump against her ribs. She reached out and took it. The paper was heavy and expensive.
Alex gave a brief nod and walked away, disappearing into the night.
Gianna ripped the envelope open. Inside was a single, thick business card. It had a different phone number on it, and a handwritten note on the back.
Stop playing games. Call me.
Gianna stared at the bold, sharp handwriting. A thrill of victory shot through her veins.
She slipped the card into her purse. She pulled out her phone and dialed Brenna's number as she walked down the street.
"Hey," Gianna said when Brenna answered. "I need you to tell me everything you know about Kayden's cousin, Jett Ball."
"Jett?" Brenna asked, sounding confused. "He is a total playboy. Hangs out at The Velvet Room. Why?"
"Because," Gianna said, a cold smile touching her lips. "I am going to use him to blow Kayden's life wide open."
