“Go ahead and call the police. I'll cooperate with the investigation.”
I looked straight at Marie and spoke fast：“And when Kerry Rowe gets here, you'll find out for yourself whether or not I'm his partner.”
The moment those words left my mouth, Marie let out a cold laugh：“You really are a shameless little seductress, aren't you?”
“You're stalling because you've already moved the necklace, haven't you?”
“You're dragging this out so your accomplice can get away with it.”
Before I could respond, she stepped forward and slapped me across the face：“Partner?”
“What makes you think you're anything?”
“My father has to beg Kerry Rowe for a chance to collaborate!”
“You don't even have the right to speak his name.”
She punctuated the words with a kick.
It landed hard. I hit the floor and couldn't get back up.
The pain was so sharp my eyes blurred with tears. I turned my head toward the other guests, but not a single one of them moved.
A bitter laugh escaped my throat. They were the ones who had invited me here to discuss investments. Several of them had practically begged Kerry Rowe for the chance to work with me.
And now they stood there, watching me get beaten, without lifting a finger.
“Marie Gilbert, because of what you've done, I refuse to discuss a single deal at this event!”
“Starting today, I won't invest a single dollar here!”
I turned and shouted it at the entire room.
The guests laughed.
The loudest of all were Marie and Robert.
They looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
“You? Invest?”
“A thief?”
Marie's laughter rang through the hall. Her expression turned cold：“Looks like I need to teach you your first real lesson tonight.”
She turned to the men behind her：“Strip her.”
“She's got a decent figure. Consider it entertainment for the guests.”
“And she definitely has an accomplice. Make her talk.”
“That necklace is worth over a million dollars. They'll try to move it.”
Marie's two bodyguards had been waiting for the order.
The way they looked at me was already wrong.
One of them grabbed the fabric of my gown and started tearing.
I clutched at the dress with everything I had, thrashing to shake them off.
It didn't matter. Two grown men against me was no contest. They ripped harder.
My gown was shredding into strips.
Just as I was desperately trying to cover myself, a voice thundered from the entrance.
“What the hell are you doing?”
The shout cut through the room. Marie and Robert both went pale.
I turned and saw Kerry Rowe striding in alongside Felix Gilbert.
The second Kerry saw me, his expression changed.
He rushed over, shrugged off his jacket, and draped it around my shoulders in one swift motion.
Then he turned and fixed Felix Gilbert with a stare：“Felix. This is how you treat a business partner?”
“This is Moira Dickerson. My partner. The investor you've all been looking for.”
