The Vance dining room was a study in beige. Beige walls, beige carpet, beige food.
Richard Vance sat at the head of the table, beaming. His stock was up. His daughter had brought the billionaire.
"Julian, my boy!" Richard boomed. "Try the wine. It's a '92."
Julian took a polite sip. He hadn't let go of Serena's hand since they walked in. To the room, it looked like devotion. To Serena, it felt like handcuffs.
Waiters moved around the table, placing plates of roasted lamb chops in front of the guests.
Serena stiffened. The smell of the rosemary-crusted meat made her stomach churn. She hated lamb-always had.
Before she could even pick up her fork, Julian raised a finger.
"Take it away," he said quietly to the server. "Mrs. Sterling prefers the sea bass."
Serena looked at him in surprise. He remembered.
"Oh, nonsense," Richard interrupted loudly. "She eats what's served. Harrison always said she loved the lamb at Musso & Frank's."
The temperature in the room plummeted. Serena gripped her fork until her fingers ached. "I hated it then, and I hate it now," she said through gritted teeth.
"So, Serena," her sister Chloe said, quickly changing the subject while picking at a bread roll. "I saw the dress. Is that last season? Or did your allowance get cut?"
Serena tightened her grip on her fork. "It's vintage, Chloe. Not that you'd know the difference between vintage and clearance."
Julian squeezed her hand. A warning? Or support?
"Serena has been busy," Julian said smoothly. "She just secured full financing for her film. Five million."
The table went silent. Richard looked shocked. Chloe looked jealous.
"Really?" Richard asked. "Who's the fool?"
"Moonlight Ventures," Serena said, lifting her chin.
"Never heard of them," Richard scoffed.
Serena's phone buzzed in her clutch. She ignored it. It buzzed again. And again.
"Excuse me," she murmured.
She walked out to the terrace. She pulled out her phone.
An email from Ian Tate.
Subject: Partnership Opportunity
Dear Ms. Vance, I represent Canvas Media. We are aware of your deal with Moonlight. As a strategic partner of Moonlight, we would like to offer additional marketing support...
Serena frowned. Canvas Media? That name sounded familiar.
She replied quickly. Who is your contact at Moonlight? I wasn't aware of a partnership.
She went back inside. The dinner dragged on. Julian was charming, cold, and perfect. He deflected Richard's business probes and ignored Chloe's flirting.
When they finally left, Serena felt exhausted.
They got into the Maybach. Julian loosened his tie. He looked tired.
"You did well," he said quietly.
Serena felt a warmth spread in her chest. "You too. Thank you for defending me."
"I told you. It's my reputation."
His phone rang. He answered on speaker. It was Gavin.
"Sir, we have a situation. Serena just emailed Ian Tate at Canvas Media."
The air in the car froze.
Julian snatched the phone off speaker. He looked at Serena. His eyes were lethal.
"Hang up," he said to Gavin.
He turned to her. "You're talking to Canvas Media?"
"I... they emailed me," Serena stammered. "They said they work with Moonlight. I just asked who they were."
"Canvas Media," Julian said, his voice shaking with suppressed rage, "is Harrison Knox's shell company. It's how he funnels money into his vanity projects."
Serena gasped. "I didn't know! I swear!"
"You didn't know?" Julian laughed bitterly. "Or were you just looking for a way to get him involved?"
"I thought they were investors!" Serena protested. "Why would I want him involved?"
"Because you can't let him go," Julian said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Even now. Even with five million on the table, you're opening doors for him."
"That's not fair!"
But the damage was done. He turned away from her, staring out the window.
"Driver," he said. "Faster."
Serena sat in the corner, horror dawning on her. Ian Tate. Harrison. He was trying to infiltrate her movie. And Julian thought she was helping him.
"Julian, please listen-"
"Don't," he cut her off. "Just don't speak."
