The morning sun pierced through the gap in the heavy blackout curtains. Ellery sat up. Every muscle in her body ached.
She walked into the master bathroom and turned on the cold water. She splashed her face, trying to wash away the exhaustion.
Her phone vibrated against the marble vanity.
She picked it up. It was a text message from Goldia.
I have booked you an appointment with the top fertility specialist on Park Avenue for tomorrow. Do not be late.
Ellery's chest tightened. She flipped the phone over, placing it face down on the cold stone.
Two seconds later, the phone started ringing loudly. The caller ID showed her brother's name: Hayward.
Ellery stared at the screen for three seconds before sliding her finger across the glass.
"Did you talk to him?" Hayward's sugar-coated, manipulative voice drifted through the speaker. "Ellery, sweetie, please tell me Holland agreed to inject funds into the White-Peak development project?"
"No," Ellery said coldly. "I cannot control Holland's business decisions, Hayward."
Hayward let out a long, heavy sigh. "Ellery, you know I don't want to pressure you. But you are his wife. You need to try a little harder, for Mom's sake. Her medical bills at the Swiss sanatorium are due next month, and they are astronomical. If Garza Group goes under, my hands are tied. I really don't know how I'll explain to the doctors that we have to pull the plug on her treatment... I'm not forcing you, I'm just heartbroken for Mom."
Ellery's fingernails dug into her palms. Her breathing turned shallow. "You wouldn't."
"I wouldn't have a choice," Hayward murmured softly, the venom hidden beneath a layer of fake grief. "Make him sign the deal, Ellery. For Mom."
The line went dead. Ellery's hands shook. She gripped the edge of the sink until her knuckles turned white. She had no choice. She had to keep playing the game.
She picked up the phone and dialed Goldia's number.
"I will move back into the Long Island estate," Ellery said, swallowing her pride. "I will follow the prep routine."
She hung up before Goldia could gloat.
Ellery walked into her closet. She pulled out a tailored, high-necked black suit. She applied a thick layer of concealer to her neck to hide the dark bruises Holland had left on her skin.
She had to go to Holland's office first. She couldn't afford to disobey him now. She walked out of the building and hailed a yellow cab, giving the driver the address to the Sutton Enterprise skyscraper.
At exactly nine o'clock, Ellery pushed open the heavy glass doors of Holland's top-floor executive suite. His assistant didn't even look up, simply pointing toward the double mahogany doors. Ellery walked in. Holland was sitting behind his massive desk, signing documents. He didn't offer her a seat. For twenty agonizing minutes, she stood there in her high heels, completely ignored. The silence was a suffocating weight, a deliberate power play to remind her of her place.
Finally, Holland threw his pen down. "You look like a corpse," he stated coldly, his eyes raking over her conservative suit. "My mother is hosting a charity gala this weekend. Make sure you don't embarrass me. Now get out."
Ellery's fingernails dug into her palms. She turned without a word and left the suffocating office. Stepping back onto the bustling Manhattan pavement, she took a ragged breath. She hailed another yellow cab. She gave the driver the address to her high-end custom dressmaking studio, TT Couture.
When she pushed the glass doors of her studio open, her receptionist rushed forward. The young girl looked panicked.
"Ms. Garza, there is a very difficult VIP client in the fitting room," the receptionist whispered. "She is throwing a fit."
Ellery frowned. She handed her leather bag to her assistant and walked straight toward the VIP room.
She pushed the half-open door. Crystal was sitting on the velvet sofa. She was flipping through a book of expensive fabric swatches.
Crystal looked up. A triumphant, nasty smile spread across her face.
Crystal picked up a sample of French Chantilly lace and tossed it onto the glass coffee table. "I want you to personally design a custom set for me."
Ellery's face remained completely blank. She walked into the room and stopped in front of the table.
"My schedule is fully booked," Ellery said in a monotone voice. "My assistant can help you."
Crystal stood up. She took a step closer, invading Ellery's personal space.
"Holland texted me again last night after he left," Crystal whispered, her eyes gleaming with malice. "He felt bad about kicking me out."
Ellery's heart gave a violent lurch, but she kept her face perfectly still. She forced a polite, professional smile.
"I need a very seductive lingerie set," Crystal continued loudly, making sure the staff outside the glass walls could hear. "It's to please Mr. Sutton."
The studio went dead silent. The other designers peeked through the glass, their eyes wide.
Ellery took a slow, deep breath. If she caused a scene, it would ruin her studio's reputation. She needed the money from this commission to deal with Hayward's blackmail.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her yellow measuring tape.
Crystal smiled brightly and raised her arms in the air, looking around the room like she owned the place.
Ellery stepped forward. Her hands were ice cold as she wrapped the tape measure around Crystal's chest.
"Make sure it pushes everything up," Crystal sneered, looking down at Ellery. "He likes it when I look perfect."
Ellery did not say a word. She just pulled the tape measure a little tighter.
