Chapter 16

A chilly vibe clung to William as he slowly descended the stairs, his steps steady and full of pressure. When he stopped in front of Elsie, the curve of his thin lips was colder than the bits of snow clinging stubbornly to the pine branches outside. “Easy for you to say.” “Aiden spoke up for you. He liked a clip of that slap on Twitter, stirred up your fans, and now they’ve gone after Grace. One of them broke her rib. She’s still in the hospital.” His phone screen lit up coldly in his hand, reflecting the suppressed fury in his eyes. “And thanks to your little scandal, Harding Group just lost two billion—within an hour.” Every word felt like another nail driven into Elsie’s palm, her nails digging deep into her skin. “So—” William leaned down suddenly, breath warm against her ear, forcing Elsie to take two quick steps back. He didn’t let up. Grabbing her chin, he stared down at her, the mocking gleam in his eyes cutting deep. “What’s your plan? How do you make this right?” Elsie felt l