Chapter 12

Scarlett “No,” I said loudly. I didn’t mean to. And now I couldn’t take it back. Lucien tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. For a split second, I thought he already knew what I was going to say. He looked calm, not even angry. In fact, he looked... pleased. “Bold of you to say that in my car,” he murmured, eyes finally lifting from his phone. “Bold of you to think I’d sign without any leverage,” I shot back. He lifted his chin. “I don’t play leverage, Scarlett. I play decisions. You have one month. That’s it.” “And what happens after that month? You retract the offer?” “I take you off the table.” That hit harder than I expected. I shifted in my seat, crossing my arms tightly, trying not to let him see how sick his words made me feel. He didn’t press. He went quiet again, fingers tapping on his phone, lost in cold calculation. As he should be. But I couldn’t shut my mouth. “I’m not refusing forever. Just until I know I can take back what’s mine.” “Your company.