Chapter 1

Nelly bounded down the stairs, her footsteps thudding with urgency.

“Wait, Dad!” she called, flinging her arm in the air like a flag.

Anthony, suitcase in hand, paused at the foot of the stairs and turned just in time to see his daughter racing toward him.

“Easy, love,” he said, his brows lifting in concern. “You’ll break your neck if you’re not careful.”

“I’m not a baby anymore,” Nelly huffed, but her smile betrayed her pride at being called “love.”

“What’s got you running like that?” he asked, amused.

“I wanted to give you one last safe-travel kiss,” she said, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Anthony chuckled. “Didn’t you already give me one?”

“Yeah, but this one’s special.” She gave him a wide-eyed, pleading look.

He opened his arms. “Come here, you don’t have to beg me for a kiss.”

Nelly rose onto her tiptoes as he leaned down. She pressed a loud, smacking kiss to his cheek.

“There. That’s the real one,” she said proudly.

“Better now?” he asked with a soft laugh.

She hesitated. “Almost. One more thing.”

Before she could continue, a cool voice floated down from the landing.

“Nelly, let your dad go already. He’ll be late.”

Clarissa stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed and a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“It’s alright, honey,” Anthony called up to her. “She’s almost done.”

“I just don’t want you late for this appointment, Anthony. These clients are important.”

She descended the stairs in graceful steps, her tone overly sweet.

Anthony offered her a patient smile. “Don’t worry, love. I’m the boss. They can wait a minute for me.”

Clarissa raised her hands in mock surrender. “If you say so.”

He turned back to Nelly. “So what’s this one more thing, hmm?”

She bit her lip, then looked up at him. “Promise you’ll be back before my birthday?”

Anthony crouched slightly, eyes softening. “Have I ever missed one?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Then trust me. I wouldn’t miss your eighteenth for the world.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Pinky swear?”

He sighed with a smirk. “Aren’t you too old for that?”

“Just do it, Dad.”

He gave in, hooking his pinky around hers. “There. Official.”

Clarissa rose from the couch and approached. She wrapped her arms around Anthony, her embrace a little too stiff.

“Safe travels, honey. See you in a week.” Her lips curled upward, but her eyes stayed cold.

“Take care of my girls,” Anthony said.

“I will,” she replied, releasing him.

As he reached the door, he paused, glancing over his shoulder.

“Emily didn’t come to see me off?”

Clarissa blinked. “Oh—I forgot to tell you. Her stomach was bothering her.”

Anthony frowned. “If it gets worse, take her to the hospital.”

Then he stepped outside, the sound of the front door closing echoing through the large, quiet house.

A few minutes after Anthony left, Clarissa shot a venomous glare at Nelly before turning sharply and walking up the stairs, her heels echoing against the marble like daggers of disdain.

Once inside the safety of her room, she slammed the door shut behind her and locked it with a snap. Her movements were brisk, she pulled out her phone, and dialed a number with trembling fingers—trembling not from fear, but anticipation.

The line barely rang once before it connected.

“Did you do it?” she asked coldly, not bothering with pleasantries.

“You know I always come through for you, baby,” came the slick reply, his voice oozing confidence from the other end.

Clarissa’s lips curled in irritation.

“Good.” She was about to end the call when his tone shifted.

“Hold on—you’re not just going to hang up like that. When am I seeing you?”

His voice carried urgency, maybe even a hint of threat.

“When everything is settled, you’ll see me,” she replied curtly.

“Don’t play smart with me, Clarissa. A deal is a deal.”

She let out an exasperated hiss.

“Fine. Tomorrow.”

A satisfied chuckle came through.

“Now we’re talking. I’ll be expecti—”

The line went dead before he could finish. Clarissa ended the call deliberately, her expression twisting with contempt.

“Filthy leech,” she muttered under her breath. “Once I’m done with you, I’ll find a perfect way to toss you aside.”

She crossed the room and perched elegantly on the edge of her massive queen-size bed. Leaning forward, she ran her fingers slowly across the smooth, white silk bedspread, her red polished nails lightly dragging over the fabric. A devilish smirk danced on her lips.

“Mmm… all of this will be mine. Very soon.