Married to the Billionaire Who Betrayed Me novel Chapter 241

Chapter 241-My Old Enemy Found Me

“The Johnston collapse is a temporary correction, I stated. I kept my voice smooth. “The federal injunction lacks a concrete foundation. Smart money buys the dip. The Chairman built a fortress. The federal prosecutor plays a weak hand.”

The man raised an eyebrow. He possessed arrogance. He underestimated the woman standing in front of him.

“You possess strong opinions,” the banker noted. “But Federal Prosecutor Sterling is a thorough man. He leaves zero loose ends.”

“Sterling relies on outdated ledgers,” I countered. I weaponized my intellect. I fed them classified corporate data to prove my status. “He froze the primary accounts. But the Johnston Cypriot holdings transferred to a blind trust hours before the raid. Sterling missed three billion dollars. A massive oversight.

The banker stiffened. The other men exchanged shocked glances. The news of the missed billions did not exist on any public network. I possessed insider knowledge. I elevated my status in their eyes. I transformed from a beautiful distraction into a player.

“You hold impressive connections,” the banker said. His tone shifted from dismissive to respectful. “Do you represent a specific firm?”

“I represent an interested buyer,” I lied. I leaned closer to the banker. The scent of expensive scotch hit my nose. “My clients require access to the master ledger offered tonight. I need an introduction.”

The banker chuckled. A low, vibrating sound.

“You aim high, the banker mused. “The broker does not mingle with the general floor. He despises the noise. He holds court in the VIP lounge on the second level. But the stairs are restricted. You need a gold token to pass the guards.”

‘I possess ample persuasion,’ I said.

“Persuasion fails against the broker’s men,” the banker warned. “They are ex-military contractors. They shoot first. The broker is paranoid tonight. He

doubled his detail.’

‘I appreciate the warning,” I said.

I turned away from the fireplace. I extracted the layout of the VIP lounge and the security parameters from the conversation. The Chairman secured the

intel without firing a single bullet.

I walked toward the grand staircase in the center of the ballroom.

Tristan appeared at my side. He materialized from the crowd like a ghost. He took my arm. His grip felt solid and reassuring.

Vanessa Cole. My former best friend. The woman who sold my private photos to the tabloids years ago. The woman I destroyed in the corporate arena. She ran to Europe after her ruin. She hid in the shadows of the elite.

Vanessa pointed a shaking finger at my face. The black lace mask failed to hide my identity, from the woman who spent years by my side. She recognized the shape of my jaw. She recognized my posture.

“Minerva, Vanessa whispered.

The name hung in the air between us. A live grenade thrown into a crowded room.

Vanessa scrambled backward. She reached into her clutch. She pulled out a sleek smartphone. Her fingers flew across the screen. She dialed a number.

She intended to call the authorities. She intended to sell the fugitive Chairman to Federal Prosecutor Sterling to buy her way back into high society.

Tristan stepped in front of me. His hand drifted beneath his tuxedo jacket. He reached for his sidearm.

“No,” I ordered through the earpiece. “Too many witnesses. We cannot shoot her here.”

Vanessa brought the phone to her ear. She backed toward the heavy mahogany doors. She kept her terrified eyes fixed on my face.