CHAPTER 8: The Man On The Cover
Victoria’s POV
I stared at the email on my screen, disbelief tightening my chest. The journalist from Entrepreneur Weekly had responded faster than I expected. Her tone was polite but intrigued, and she asked to meet me the next day at a small café downtown.
I had contacted them saying I had valuable information about Ethan Sterling, one which could change the world’s perspective on him. I hadn’t expected such a quick response. A part of me had assumed my email, hastily written in the dead of night, would get lost in a sea of other leads. But here it was–an opportunity.
Still, nerves twisted in my stomach. I had no idea what I was doing. What if this backfired? What if Ethan found out before I had a chance to expose him?
Pushing those thoughts aside, I focused on my goal. I had to make Ethan pay, and this was my chance.
The next morning, I dressed simply–jeans, a blouse, and a cardigan, I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, though the dark circles under my eyes would have made me stand out regardless. My anxiety kept me up all night.
It wasn’t just one sleepless night anyways, I had been unable to sleep well since my confrontation with Ethan and Lilly. I’d close my eyes for a few minutes and it wouldn’t be long before the memories came rushing back.
When I arrived at the café, I hesitated at the door, my heart pounding. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and scanned the room for the journalist, expecting to see a woman with a notepad.
But then, I saw him….
He sat in the far corner, alone, his presence commanding attention despite his unassuming posture. A tailored navy suit hugged his broad shoulders, and his dark hair was neatly combed back, accentuating his sharp jawline. His striking eyes lifted to meet mine, and for a moment, I froze in place, unable to look away.
I knew that face.
My breath hitched as recognition dawned, the memory striking like a bolt of lightning. He was the man on the magazine cover.
Dominic’s POV
The presentation droned on, but my focus was elsewhere. Ethan Sterling’s name hung heavy in the air, his inflated asking price for the land obstructing my company’s deal. It wasn’t just business–it was personal.
“Sterling knows exactly what he’s doing,” I muttered, leaning back in my chair.
Lewis, my assistant, stood nearby, tablet in hand. “He’s playing hardball, but his reputation suggests he’ll cave with the right pressure.”
I scowled. But it wasn’t just his reputation as a cutthroat business man that was the problem, his father’s history with my family ensured that this wasn’t just about money or business.
A knock interrupted us. Clara, my secretary stepped in, holding a file. ‘Sir, a woman contacted us with information about Ethan Sterling. She claims it’s damaging. She supplied. “We only have her first name, Victoria. Our associate at Entrepreneur Weekly informed me about it and shared Victoria’s contact information.”
I straightened. ‘Interesting.”
“Very much so,‘ Lewis replied, showing me an email from the woman.
‘Set up a call,‘ I said, intrigued.
I have never been one to count on luck, but if this was for real then I was turning out to be really lucky. Clara dialed the number, putting the call on speaker. A soft, hesitant voice answered.
“Hello?”
“Victoria, Clara began. “You mentioned having information about Ethan Sterling.”
“Yes,” Victoria replied, her voice firm despite a nervous undertone. ‘I want to meet and share details in person.”
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As listeteted, a merry surfaced: the drunken woman stumbling into my hotel room, clutching a wine bottic. Her voice was asumiststakable.
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Recognition and shouichereststered indevevesion seeing me she stared at me for a moment before she began approaching cautiously. Up closest even more beautiful tham the insa smerehitadeseencher she was graceful, yet she carried a tension that betrayed her mease.e
This was going torbereiteteresting.
You re the man from the cagazine cover shishapspake stapping just short of the table. Her brown eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were piecing a puzzle.c.
The man from the cagazine covere 7 hatoz arstw what was expecting at all. i looked into her eyes deeply, searching for something, anything thi give her away, but there secreed to be cothing gualall.
She only recognized meles the camnoro the cazazencocover Nonetheless, i stood and extended a hand. “Victoria?”
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The name sounded familiar, really faraihar. Wevere have heard that before? Atso. Clara hadn’t mentioned that Victoria was quite this… poised. expected someone who appeared so collected, not altered chausos she datased) in my suite.
“You said you had information about Ethan Sterning centrung though the formalities.
She folded her hands on the table, her knuckles turmining hitete sash sherred them tightly. Yes. I… She hesitated, glancing down as though col
her thoughts. Im his ex–wife.
That gave me pause. Ex–wife? Victoria idawthorne, that is whterdindardridheanandMy eyes narrowed as I studied her. Go on.”
“I didn’t know what Ethan was capable of when we married,sha bezarur.drerovcicququier and steady!tle was charming, ambitious… and deceptiv Everytining he has now, he built using my family’s wealth. And whenchesbadido fufundierasto forume–Sishe exhaled sharply, looking away.
This was truly interesting. So, Ethan Sterling had stoten frero his where le bruk doordrderesting mama on the table! He took your family’s w
She nodded. Her eyes became glassy with tears, i watched hereblinka pidiyoroleazahthem.
“He tricked me into signing over my inheritance. 4. thought I was helping himena bisnesslleid tume grew bitter. By the time I realized truth, it was 100 late. The house, the assets–everything was mihis name, vlvin dozuréreted included flesaid I’d never survive without him
There was a steeliness in her eyes now, a determination that intrigued Syouditorord dimm
She nodded. ‘It wasn’t easy, but yes. He made sure I left with alniost nothing Now he’s insome chanto tool the public, painting hims self–made success and me as the perfect wife who supported him.
She seemed genuinely hurt, genuinely pained by what had happened But this codd dilid sonsorotfabjake, gazoich they were playing. I neede are But then, Victoria didn’t know whoin i was, she hadn’t even asked. She probably assumed wagas jojundust something.
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