Chapter 18 - The Final Nail
It didn't take long for the Sterling intelligence network to locate Chloe. She was working as a hostess at a mid-tier steakhouse in Cleveland, desperate for cash, which drove her to sell the fake story to the tabloid.
Seraphina didn't send lawyers. She flew to Cleveland herself.
She walked into the steakhouse during the dinner rush, flanked by two towering security guards. The manager practically fainted when he recognized the billionaire who had just graced his mediocre establishment.
Chloe was wiping down a booth when she looked up. The color instantly drained from her face.
"Seraphina," Chloe whispered, dropping the rag.
"Hello, Chloe," Seraphina said, her tone conversational. She slid into the booth Chloe had just wiped. "Sit down."
Trembling, Chloe sat across from her.
Seraphina placed a thick legal dossier on the table. "This is a defamation lawsuit. It asks for fifty million dollars in damages. Which, obviously, you cannot pay."
"I was desperate!" Chloe cried quietly, trying not to cause a scene. "I have nothing! You took everything!"
"I took back what was stolen," Seraphina corrected softly. "But you tried to strike me again. That was a mistake."
May you like
Seraphina slid a pen across the table. "You will issue a public retraction tomorrow. You will admit you lied for money. If you do this, I will drop the suit, and I will ensure you get a quiet, obscure job in a town where no one knows your name. If you refuse, I will drag you through the courts until you are serving time for perjury."
Chloe looked at the pen. She looked at Seraphina's unyielding eyes. She picked up the pen and signed.
