"If I'd known you were such a stupid fraud, I would've had Brutus rip you apart before you ever opened your mouth."
"Drag her to the private beast arena. Tell the fireworks crew the show's cancelled—tonight I'm inviting my guests to watch a woman fight wild animals instead."
Eric's voice didn't waver. The bodyguards seized me and hauled me toward the private beast arena.
I thrashed and screamed explanations, but someone shoved a cloth into my mouth to shut me up.
Just as I was about to be dragged out of the banquet hall, a business card slipped from my jacket pocket and hit the marble with a sharp crack.
One of the bodyguards looked down. His face went white. Hands shaking, he picked it up and carried it straight to Eric.
I straightened my clothes and faced him.
"I'm the chief securities analyst at Oceanic International."
"I came tonight to assess whether the Walker family qualifies for Oceanic International's first domestic investment allocation."
"Ha— haha!" Before I could finish, Samuel doubled over, laughing so hard tears ran down his face.
He clutched his stomach and pointed at me.
"Juliana, your cons are garbage, but I'll give you this—you've got nerve."