The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 54

“Investors?” A flicker of curiosity passed through Ethan’s eyes.

Ash shared the details he’d just picked up. He’d only gotten the news himself: Ramona had been hustling to meet with potential backers, and tonight, she just so happened to be meeting with an investment firm that was a recent acquisition under their own financial group. The thing was, this deal hadn’t even been made public yet.

“So she’s busy tonight because she’s meeting with investors,” Ethan murmured.

Ash didn’t catch what he said. “Sir, is there anything you’d like me to do?”

“Find out where Ramona’s meeting is taking place. Cancel a few of my appointments this evening,” Ethan replied, his tone cool and unchanged, as if he were simply working through another item on his agenda.

…

Night fell, deep and impenetrable.

Downtown, Warren Hotel.

Ramona had been at the dinner table for several rounds of drinks before she couldn’t take any more. She excused herself and rushed to the restroom to throw up.

Chasing down investors meant having to drink with clients, and not a single one of her five team members could hold their liquor. So Ramona had to take the hits herself. Not that she’d let them, even if they could—her team was all women, and she couldn’t bring herself to put them through this.

“Ramona, that’s enough… I think those guys are just messing with you tonight,” came a worried voice from behind her.

It was Nova Sawyer, Ramona’s right hand whenever negotiations got tough. Nova was quick-witted and sharp-tongued; Ramona rarely met with clients without her.

But tonight, only halfway through, Nova was already ready to bail. The men had even suggested they’d invest however much Ramona could drink, without so much as glancing at her proposal. Ramona had begun to suspect they were plants sent by Holden just to sabotage the deal.

“I’m fine, really. I just needed to get it out of my system. I can keep going for a bit longer.” Ramona straightened up, with Nova’s steadying arm for support.

Her cheeks were flushed deep red, her clothes reeking of alcohol, and her eyes a little glazed. Yet even tipsy, Ramona was stunning—impossible to ignore.

Nova looked at her friend and understood exactly what was on those men’s minds. Ramona was a woman in a man’s world; no matter how capable, without someone powerful behind her, she was still a target for this kind of treatment.

But Nova couldn’t sway her, so she stuck by Ramona’s side and returned to the private dining room.

From the hallway, the raucous laughter of the men inside carried all the way to the door.

Nova could hear them talking about Ramona, and so could Ramona herself.

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