GEORGIA
I sat still behind my massive glass desk, staring at the flashing red numbers on my computer monitor as the final, devastating blow was delivered.
"Every single backup option has failed, Georgia," Marcus said, his voice echoing hollowly through the speakerphone. "Chestnut Corporation leveraged the commercial banks against us this morning. They froze our emergency credit lines. If we do not make payroll by Friday, *Lumière* is officially dead."
I closed my eyes, a heavy, suffocating silence filling my pristine corporate office.
My entire empire, the beautiful, thriving fashion house I had spent five agonizing years building from absolute rock bottom, was bleeding to death.
James had systematically blocked every single exit, proving exactly how ruthless and lethal his billionai
