Chapter 18
Anna’s POV:
“Sorry I’m late, Henry. Traffic was…” Seth’s voice trailed off as our eyes met. His expression shifted from casual charm to stunned recognition, then to barely concealed amusement.
“What is she doing here?” Seth asked, not bothering to address me directly.
He slid into the seat across from me, his perfectly tailored black suit making him look every bit the business magnate he’d become.
Henry looked between us, confusion evident. “You two know each other?”
“Unfortunately,” I muttered.
I studied his face, memories flooding back unbidden. The last time we’d crossed paths was at the Wright Estate during Christmas party.
The Wrights and Prices were old family friends, going back generations–a fact that had tormented me for most of my life.
Our history went deeper than most people knew. Seth and I grew up together, our families intertwined through business and social circles, but we were never friends–just sworn enemies.
It started in first grade when I scored 10 points higher than him on a test. That single event sparked a war that would span decades.
I could still picture him standing outside my Back Bay apartment, pointing up at my window, shouting that we would be enemies for life. The memory of his adolescent voice cracking with anger almost made me smile now, but what followed wasn’t amusing at all.
He’d stolen my homework assignment during finals week, leaving me to face the mortification of having nothing to turn in when the teacher collected papers in front of the entire class. I’d retaliated by reading his love letter to the prettiest girl in school aloud to his mother, who then shared it with his entire family.
His father had punished him severely for “distracting himself with girls instead of focusing on his studies.”
And on my wedding day, there was Seth, champagne in hand, telling me he wouldn’t wish me well because I was making the biggest mistake of my life, throwing away my career to get married right after graduation. We’d argued bitterly, and I’d hated him for spoiling what should have been the happiest day of my life.
Chapter 18
Yet each year at the Wright family gatherings, I’d witnessed his transformation. Seth was growing into his power, maturing into someone even Blake warned me about.
“He’s like a wolf,” Blake had told me once. “Anyone who gets in his way gets bitten. Even his own brother steps carefully around him.” Following that conversation, Blake had watched me delete Seth’s contact information from my phone.
“I know exactly what you’re doing,” Seth said, narrowing his eyes at me. “You‘ deliberately sought out
Henry to get close to me again, didn’t you?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous. I had no idea-”
“You just won’t admit it, will you?” Seth’s voice yanked me back to the present.
“Fine, don’t admit it,” Seth continued, leaning forward. “But if you can’t submit, that’s a problem. Tell you what–drink two bottles of whiskey and shout ‘Seth Price is the best man in the world‘ at the top of your lungs, and I’ll let you go. If you can really pull it off, I’ll let you join Henry’s project and even give you a raise.”
I considered my position. I was carrying a $9 million debt, while he was the Price family’s golden
boy. This wasn’t a fight I could win today.
“I’ll give in,” I conceded. “I never said I wouldn’t. So if I finish this drink, you’ll let me join Henry’s
project?”
Seth’s eyes widened slightly, not expecting my surrender to come so easily.
I lifted the glass of high–proof whiskey in a mock toast. “I’ll down this, Mr. Price. Watch carefully.”
The liquor burned like fire as it went down, and I couldn’t suppress a pained sound from escaping my throat. My eyes watered, but I maintained eye contact with Seth, whose surprise was now
unmistakable.
Henry observed without interference, his analytical eyes tracking my every move.
Seth recovered quickly. “Anna, if you’re really game, drink up. Two bottles and you’re on the team.
Four bottles, and I’ll bump Henry from his position and give it to you! I don’t care how badly you
perform–even if you screw up the hundred–million–dollar project, I’ll take the hit.”
My mind raced through calculations. A hundred–million–dollar environmental project with standard commission rates could potentially pay off a quarter of my debt to Blake.
“I don’t think so,” I replied, setting down the glass. “Two bottles is enough! And you better keep your word!”
Henry’s hand came down firmly on my glass as I reached for the bottle again. “Anna, Seth is just
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Chapter 18
messing with you. Admitting defeat is more effective than any amount of alcohol.”
I ignored his attempt at intervention and took the bottle directly to my lips.
“Slow down, Seth taunted, pulling out his phone. “Let me get a picture for Instagram!”
As alcohol burned through me, I stayed composed.
This wasn’t about pride–it was survival. Nine million in debt leaves no room for dignity.
If drinking whiskey for Seth’s amusement was my ticket to financial salvation, then bottoms up.
Sometimes you lose a battle to win the war, I reminded myself, as warmth spread through my chest and Seth’s laughter filled my ears.
“That’s enough,” Henry said, his tone finally showing concern. “Don’t make this bigger than it needs to be.”
Seth ignored him, snapping photos and typing. “She wants to drink, let her drink! If she passes out, I’ll take her home.”
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