Chapter5 Midnight Ambush
Chloe
I saved the third industry analysis report and glanced at the time: 6:32 PM.
An hour and a half until my dinner with Julian.
I shut down the monitor and grabbed my fake Michael Kors bag. Seven or eight analysts still hunched over their desks. Lily passed by and lowered her voice: "Chloe, you're actually leaving on time today?"
I forced a smile. "I have plans tonight."
After the elevator doors closed, I leaned against the mirrored wall and shut my eyes.
Tonight was supposed to be a work night at The Abyss.
But today after the wedding, when Julian said "let's have dinner together tonight," I hadn't refused.
$2,500, just like that. Gone.
But I was his wife—at least on the legal documents. The contract said "mutual independence, no interference," but yesterday when he said "I want to truly know you in private," his tone didn't sound like he was executing contract terms.
If I refused this dinner with "I need to go serve drinks at The Abyss," it would define this marriage as a pure transaction that didn't even need surface warmth.
I didn't know why I didn't want it to become that.
My phone vibrated—incoming call, unknown number.
"You blocked me."
A low male voice, with suppressed amusement.
I stopped on the sidewalk. "...Julian?"
"Mm. Your husband. Currently on your Instagram blacklist."
I closed my eyes. "I thought it was a spam account. Zero content, zero followers."
"There was a profile picture."
"Just a watch. Nothing that could verify identity."
Two seconds of silence. I could almost imagine his expression—irritated yet amused.
"Remove me now," he said.
I was already doing it. "Done. You were on there for about five minutes."
"Long enough."After a brief pause, Julian's tone returned to its usual restraint.
"About tonight's dinner—I need to fly to Taipei tonight to handle an acquisition. 11:45 PM flight. I'll be gone four to five days."
My first reaction was relief.
"I understand," I said calmly. "Work is important."
Another brief silence.
"You sound... relieved." Julian's voice carried subtle emotion.
He'd picked up on it again.
"No. It's just that work has been heavy today too."
"Alright." His tone held no further probing. "Be careful these next few days. If there are any problems at the company, contact me anytime."
"I know."
"I'm serious, Chloe." His voice dropped lower. "If anyone makes you uncomfortable, don't endure it. Tell me."
I thought of Richard's hand this afternoon, my throat tightening. "...Okay."
The call ended.
I quickly messaged The Abyss manager: "Family situation resolved. I can work tonight if you still need me."
Two minutes later: "Be here by 10pm. Don't be late."
I checked the time: 6:48 PM.
$2,500, lost and found again.
I turned and walked back into the Goldman building.
At 9:32 PM, I shut down the last monitor. I'd rechecked that industry analysis report twice, making sure there were no data errors Richard could exploit.
Now to The Abyss, perfect timing.
Margaret's targeted therapy shortfall this month was still $112,000. Forty-four more nights like this, and it would be enough.
Two blocks from the subway station, I heard an engine behind me.
A distinctive sound—low, powerful, with a show-off quality to its rumble.
I glanced back. An orange Lamborghini Urus, crawling about fifty meters behind me. Headlights off, but the engine growled low in the night.
My heart clenched. This wasn't coincidence.
The engine sound continued following. Fifty meters. Forty meters. Thirty meters.
My breathing quickened. Someone who could afford that car meant power and resources, which also meant if he wanted to do something to me, I'd have almost no ability to resist.
The orange Lamborghini suddenly accelerated past me, then screeched to a stop twenty meters ahead, blocking the road.
The engine cut off. The door opened.
Richard Carter stepped out.
---
Richard's suit and tie were perfectly arranged, his sparse hair slightly disheveled. He held a Starbucks cup, his gaze raking over me with that oily false concern.
"Chloe. Out so late. Where are you headed?"
I gripped my phone tighter. "Home."
"Home?" Richard smiled.
"Is that so?" Richard took two steps forward. "Five more minutes in this direction, there's a very special club called The Abyss. Ever heard of it?"
My heart felt gripped by ice. He knew.
He pulled out his phone, showing a photo of The Abyss entrance. In it, I wore a black cocktail dress.
"VIP sommelier. $2,000 to $3,000 per night. Very nice side job. But Goldman's employee handbook prohibits entertainment venue work. If compliance learned about this..."
My nails dug into my palms. "What do you want."
"We can keep this as our little secret. You continue working, getting your salary and health insurance—I know your mother's treatment costs $150,000 monthly." His gaze swept over me.
"In exchange, accompany me to my Malibu beach house this weekend. Just the two of us."
"She doesn't need to go anywhere with you."
A young man's voice came from behind me, cold and hard.
I whipped around—Ethan Sterling stood at the corner, wearing a UCLA hoodie, basketball in hand. At twenty-one, he was two inches taller than when he'd left home, shoulders broader, eyes carrying danger I'd never seen.
"Ethan? How did you—"
"You texted this afternoon saying you weren't going to The Abyss, then just now you said you were. I knew something was wrong, so I waited here."
Richard frowned. "Who are you?"
"Her brother. Now get back in your car and stay away from my sister."
Richard laughed. "Kid, this is adult business—"
Ethan hurled the basketball at the Lamborghini's windshield. It hit with massive impact. The car alarm shrieked.
"Fuck!" Richard rushed toward the car. Ethan instantly charged forward and punched him in the face.
Richard staggered back, blood spraying. Ethan grabbed his collar and landed another punch. Richard collapsed.
"Ethan!" I rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "That's enough!"
Ethan let me pull his arm back, but his gaze remained on Richard. "You ever harass my sister again, I'll break your legs. You hear me?"
Richard clutched his nose and scrambled into his car. The orange Lamborghini screamed off into the night.
I released Ethan's arm, my legs weak.
Ethan steadied me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. How did you know I'd run into him?"
"I didn't know who you'd run into. But I knew something happened with your husband's plans and you were going to handle everything alone. So I came early."
My throat tightened.
"You go to The Abyss every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Of course I know. I've lived with you for three years. I know your schedule better than you do."
I couldn't speak.
Ethan sighed. "Come on, I'll walk you there. It's already 10 PM. From now on, every time you go to The Abyss, I'll wait nearby until you finish your shift."
I looked at my twenty-one-year-old brother—once that fifteen-year-old boy who'd been confined for three years, now holding hardness and some deep emotion I didn't dare examine.
I finally nodded.