The moment my grandmother handed me a $150 million luxury hotel, my husband stopped looking at me like his wife.

At 3:45 PM, sitting in the board room of Chase Bank’s headquarters on LaSalle Street, Harold Carter sat surrounded by his legal team, a victory cigar sitting unlit in his pocket.

Across the polished oak table sat the Head of Commercial Lending, holding the mortgage assignment contract for the Bennett Grand Hotel.

"Well, gentlemen," Harold announced arrogantly, checking his gold Rolex watch. "It’s nearly four o'clock. Let's sign the transfer documents so I can take control of Miss Vance's property before dinner."

Before the bank executive could lower his pen to the paper, the heavy double doors of the conference room swung open.

In walked Julian Mercer, wearing his signature dark suit, accompanied by Victoria Sterling—dressed in an immaculate crimson Chanel trench coat—and three corporate attorneys from Sterling Global.

Harold turned around, his brow furrowing with deep irritation. "Mercer? What are you doing here? This is a private commercial transaction."

"It was a private transaction, Mr. Carter," Julian said smoothly, stepping aside as Victoria Sterling tossed a certified $45 million cashier’s draft onto the center of the table.

The Chase Bank executive gasped, dropping his pen. "$45 million? Fully cleared cash funds?"

"Sterling Global Holding has executed an immediate, wire-cleared buyout of the Bennett Grand Hotel’s $40 million secondary note at a 12.5% premium," Victoria Sterling announced, her tone dripping with effortless aristocratic authority. "The contract was signed digitally by Miss Madison Vance twenty minutes ago. The note is officially closed, Mr. Carter. You are fifteen minutes late."

Harold stood up so fast his leather chair crashed backward onto the floor. "What?! That's impossible! Chase was negotiating with ME!"

"Chase negotiates with the highest cleared bidder, Harold," Victoria replied, pulling off her leather gloves with a disdainful glance. "And frankly, given that Carter Logistics is facing mandatory bankruptcy filing at nine o'clock on Friday morning, Chase’s risk compliance officer decided your syndicate was... financial hazardous waste."

Harold turned pale. He reached for the table to steady himself, his breathing ragged and shallow.

Julian walked over to Harold, standing inches away, his grey eyes piercing the older man’s crumbling facade.

"Miss Vance asked me to deliver a personal message to you, Mr. Carter," Julian whispered so only Harold could hear.