Jacob pulled out a cigarette, stuck it between his lips, and lit up.

He made a point of blowing the smoke right in my face. That smug expression pushed me over the edge—my hand shot up before I could stop it, and suddenly the table was a mess of scattered dishes and broken glass.

Leila rushed to Jacob's side, then signaled her bodyguards. They grabbed me and threw me back.

"Rick, stop it!"

"What's the matter? You can toy with people, but no one's allowed to push back?"

I glared at Leila, my eyes burning. The Galloway family had rocketed to the top of the wealth rankings in just three years—and I was the reason why.

I'd used my family's influence to clear every obstacle in their path. Even the underground players who wanted to cause trouble for the Galloways backed off when they learned I was involved.

Tonight was supposed to be different. On my birthday, I'd planned to finally tell Leila the truth—that I wasn't some nobody.

I was the heir to the most powerful of Northport's four great families.

I'd planned to bring her home to meet my parents. I never imagined someone's heart could change this fast.

I'd misjudged her. Overestimated who she really was.

"Leila. You really want me to walk out of here humiliated?"

She let out a cold laugh. "What did you think? That I set all this up just for show?"

Jacob, emboldened by the bodyguards, swung his fist into my face. "Listen up, Dickerson. You've got two options. One: you can't pay, and they haul you off to jail. Two: you get down on all fours with that steak in your mouth and crawl out of here barking like a dog."

"Oh, and here's the difference—option one, you leave naked. Option two, you keep your clothes but lose your dignity." He laughed. "Come on, pick already. I'm getting impatient."

Dozens of eyes watched me like I was the evening's entertainment. My fists clenched until my knuckles went white. I looked at Leila without a trace of emotion.

"Fine. Since this is what you've chosen, when Galloway Group goes bankrupt, that's on you."

The words had barely left my mouth before Jacob burst out laughing, and the whole room joined in.

"Ha! Did you hear that?"

"Has this guy been reading too many romance novels? Does he think he's some secret billionaire?"

"He's lost his mind."

Leila's eyes blazed with fury. She thought I was bluffing too.

She grabbed a plate of food and hurled it at me. "Stop talking big. You're going to bankrupt my family? You think you have that kind of power?"

"Worry about your own problems!"

"Manager!" The manager caught her signal and walked over with security flanking him. His voice was cool and professional. "Mr. Dickerson, will you be paying in cash, or would you like someone else to cover the bill?"

At least he was keeping things civil.

I scanned the room and spotted someone I recognized—a business contact I'd worked with before, back when I was handling deals on behalf of the Galloways.

I started walking toward him. The moment he saw me coming, he jumped up and backed away.

"Rick, stay away from me. I can't pay for—"

"Relax. I'm not asking you to pay. I just need to borrow your phone."

"Can I? I just need to call a friend to bring money."

"Ha! He's still putting on an act!" Jacob shouted. "Who in Capital City would show up to bail you out?"

"Go ahead, let him make his call. We'll give him thirty more minutes. If nobody shows up with the money, I'll let all these lovely single ladies here strip him down. A man the richest woman in the city has been with can't be all bad, right?"

Jacob turned to the cluster of wealthy older women nearby. They'd been eyeing me like wolves the entire time.

Jacob's people handed me the phone as instructed.

The moment I got it, I called my friend and told him to get the money here within thirty minutes.

Time slipped away, second by second. Ten minutes left.

Jacob couldn't wait any longer. He stood up.

"I must be an idiot to believe this guy. His so-called friend is going to show up with the cash? Please."

"Exactly! He's just stalling."

"Manager, have your boys break his hands and feet already. No one's stupid enough to cross the Galloway family for this loser. Stop wasting time."

As the manager and his security guards closed in with murder in their eyes, I raised my hand to stop them.

"Hold on. I've still got ten minutes."

"When those ten minutes are up, someone will be here with the money."

"Bullshit. When those ten minutes are up—hell, I'll give you an extra ten—if no one shows, I'll bite down on a piece of meat and crawl out of here on all fours like a dog."

My eyes lit up. "You said it. Remember that."

"Yeah, I said it. So what? Everyone here is my witness."

The room erupted again. "Ha! This is too good. I don't even want to go home anymore."

"Who knew dinner would come with a show like this?"

The ten minutes were almost up. One of the wealthy women couldn't wait—she reached over and ran her hand across my chest.

"Don't touch me!"

I slapped her hand away.

"Ooh, those pecs, that body. I didn't even need to touch to know. Very nice." She turned to Leila. "Ms. Galloway, why don't you just give him to me?"

Leila laughed and drained her wine glass, admiring her fresh manicure. "Why not? If he can't pay, you're all welcome to do whatever you want with him."

"Ha! Then I'm going first."

Everyone was certain I couldn't pay. They stopped caring about my consent and started grabbing at me.

My voice dropped to ice. I wanted to kill someone. But the woman didn't give a damn about the threat in my eyes.

Jacob shot a mocking look at Leila's bodyguards. "Hold him down. Pin him so these ladies can have their fun."

"Yes, sir!"

The bodyguards swarmed me, surrounding me completely.

I looked at Leila. My heart went cold.

We were still technically married. And here she was, letting other women grope me. She was humiliating herself as much as me.

She didn't care. "Stop looking at me like that. I'm not helping you."

"I just want Jacob to feel better."

With Leila's blessing, the women grew bolder.

"Come with me, handsome!"

"I've got money, sweetie. I can pay your bill for you!"

"No, no—come with me. I'm prettier than her."

They ordered the guards to hold me down while they tore at my clothes.

I struggled with everything I had. The men in the room burst out laughing.

I memorized every one of their faces. "You think this is funny? In a few minutes, you'll be the joke."

"And you." I looked at Jacob.

He spat at me. "Strip him. Time's up. No more stalling—"

He didn't finish.

The doors flew open. A squad of men in black suits stormed in, moving with military precision. They took down the guards surrounding me one by one.

Then came Gavin Mercer—the most powerful bank executive in Capital City. He strode in carrying a briefcase, his face carved with an intensity that could freeze the room.

"Mr. Dickerson, I've brought the money for you. Glad I wasn't late!"