Chapter 5 - THE MISTRESS WHO WANTED THE EMPIRE
Vanessa Reed had not fallen in love with Ethan Calloway.
She had fallen in love with his lifestyle.
The penthouse.
The private jet.
The yacht.
The luxury resorts.
The way people moved aside when he entered a room.
Ethan was handsome.
Charming.
And generous with money that wasn't entirely his.
But Vanessa had never planned to remain a mistress.
She wanted to become Mrs. Calloway.
And she had been preparing for that future for nearly a year.
When Grace became pregnant, Vanessa believed the marriage would weaken.
Grace would be exhausted.
Distracted.
Emotionally vulnerable.
Ethan would grow impatient.
And Vanessa would become indispensable.
She had even begun selecting wedding venues.
Then Grace appeared on the island beside Declan Pierce.
Vanessa sat in the beachfront villa staring at her phone.
Her accountant had called three times.
The consulting company she used to receive payments from Calloway Maritime had been frozen pending investigation.
Her credit cards were being reviewed.
And the apartment Ethan had promised to purchase for her was still legally owned by one of Grace's family trusts.
Vanessa called Ethan.
He didn't answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Finally, she sent a message.
You promised you'd take care of me.
His reply came ten minutes later.
We need to talk.
Vanessa smiled.
At least he was responding.
Then another message appeared.
The company is investigating your payments.
Her smile vanished.
She typed furiously.
You authorized them.
Ethan replied:
I know.
Vanessa stared.
Then a final message arrived.
That's why we're both in trouble.
May you like
For the first time, Vanessa understood that sleeping with a millionaire did not guarantee becoming rich.
Sometimes it meant standing beside him when everything collapsed.
