There was a little bit of anger in his eyes at my receipt comment, However, he masked it immediately. He let out a low, dry chuckle that didn't reach his eyes. He leaned back, looking every bit the King of a world I had outgrown.
"The drawer," he mused, swiping a thumb over the rim of his wine glass. "Well, at least you kept the photo, Chloe. It shows you're still sentimental, even if you've traded your heart for a scalpel."
"It's not sentiment, Asher. It's a case study," I replied, my voice cool as I cut Leo's steak. "I keep it to remind myself of the anatomy of a lie. It's very educational."
Asher's eyes darkened, but I didn't give him the satisfaction of looking away.
"You've done well," Asher said, his voice smooth. "The hospital, the armored SUV. But the underworld doesn't care about your bank balance. My enemies already know you're the one holding the scalpel to my brother's life. They don't want him to wake up. Which means they don't want you to keep breathing."
He was trying to scare me. The classic "you need my protection" move.
I set my fork down with a slow, deliberate click. I leaned forward, mirroring his posture. "Are you done with the bedtime stories, Asher? Because while you were busy 'monitoring' my perimeter, I was busy re-writing the security protocol for this entire district."
I pulled out my phone and tapped a single button.
Suddenly, the tablet on Asher's side of the table—the one his bodyguard was using to monitor the "The Ghost"—went static. Then, it displayed a live feed of Asher's own private security office.
Asher froze.
"You bought the ghost'? Congratulations," I said, a cold smirk playing on my lips. "I let you. It made it much easier to track exactly which of your accounts you were using to pay him. I now have the routing numbers for three of your offshore 'protection' funds. If I press 'Send' on this encrypted file, the International Tax Authority will have more questions for you than I do."
I saw the muscle in his jaw jump. He had tried to checkmate me with muscle, and I had countered with data.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Chloe," he hissed, though he didn't reach for the tablet.
"I don't play games, Asher. I perform surgeries. And right now, your entire financial empire is on my table," I said. "You want to protect Leo? Good. So do I. But we do it on my terms. You will provide the muscle, but I provide the brain. And if you ever—ever—try to undermine my security again, I won't just let your brother die. I'll make sure you're too bankrupt to afford his funeral."
Leo looked up, sensing the shift. "Mommy? Is the stranger mad at us?" He looks angry".
I looked at Asher. The "King" looked like he had just realized he wasn't dealing with a runaway wife, but a rival power.
Asher took a long, slow breath, regaining his composure. "It seems we have a deal, Dr. C. Protection for the boy, and silence for my accounts."
"And the dinner?" I asked, standing up and taking Leo's hand.
"The dinner is over," Asher said, his eyes fixed on me with a new, dangerous kind of respect.
"Good. Send the bill to my office," I said, turning my back on him without a second glance. "I'd hate for you to have to dip into those offshore accounts just for a steak."
*******