Page 67 of It's Not All Fake

I immediately regret my decision to let him in. A second ago was the moment when the audience was screaming not to open the door, and I foolishly did it anyway.

I take a deep breath and close the door, deciding to stand right there, close to the exit. I watch as Lucas scans the apartment, picking up a half-drunk bottle of water from the kitchen counter and taking a swig from it as if he owns the place and everything in it. He’s deliberately trying to provoke a reaction from me.

“Chloe, all I want is my money. I’ve been asking for it and asking for it. And I want it now,” he says matter-of-factly like he’s the victim here.

Don’t negotiate with him. I remember Liam’s warning earlier today.

But I desperately want this ordeal to be over.

“How much?” I glare at Lucas.

He grins, but it’s no longer charming like it used to be. Now, it’s monstrous.

“Five million,” he says flatly.

I can’t help but laugh. It’s absurd that my client list could be worth that much, and why five million? The ransom demand was for ten million.

“Why the discount?” I let out a snort of disbelief.

He squints his eyes at me and, for a second, it seems like he might not know what I’m talking about.

“Someone is holding my computer files hostage for ransom,” I explain bitterly, looking for any glimmer in his expression that will give him away, but he holds his poker face.

“That sounds serious.” He raises his eyebrows, surely feigning surprise. But he can’t contain the amusement dancing in his eyes, enjoying my predicament.

I want to wipe that smug smile off his face. He wants five million plus the ten million ransom demand now?

“But you’re dating a billionaire—you can swing it.” He shrugs. He leans up against the counter and casually opens a bag of chips that I had left out, taking one and chewing loudly as he watches me with an ice-cold stare. It’s hard to believe this is a man I used to love.

“Maybe you can work out overtime pay or something,” he suggests, still munching with his mouth full.

My jaw drops in shock. In private practice, there’s no overtime pay. He knows that Liam is paying me.

He seems to find my shocked expression amusing, and he smiles as he stuffs another chip into his mouth. After taking his time chewing, he speaks to me as if giving me an order.

“Chloe, you need to send me my money.”

This can’t be real.

“Or what?” I grit my teeth.

“Or things will get a lot harder for you.” He shrugs. He’ll release my files.

“You’re coercing me to pay fifteen million dollars,” I scoff in disbelief.

“Of course not,” he chuckles. “I’m asking for a settlement of just five million.” He says it like it’s totally reasonable, and I’m the crazy one. As if he has nothing to do with the ransomware attack.

“So, it’s just a coincidence that my files were stolen for ransom at the same time that you’ve been hounding me for money.” I stare him down, daring him to continue lying.

“Terrible luck you’re having.” He smirks, crunching down on another chip. He knows he has the upper hand.

I curse myself for not seeing this coming. This is exactly how he operates. He’s angling for money two ways. Diversifying, like he always used to talk about. Hell bent on getting money out of me one way or another.

Don’t negotiate with him. I hear Liam’s warning again as my mind searches for another solution.

Standing up straighter, I realize that I still have some leverage in this situation. “You’ve had some pretty bad luck yourself, Lucas,” I remind him.

A shadow crosses his face, and his smug smile vanishes.

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