Chapter 3 - The Leather Portfolio
Resting on the dark marble sideboard, right beside a vase of red poinsettias, was a thick, dark brown leather portfolio folder. It had sat there undisturbed throughout the entire three-course dinner, overlooked by every guest in the room.
Byron reached over, his long fingers lifting the heavy leather folder by its edge. The polished brass latch caught the chandelier light, glinting like a drawn blade.
He turned back toward the dining table, stepping right into the space between his mother and his wife. Without taking his eyes off Bellamy, Byron slid the dark brown portfolio smoothly across the mahogany table. It glided past the spilled coffee stain, stopping directly in front of Bellamy's manicured hands.
"You should read this before saying another word," Byron said, his tone steady, unwavering, and chillingly devoid of emotion.
Bellamy looked down at the dark leather binder, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What is this? Another one of your stupid financial summaries? We're in the middle of dinner, Byron!"
"Open it, Bellamy," Byron commanded quietly. "Read line one."
The relatives around the table leaned forward, their eyes darting between the icy CEO and his increasingly uneasy wife. Lorna remained silent, her hand resting over her heart, her eyes fixed on her son’s unyielding profile.
May you like
Bellamy sneered, trying to maintain her condescending demeanor. "Fine. If it will shut you up about your mother's precious feelings, I'll look at your little papers."
👉 What horrifying reality lies waiting for Bellamy inside the first page of the folder?
