Billionaire Captain: Claiming My Rival's Ex

nora

ade of the Gold Coast luxury high-rise where Jared

terlaced in my lap. I had changed into an oversized cream sweater, da

med doorman stationed under the canopy. "It's just cloth

on into park and killed t

public utility. You don't need

tain now. If someone catches you hauling boxes out of an opposing star player's high-rise without me, it looks like

uld argue, circling th

Beckham Waller flanking me in the lobby, stammering an aw

oyer, the distinct, suffocating scent of tuberose p

eir impromptu post-gala celebration. My bespoke wool coat, which I had accidentally left behind two nights ag

sill, was the white potted orchid my father had gifted me shor

thetically in parched, bone-dry soil.

kham muttered, his voice dripping with di

r with," I said, a lum

I forced my gaze away. I pulled two massive Rimowa suitcases from the walk-in closet and began pulling down my clothes

every diamond bracelet, every gold pendant sitting in a neat row on the glas

econd suitcase when the

, girlish coo: "Oh, Jared, you were amazing with the reporters this

tantly as they steppe

itcases into the hallway,

ing press conference. Christy was clinging to his arm, wearing an oversized cashmere

eaning casually against the kitchen counter,

, his eyes flashing with raw hostility.

nd it, his expression bored, lethal. "Looks more like a cheap fra

t my feet. A wave of possessive anger flashed across his featu

said calmly, stepping forward. "My

snapped, letting go of Christy and marching toward me. "We have a two-year lease here. We ha

. "You proposed to my stepsister on national television t

is face flushed with rage. "You were supposed to understand! But running to him? To a

o point a finger at my face, a wall

ive frame completely eclipsing Jared. He reached out with terrifying speed, his

in, trying to pull back, but Bec

redatory, that the air in the room seemed to freeze solid. "You don't step toward her. You don't rai

hat followed

ing frantically from Beckham to me

nds that far," Beckham sneered, releasing Jared's arm with enough fo

ng his bruised arm while glaring at me with pure p

" I said, walking over to the windowsill, picking up th

nvenient! A desperate woman marrying a disgraced captain! I suppose you think that means yo

y?" I paused, loo

. And since your father's old hospitality trust holds the commercial lease on that gallery, our lawyers are serving the tr

publicly humiliate me, cornering me in fron

," I said smoothly. "Have your lawyers bri

ses in one hand, completely effortlessl

rs closed around mine, sending a jolt of ste

id, loud enough for every co

ng Jared standing in the wreckage of his living room, staring at my