THE BILLIONAIRE WHO REFUSED TO LET HER BE SOLD

The ballroom seemed suddenly smaller.

Camille looked at Oliver's phone, then at her father.

"What alternative clause?"

Nathan rubbed his forehead. "It's a standard provision."

"Don't."

"Camille, you need to understand the pressure we're under."

"I understand that you invited me to a room full of strangers and expected me to become engaged to a man I barely know."

"Nobody expected you to do anything."

"Then why does the contract say otherwise?"

Russell stepped between them. "This conversation is over."

Everett's voice remained calm. "No. It's just beginning."

Camille turned toward him. "I need to know what the alternative clause does."

He looked at his associate, who opened the folder again.

"It gives Briarwood Holdings the right to exercise voting control over certain Harrow family shares if the refinancing agreement is not completed by the deadline."

"Whose shares?"

"Your grandmother's trust."

Camille's pulse quickened.

"Can they do that?"

"Not if the trust was never validly pledged."

Nathan looked at her. "You don't understand the consequences of refusing."

"Then tell me."

He leaned closer. "Eleven hotels could close. Hundreds of employees could lose their jobs. Your grandmother could lose everything she built."

Camille stared at him.

"You're using the employees to make me feel guilty."

"I'm telling you the truth."

"Then why didn't you tell me the truth before tonight?"

He had no answer.

A woman near the entrance began gathering her coat. Another guest quietly left. The bride-selection event was dissolving in front of them.

Sloane was no longer laughing.

Everett's associate approached with a phone.

"Mr. Kane, the preliminary review is complete."

Everett listened.

Then his eyes narrowed.

"Send it to me."

Camille watched his expression.

"What?"

"One of the lenders has filed a notice of default."

Nathan closed his eyes.

Russell swore under his breath.

Camille understood enough to realize the situation was worse than she had imagined.

"When?"

"This afternoon," Everett said.

"Before the event?"

"Yes."

She looked at her father. "You knew."

Nathan's voice cracked. "I was trying to keep the company alive."

"And you thought marrying me to Oliver would fix it?"

"It would have given us time."

"Time for what?"

He looked away.

Everett's associate answered. "The Briarwoods planned to restructure the company, sell several properties, and transfer the remaining profitable hotels into a new holding entity."

"Who would own it?"

The woman hesitated.

"Russell Briarwood."

Camille stared at her father.

"You were going to hand him the hotels."

"Temporarily," Nathan insisted.

"Under whose authority?"

He didn't answer.

Camille felt the jacket slide slightly off one shoulder. She pulled it back into place.

For eighteen months, she had avoided Everett because she believed his love came with conditions. He had wanted to solve every problem before she could decide whether she needed help.

Now her own father had turned her future into collateral.

She looked at Everett.

"Can you stop the transfer?"

"I can challenge it."

"That's not the same thing."

"No."

"Can you save the hotels?"

"If the underlying debt can be verified and the ownership structure is legitimate."

"And if it isn't?"

"Then we find out who falsified it."

Nathan stepped forward.

"Camille, please. Don't do this in public."