Joe’s cold demeanor didn’t waver, even as Maisy’s desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. He had seen enough manipulation and deceit to recognize it when it was right in front of him. Maisy’s tears, her helpless act—it wasn’t new to him. It didn’t sway him.
Skylar stood off to the side, a silent observer to the spectacle. She felt a strange sense of relief, mixed with disbelief. It wasn’t just that Joe didn’t fall for Maisy’s act; it was the ease with which he shut her down. No hesitation, no second thought.
“Mr. Martin, please…” Maisy’s voice cracked slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, trying again. “We’ve worked so hard. We’ve made sacrifices for this partnership.”
Joe’s sharp gaze flicked to her, and there was no warmth, no sympathy in his eyes. “If your sacrifices are based on manipulation and deceit, they mean nothing to me,” he said quietly, but his words hit like a heavy blow.
Maisy froze, her lips parted, and for the first time in a long while, she seemed to lose her usual composure. Her act, polished and practiced, faltered in the face of Joe’s cold reality. Skylar almost felt a glimmer of satisfaction watching the woman who had always been so poised unravel in front of Joe.
“Paul,” Joe said, his tone final, “escort them out.”
Without a word, Paul moved to stand beside the security guards, a silent signal to them that their orders were to be carried out. Jeffrey’s face twisted in frustration, but he didn’t dare protest. He had seen Joe’s power firsthand, and it was clear that trying to argue would only make things worse.
The security guards moved swiftly, ushering both Jeffrey and Maisy toward the exit. Maisy, still trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, shot a last desperate glance at Joe, but he didn’t even look back. Her facade had crumbled, and with it, any hope of manipulating Joe into agreeing to their demands.
“Skye, we… we have to leave, too.” Jeffrey muttered under his breath, his eyes never quite meeting hers. The pride that once fueled him was now diminished, swallowed by the weight of his failures and the crushing blow of rejection.
Skylar remained silent, her gaze lingering on Joe for a moment before she turned away. She had no interest in what Jeffrey had to say, nor did she want any part in his attempts to fix the situation. She had moved on from him, from that world, and there was no going back.
As they made their way out, Joe turned to Skylar. “You good?” His voice was quieter now, no longer the commanding tone he had used with her father and Maisy.
Skylar nodded, the tension in her body easing slightly. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
Joe’s expression softened just a fraction, his concern still evident, though he didn’t say more. Instead, he simply gave a small nod and motioned for her to follow him.
“I’ll take you back to the office,” he said, his voice steady.
Skylar glanced at him, a soft, appreciative smile tugging at the corner of her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt a genuine sense of calm. Joe had handled the situation with a grace she hadn’t expected, and while she would never rely on anyone to fight her battles for her, it was reassuring to know that there were people who wouldn’t let her be treated like a pawn.
They walked in silence, the tension of the moment fading as they moved away from the chaos behind them.
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