"This is absurd! The dress is torn anyway!"
His gaze flickered to the slit, darkening slightly. "It was delivered to you in perfect condition. Any damage is your responsibility," he said evenly, though his voice carried a sharp edge.
"You're a cruel businessman," she muttered, crossing her arms.
His lips curved into a predatory smile. "And you're not going to the US. If you try, I'll sue you."
Her heart dropped. "You're joking, right?"
"Hardly," he replied, his tone deadly serious. "The dress you wore cost thirty grand, with a 5% weekly interest until the debt is cleared."
Her face drained of color. "No way. It was six grand, Mr. Hathaway. I heard it directly from Jared!"
Niklaus's expression hardened. "You remember his name?"
She blinked, realizing her mistake. "Not exactly, but—that's not the point! You're trying to scam me!"
He scoffed, his glare cutting. "That's a massive insult to a legitimate businessman like me."
