Did he suspect? Or did he... *know*?
A sharp, twisting pain radiated from my chest, accompanied by bone-deep cold. I gripped the edge of the desk, fighting for breath.
The door swung open.
Jonathan froze. His eyes landed on the documents in my hand, and the color drained from his face.
"Joanna! What are you doing?"
I stepped back, my grip tightening on the papers.
"What is this, Jonathan? You're studying how to eliminate your own investor?"
His eyes darted nervously. He reached out. "Give me the documents! That's company confidential!"
"Confidential? Confidential plans on how to scheme against your biggest backer?" My voice trembled. "Anna is pregnant? You're getting married? And you're planning to carve up the equity? Jonathan, just how many lies are you hiding?!"
The pregnancy report shook in my hand. Seeing it, he abandoned all pretense of calm.
"Yes! Anna is pregnant! We're together! So what?" His voice cracked with defiance. "Joanna, we aren't married yet—I have the right to make my own choices!"
"The right to choose?"
The dam broke.
Tears spilled over, hot and fast, scalding tracks down my cheeks.
"So your choice is to use my money to build your empire while planning a future with another woman and plotting how to kick me out?"
"Your money?" The words struck a nerve. His face twisted with ugly resentment. "Right. I know! I know the company's biggest angel investment might be related to you! I suspected it ages ago! But I didn't think it was actually *you*!"
"You hid it so well, Joanna. What do you take me for? A charity case? A pathetic worm you feed in secret just to test its loyalty?"
So he really did know.
The admission carried the biting sting of a man whose ego had been gutted by help he deemed beneath him.
"So this is your revenge?" A laugh clawed its way out of my throat—miserable, hollow. "Betrayal and scheming... that's your payback for my 'concealment' and 'charity'?"
"Think whatever you want!" He raked his hands through his hair. "Anna and her uncle can give me the resources I need right now! What can you give me? Nothing but that money I've already burned through, and endless logistical chores!"
He glared at me. "Once the financing comes in, I'll pay you back. Name your price."
Every word was a poison-tipped dagger, plunging into the softest part of my heart.