[You can have everything else, but not that necklace.]
Stefanie chuckled softly, the corners of her lips curving in mock pity.
"Oh? But Kevin already gave it to me. It's mine now." Her tone turned playful, cruel. "If you want it back... beg me for it."
Their eyes locked for a long second. Then Venice slowly lowered her head.
She took a step back and bowed deeply, her trembling hands spelling out the words.
[Please. I'm begging you. Give it back.]
Stefanie's smile widened. "No. I think I'll keep it. It suits me."
Something inside Venice snapped. She lunged forward, her fingers tightening around Stefanie's throat, desperate to retrieve the necklace.
"What are you doing, Venice?!"
Kevin's voice thundered across the hall as he strode in, instantly pulling Stefanie behind him.
She buried her face against his chest, feigning fear, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing.
"Kevin... Miss Robles tried to snatch the necklace you gave me... She got so angry... Maybe I should just return it to her..."
Kevin's gaze turned sharp, his tone icy. "It's just a necklace. I gave it to Stefanie—what's the problem? Venice, must you always be this petty?"
Venice stared at him, disbelief flooding her chest.
[Kevin, you know that necklace—my mother's—]
"Enough!" he cut her off impatiently.
"If you want it so badly, name a price. I'll buy it from you."
He tore a check from his book, scribbled a number, and thrust it toward her. "This should be enough to buy an apartment in Los Angeles. With what you earn selling coffee, could you ever afford a necklace like that?"
Each word drove another nail into her heart. Venice took the check, stared at it blankly, and tore it to shreds.
Kevin frowned. "Fine. You refused it yourself. Don't come crying to me later."
Her eyes were red, her body trembling violently.
For a moment, something flickered in his expression—maybe guilt, maybe irritation, but he quickly smothered it.
"Come here," he ordered coldly. "Apologize to Stefanie."
Venice froze. [You want me to apologize to her?]
"I won't say it again. Apologize," Kevin repeated.
[No.] Her hands moved with defiance. [What will you threaten me with this time? My dog? My cat?]
He didn't even glance at her. "Take her outside," he ordered the guards. "Teach her what happens when someone forgets their place."
Two towering bodyguards seized Venice by the arms and dragged her out into the courtyard.