The screaming match inside the car only got louder when Zara pulled the car over to the side of the road. Ethan was furious and he demanded that Zara get back into the car. She paced back and forth on the graveled embankment listening to Roman the best that she could with cars zooming by on the freeway.

"They will arrive in a minute and escort you to the gathering. Keep the fight going with Ethan so that they can act if coming to your aid."

"Why did you stop the car? We need to get there!" Ethan's voice thickened with rage.

"You punched me. You think I'm getting back in that car. No way. I'm going to wait for a tow truck or a cop to see us."

Ethan stomped over to Zara. He got in her face, eyes blazing and shouted. "You-will-drive-now!" The way that he glared at her was frightening. She determined to stand her ground even when he grabbed her by the shoulders and tried to push her back to the car. She dug her heels into the ground and pushed back. At that moment two of Trevor's team members dressed in plain clothes pulled behind them.

"What the hell!" Ethan bellowed as the two men approached them.

Roman said to Zara, "Those are the men."

One of the men walked up to Zara and stepped between her and Ethan. "Ma'am we saw that you are having difficulty with this gentleman. Are you okay?"

"This is my – my fiancé for lack of a better term. We're having a spat."

"There is a bruise on your cheek ma'am."

Ethan pushed the man backward. He constrained himself not to push Ethan back even though he could snap his neck with a mere flick of the hand.

"This is our business," Ethan yelled. "Get back in your car and leave."

"We're not leaving." The other team member stepped forward. "You look like you are heading to a special event. If so, we can escort you there. If he tries to strike you again, we can assist."

"I am headed to a gathering in my honor. Yes, I would like you to follow us."

Ethan went ballistic. He ranted and raved about allowing strangers to interfere with this situation. He called Zara every kind of ungodly name you could possibly think of. But he realized that he couldn't control this situation. Zara gloated at him and her sneer was not lost to his anger. He called her the B-word, then opened the car door and slammed himself into the seat.

"Good job," Roman said, "Don't say anything else to him the rest of the ride. No matter what he says."

Zara flipped her blinkers on and pulled off into the traffic. Trevor's team members followed. The ride was uncomfortable. An eerie vibe floated in the small space. She'd never seen Ethan look so fierce. That was when she saw how dark his character was. All the veneer peeled off. The evil mastermind came to the surface. Ethan Gains – i.e. Reynaud Russo, was a manipulator, mind game player, murderer, and sadistic S.O.B. He was heartless and did it with a smile. When they arrived at the location, the men followed behind Ethan and Zara until they entered the lobby leading to the ballroom. Zara turned to thank the men. They nodded and left.

Roman said, "Trevor's got everything covered from here. I love you. Stay safe."

It killed her that she couldn't respond. But she gave a slight nod, which she knew that he saw. At that moment so much love filled her heart for Roman. He worked without tiring to make sure that every detail of this operation went off without a hitch. And knew that he wanted to be there more than anything. She turned and looked at Ethan. He still smoldered. When he saw her look at him he whispered, "I will deal with you woman."

She said with vehemence, "I – don't – think – so."

Before he could utter a word against her defiance they were at the ballroom door. He forced his elbow through hers. "Let's go, darling. It's time."

In a blink, he was back to charming Ethan, the man of the hour, the perfect gentleman. Cheers rang out when they entered the room. People gave a standing ovation. He gave a fake wave and smiled as they passed through the crowd. The number of people in the room stunned Zara. No way this group was only family and friends. He'd lied again. Fury burned through her. Digital camera's flashed everywhere. You would have thought they were celebrities.

The T-30 members assigned to this part of the mission, along with Trevor and his seals all blended without notice into the crowd of people at the gathering. Ethan spared no expense to the event – it was lavish. The room could have been a Currier and Ives painting. Massive winter murals covered the walls. It showed images of ice-frosted trees, frozen lakes, and mounds of powdery snow. The tables decked with white linens and fabulous ice sculptures for centerpieces dazzled. The ceiling dripped with long strands of crystals and giant crystal snowflakes.

Roman made sure that all the team members could hear him. They affirmed – yes, through nods. "Let's see who's at the party." He turned on the facial recognition system and faltered in his seat. The A-list of evil was in the room. This was an 'underground party' – drug dealers, wanted men on the Fed's list, felons, and crooked businessmen. You name it they were all there. "What in the hell is he planning on doing with Zara's company? These guys are either investors or want illegal information pushed."

"Do you want us to take them out? We have silencers," said Trevor.

Roman scrolled across the screen, shaking his head. This was bad. "Only if you see them near Zara. If he introduces them to Zara he plans on framing her."

"Zoom into table 52, there are Russian's at that table – them too?"

"No, we don't want any international trouble. I'm calling the Feds. This will be the biggest bust of the decade for them. They can clean all this mess up."

***

Ethan and Zara climbed the stairs to the stage. White Christmas trees covered in sparkling white lights filled the space. In front of the trees was a large table draped in gold. Four gold chairs were behind the table for Zara, Ethan, and two of his high-ranking associates. Ethan pulled the chair out for Zara, tucked her under the table, and then he went to the glass podium. He was smooth and charming as ever. Ethan - a vision of perfection, far from the man that rode with her to the gathering. It made Zara want to gag.

"Listen up, everyone, Ethan is trying to get everyone's attention." Roman leaned onto the desk gluing his eyes to the screen.

Ethan dinged the side of a glass of water that sat on the podium. He took a sip. "Welcome," he said, with a flourish. "I am glad that everyone has come to this auspicious occasion to meet the woman that will forever be by my side." The audience broke out in applause. Even though 90% of them knew that he was married and that this was a sham event. Like the one, they pulled off for Jennifer in the mansion in Pennsylvania. He raised his hand to silence the crowd. "This is Zara Peters, the brainchild and CEO of Socially Soaring." Ethan pointed toward Zara, the only person in the room wearing a color other than black. The room roared with applause, again. "Would you stand, darling?"

Zara played right along with the game. She stood, gave a deep nod then sat back in her seat. The phony smile that she put on equaled Ethan's deceptive actions.

"Now, Socially Soaring is a tool of the greatest importance to the evolution of marketing and development. This woman has found a way to partner with some of the biggest companies in the United States. Miss Peters has recorded deep data insight into the female market in the age range of 28- 40. We can..."

***

Zara sat with her jaws clenched as she listened to Ethan discuss her company as if she weren't even in the room. The level of his data-mining into her company appalled Zara. He stripped Socially Soaring down to a strategic pipeline. Roman's words rang in her mind about his intent to take over the company.

She eyed the audience and saw their level of intensity toward Ethan. Oh my God. Awareness burned through her brain. This gathering was the first meeting of what he thought would be the new company régime. In all of their minds, she was already eliminated. Socially Soaring would be the means to destroy the lives of women around the world.

She sat, gripping the edge of her chair. Her knuckles turned white, and breathing escalated as fury pulsed through her blood. All my hard work. All my damn efforts and I'm nobody to these people. An insignificant joke.

She heard Roman ask if she was okay. The concern in his voice pierced her heart. But she couldn't respond. Shock and contempt immobilized her. Zara's face burned red and vile, sick feelings snaked over her skin. Then the flashbacks came from the poor women sitting in jail because of that arrogant bastard standing on the podium. This gathering was her night to be victimized had not Roman and Trevor been in her life. The thought vibrated anger to the roots of her hair.

Zara scanned the room looking for Trevor and the rest of the team. When she spotted them throughout the room, it was as if someone poured steel into her soul. Fear was gone. Weakness fled. Pure, ostentatious– audacity flooded her. I'll be damned if I'm going to let this asshole do this to my life. Not another soul is going to treat me like dirt. That is my company – the one that I built! I've had enough!

The very loud-grinding scrape of her chair against the wooden floor snatched all eyes to Zara.