In the private lounge, Emerson eyed Howard over the rim of his glass, his fingers tracing slow circles around the cool crystal.
He finally spoke, voice edged with confusion. “Mr. Newton, did you call me here because you want my help dealing with my own niece?”
Howard didn’t miss a beat. “Funny–you still call Patricia your niece?”
“On paper, yes. By blood, too.”
Howard gave a small, knowing smile. “Let’s skip the games, Emerson. I’m here for a partnership, not to waste time. Patricia came back for us–she’s not going to stop until she’s got what she wants. Instead of letting her pick us off one at a time, why not work together to get her out of the picture? Wasn’t that the plan before?”
He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Forget about who Patricia’s husband is for now. Isn’t the whole Ruby situation a little too weird for you?”
“Ever since Patricia came back, Ruby’s been blowing up on social media, climbing higher and higher, then bam–she gets into an accident and loses her leg. Doesn’t that path look a little too much like Patricia’s?”
“Emerson, you really want Patricia to take Martin Group away from you?”
Emerson sat in a long, heavy silence. He knew exactly who Patricia was after.
The Newtons–she’d never let them go.
The Martins–even less of a chance.
After a while, Emerson finally asked, “What do you need me to do?”
***
This weekend, Patricia was living her best life. Kelly? She was in hell.
Greg was everywhere, popping up like a bad dream she couldn’t shake.
She’d bought a plane ticket, ready to get out of the country and deal with the mess in her belly.
But she barely made it to the airport before Greg yanked her into his car.
The inside of the black sedan reeked of leftover food, making Kelly gag. She was used to luxury–her home bathrooms smelled better than this, let alone her car.
Thinking about how she’d ever let a man like Greg touch her made her skin crawl.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
“What do you think?” Greg’s grip on her arm was iron. “Kelly, whatever stunt you’re trying to pull—I’ll ruin you. I’m not scared of dying. I just can’t stand the thought of the person who ruined my life getting away with it.”
“I’ll pay you anything you want. Just get out of my life,” Kelly bit out.
20:37
Chapter 278
Greg let out a cold laugh. “Money runs out, doesn’t it?”
“I’ll give you a card. I’ll put money in it every month. If I ever miss a payment, come find me,” Kelly said, her voice flat.
“Alright,” Greg agreed, then immediately reached for her clothes.
The outfit she wore could have bought a fleet of his beat–up cars.
“What the hell are you doing? Let go of me–we’re at the airport,” she hissed.
“Greg, are you crazy?”
“Greg–stop!”
He just sneered. “Why are you acting all shy now? Haven’t we done this enough times?” He pinned her arms at her sides.
“Or is it the car you don’t like? Want to get a hotel room instead?”
Kelly’s chest heaved. Not here–not like this.
People were everywhere outside. If someone saw them, she was finished.
“Fine,” she muttered.
Greg finally let her go.
There were plenty of cheap hotels around the airport.
Greg picked the nearest one and walked in, with Kelly trailing behind.
As soon as the door closed, he pushed her against it. Kelly slapped him hard across the face.
“How much?” she demanded. “Just say a number.”
20:37
