He kept calling himself "the boss" and acted like he owned the ce. Honestly, in all of Riverdale, you''d be hard-pressed to find anyone else bold enough to talk like that in front of the mayor''s wife.


    The real difference between Joseph and Herman? Joseph never bit his tongue. If he didn''t like someone, he''d say it straight to their face-didn''t matter if you were the President or the Queen of Ennd. He had to get it off his chest first, no matter the consequences.


    Herman, though? Not much rattled him. Unless it involved family, he couldn''t care less what people did or said.


    Autumn, on the other hand, was fuming. She''d been married to Mr. Walker for years, and whether in the sticks or in Riverdale, everyone always gave her a bit of respect.


    But Joseph? He couldn''t care less.


    "Joseph," Autumn said, her lips tight with anger, "if you weren''t Daria''s father, you''d have been locked up ages ago."


    She never let anyone off the hook who hurt Julie. She''d already made Asher pay. The only reason Joseph was still walking free was because Daria loved him-he was her father, her legal guardian.


    Joseph just grinned, tapping his finger against his head like he couldn''t be bothered. "So, Mrs. Walker, what crime are you booking me for?"


    "Rape," Autumn spat, her voice shaking with rage. "Don''t pretend you forgot what you did."


    Joseph''s smile faded. He gave a coldugh. "Every woman I''ve been with wanted to be there. You think I need to force myself on anyone? That''s a joke."


    "Julie," Autumn said, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles went white, her eyes burning with hate.


    "Julie?" Joseph''s grin vanished. "What is she to you, anyway?"


    Autumn mmed up, refusing to answer.


    Joseph just kept pushing. "Julie came to my bed on her own. You want to know how wild she was that night? I''ve been with a lot of women, but none couldpare to Julie. And that body of hers-damn, she was something else. Curves in all the right ces-"


    He watched Autumn''s face, deliberately getting more graphic, clearly enjoying every second of it.


    Autumn finally snapped. "Enough! Julie is still Daria''s mother. How can you talk about her like that?"


    He sneered. "Protective, aren''t you? What, you her mom or something?"


    That hit too close to home, and Autumn''sposure cracked.


    Joseph didn''t notice and just barreled on.


    Autumn changed the subject. "Joseph, I''m giving you time to think—"


    "No need," Joseph cut her off coldly. "Get out. You think you can y mom to me?


    My mom''s been dead for years. If you want her approval, you better go ask her yourself."


    That was it for Autumn.


    She shot up from her seat, her voice trembling with anger. "Someone like you? I wouldn''t take you as my son if you were thest man on earth. If you weren''t Daria''s father, you''d be nothing to me."


    She had a temper, too.


    Joseph jerked his chin at the door. "Get out. And I''m warning you-stay away from


    my son. Last warning." Then he called out, "Show her out!"


    An assistant popped in right away. "Mrs. Walker, this way, please."


    Autumn knew if she didn''t leave on her own, she''d be tossed out. So she stormed off, barely holding back her rage.


    After she was gone, the assistant lingered. "Mr. Salstrom, aren''t you worried about pissing off Mrs. Walker?"


    Joseph waved him away. "Go do your job."


    The assistant left. Joseph took a sip of his coffee, trying to cool off. If Autumn wanted to keep showing up just to get chewed out, that was her problem.


    Outside, Autumn''s temper was still


    burning. Dailey, waiting near the


    entrance, saw her storm out and immediately called Herman. "Boss, Autum just left, looking furious. Looks like Joseph gave her bell again."


    Herman sounded unfazed. “That''s Joseph for you. Autumn keeps


    trying to y mom to him—she''s


    just asking for it. Joseph''s neve


    forgiven my dad since his mother died. No one can take her ce in his heart. Autumn poked the wrong bear."  té


    Dailey asked, "Should I keep following Autumn? I think someone else might be tailing me, too."


    "Let it go,” Herman said. "Give Autumn and Devin some space. I bet Mr. Walker''s got his own people on her tail, anyway. Come back for now."