55 vouchers
“That bitch…” Vanessa tightened her hand around the bottle of water. “She’s trying to piss me off. She must be.”
“Madam, this isn’t the first time that I had seen her with Mr. Be,” Roni quickly said.
“What do you mean?” Vanessa narrowed.
“Mr. Dwight saw her one time with Mr. Be. They seemed pretty close as well,” Roni said. “Like… they knew each other really well.”
Vanessa frowned. The Dwight family and the Be family were not close. They operated inpletely different industries, so there was never much reason for them to interact beyond the asional social event. In fact, if it weren’t for her own agenda, she wouldn’t have shamelessly pressed James Be for an invitation
at all.
The truth was simple: she wanted her daughter, ire, to get closer to James and the Be family. After everything Samuel had ruined, Vanessa decided it was time to shift the spotlight. ire was her best option now, and marrying her into an influential family was the surest way to secure their standing.
This party was the perfect stage. Vanessa intended for ire to shine, no matter what it took.
Seeing Emery there was totally unexpected.
Vanessa’s jaw tightened as she set the bottle down. “How is Samuel these days?” she asked, her tone clipped.
Roni straightened. “Still the same, Madam. He’s been obsessing over Miss Vaughn, but at least he’s staying in the office more often. He hasn’t caused any scenes in public.”
Vanessa leaned back in her chair, her frown deepening. Of course he was still chasing after Emery. The only reason he wasn’t running wild was because she had already moved Talia Arden into his house. That girl and her family were valuable <b>assets</b>, and Vanessa wasn’t about to let them slip away. Samuel might be stubborn, but he had no choice, he would marry Talia, whether he liked it or not.
She drew in a long breath, steadying herself. “Do not mention this to Samuel,” she ordered firmly. “He doesn’t need to know I was here<b>.” </b>
Roni nodded quickly. “Understood.”
“Good,” Vanessa continued. “Instead, I want you to find out exactly what Emery’s rtionship is with James Be. I don’t care how, just get me answers. If she’s trying to attach herself to that family, I want to know before she makes her next move.” She was already thinking of talking to James’s parents about it. She would like to see how Emery would attach herself to the Bes if they knew her history!
“Yes, Madam,” Roni replied, already calcting what strings he could pull.
Vanessa reached for her ss again. Samuel was already slipping out of her control, and now Emery was turning up where she least expected. If Emery thought she could use James Be as a shield, she was sorely
mistaken.
<b>9:25 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15 <b>J </b>
…
<b>60 </b>
55 vouchers
“Right… make sure that ire is prepared for everything tomorrow night. As well as the media.” Obviously, she’s not waiting for James to make a move. She was never someone who would just sit down there and wait for them to marry her daughter. No, she is going to make the move first and make sure that the Be Family will acknowledge ire as their daughter–inw.
“Understood.”
“So this really happened?” Nina frowned, her chopsticks pausing mid–air after Emery told her about what happened at the airport. She shifted her gaze to James and pointed at him. “So what–Vanessa thinks you are trying to attach yourself to him? Like some kind of mistress<b>?</b><b>” </b>
James let out a short breath, clearly irritated. “How could I have a mistress when I’m not even married?” he shot back.
“They didn’t know he’s my brother,” Emery said tly. “I can’t me them. For years they thought I was nothing more than a gold digger.”
“Samuel’s insane,” Nina shot back. “What else does he want? You’re out of their family already. Why is he still acting like this? He has Talia now. He could marry her and move on with his life.”
James set down his ss. “Talia’s ident changed everything. From what I’ve heard, she’s disfigured and going through treatments for her face. It won’t be quick, months, maybe years. And that drunk driving case? It’s not something she can just walk away from.”
“I saw the news,” Nina said. “My friends told me she will be paying hundreds of millions worth of damages as well. However… her fans are still swooning over her engagement to the heir of the Dwight Family.”
Emery’s chopsticks paused. The mention of Talia brought back a flood of memories. The car and the attempt on her life. If it weren’t for Logan, she wouldn’t even be sitting here.
She had known he would retaliate, but she hadn’t expected the level of ruthlessness. He hadn’t killed Talia outright, but what he left her with was worse. Scars and shame and a lifetime of recovery.
Still, this should not be her concern anymore. Samuel should just marry that woman and live a peaceful life instead of actually running after her.
“She deserved it,” Emery said firmly. “Whatever happened to her, she brought it on herself.”
Nina nodded, but her expression softened as she nced at Emery’s stomach. “We should stop talking about this. Tell us about your husband, Logan? How has he been with you and the baby?”
Emery exhaled, her fingers brushing over her belly unconsciously. “Good. Kind, even. He makes sure I have everything I need. <b>I </b>can’tin.”
James leaned back in his chair, studying her. “That might pass<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Emery blinked, stunned by his bluntness. Her head snapped toward him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
James didn’t flinch. “It means this <b>is </b>exactly why I’m here. I know Hayes <b>is </b>some bigshot in his world, but
<b>9:25 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>15 <b>d</b>.
:
<b>60 </b>
55 vouchers
you’ve been through too much to rely entirely on a man again. And men… are always going to act like men. You wouldn’t want to repeat everything that happened with Samuel<b>.” </b>
Emery narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?
James folded his hands on the table. “I want to make you an offer. The subsidiarypany where you used to work, I’ll put it under your management. Run it. Build it. You don’t have to depend on Logan for every step of your future. You should make something that’s yours, somethingsting. For your child. For yourself.”
“They fired me,” Emery said. She was fired because of Samuel.
“And they’ll regret underestimating you. Grandmother ns to formally acknowledge you at her birthday party,” James said. “She also intends to hand over thepany as her gift. I wanted to tell you beforehand, we don’t want to shock you or risk stressing the baby.” His eyes flicked briefly to herp before returning to her face. “But understand this, it isn’t a request. The transfer of shares has already beenpleted. As of right now, you’re thergest shareholder in thatpany.”
AD