There was a glint in Andre''s eyes before his smile widened. "Don''t worry, Ms.


    Kinsey. I''ve always seen Ms. Nixon as a younger sister."


    Satisfied with his answer, Emerald smiled. "Good. You probably have other things to do. I won''t keep you."


    "Sure, Ms. Kinsey. Goodbye," Andre replied before turning to leave.


    As soon as he was gone, Emerald was about to resume her work when Filipe suddenly knocked and entered.


    "Madam, Mr. Nixon got into a fight with someone from the Bumards at the barst night," he reported.


    Emerald jumped to her feet. "What happened?! Where is he now?"


    Filipe''s expression was grim. "He was captured by the Bumards. I just received a call from them asking us to go pick him up."


    Emerald''s eyes shed with fury. Her voice turned cold. "What an idiot!"


    The Bumards had been the Nixons'' biggest rivals in recent years. Instead of avoiding them, Brian had run straight into their people—and fought. He was a fool!


    The Bumards hadn''t called just to return Brian. They wanted to p her in the face. Now that they had him in their hands, they would certainly take advantage of the situation. Getting Brian back safe and sound wouldn''t be easy.


    If he weren''t her son, Emerald would have let him deal with his own mess. "Prepare the car," she ordered.


    An hourter, Emerald sat across from Ross Bumard, the head of the Bumards, in his study.


    "Ross, what do you want in exchange for Brian?" she asked.


    Ross, with his graying hair and deeply lined face, had sharp, calcting blue eyes. He smiled. "Emerald, since Brian hit one of our people, don''t you think somepensation is in order? Otherwise, if word gets out, our family''s reputation will suffer."


    Emerald''s tone was ice-cold. "Just tell me your terms."


    "I''ve heard the Nixons recently purchased a plot ofnd in the south," Ross said smoothly.


    Emerald''s expression darkened. "Thatnd isn''t avable."


    She had bought thend as the Nixons'' future base, nning to relocate the family there. It wasn''t even purchased under the Nixon name. She hadn''t expected Ross to know about it.


    Ross sighed. "I''ll buy thend from you-10% more than what you paid."


    "Not possible." Emerald refused without hesitation.


    Ross''s smile faded. "Well, if we can''t reach an agreement, don''t me me if Brianes back with a missing armor leg, young men can be recklessun fights after af


    Emerald scowled. "Are you threatening me?"


    Ross smiled again, unbothered. "Not a threat just a choice. I have guests to attend


    to, so I won''t be seeing you out."


    He stood and left.


    Emerald gnashed her teeth, watching his retreating figure. "Wait!"


    Half an hourter, Emerald walked out of the Bumard estate, her expression grim.


    Behind her, Brian followed, bruised and dejected.


    The moment they got into the car, he finally worked up the courage to speak. "Mom, I''m sorry. I—"


    "Shut up!" Emerald snapped. "Brian, if you ever do something this stupid again, don''t even think about inheriting the Nixons!"


    Brian froze, shocked by the cold fury in her voice. He knew he had really messed up this time. Lowering his head he swallowed his words and stayed silent.  ?wnovels