Vanessa leaned in, lowering her voice in a faux-coy whisper. "Your brother was quite passionate that night. He even said I understood him better than Eleanor ever did


    "Shut up," Serena seethed, ring at her. "Vanessa, you make me sick."


    "Sick?" Vanessaughed softly. "You didn''t seem so disgusted back when you were desperate for me to be your brother''s wife."


    Just then, the sales associate handed Serena the gift-wrapped box. Serena took it and turned to leave without another word.


    Vanessa watched her go, her mood for shoppingpletely ruined. There was, however, something urgent she needed to take care of—the matter of her gift fromn. She couldn''t just let a multi-million dor gift slip through her fingers.


    "We''re done here. Take me to Goodwin & Co.," Vanessa said to Laverne.


    "Vanessa, why are you going to Goodwin & Co.?" Laverne''s heart skipped a beat. Hadn''tn refused to see her?


    "To findn, of course." Vanessa put on a pair of sunsses, hiding the ambition and greed in her eyes.


    Meanwhile, Serena had parted ways with her friend and gotten back in her car. She immediately picked up her phone and dialedn''s number.


    After a few rings,n''s deep voice came through. "Serena, what''s wrong?"


    "Brother, I just ran into Vanessa at the mall," Serena said, her voice filled with frustration. "She said you two slept together. Is that true?"


    There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed byn''s firm denial. "No. I have never touched her."


    "But she said "


    "It doesn''t matter what she said. It''s a lie,"n''s voice wasced with ice.


    "Then swear to me that you didn''t sleep with her." Serena was furious and needed absolute confirmation.


    Silence again from the other end.


    "Brother, hurry up and say it! This is really important to me," Serena urged.


    have


    dept with Vanessa. If I


    "I swear on my life that het


    have may


    "Okay, okay, I believe you!" Serena quickly cut him off, not wanting her brother to make such a heavy vow.


    A low hum came from the other end. "Satisfied now?"


    Serena let out a breath of relief. "You swore, so of course I believe you. But just so you know, I was asking for Ellie."


    "Eleanor asked you about this?" The man''s voice on the other end instantly became more urgent.


    "No, no," Serena quickly reassured him. "I was the one who wanted to know. I doubt Ellie would ever ask."


    A low sigh came through the phone. "No, she wouldn''t."


    "Alright, brother, I have to go now, I''m driving," Serena said before hanging up. Her mood had improved signicantly vanessas words had really gotten under her skin.


    In the lobby of Goodwin & Co.


    Vanessa strode in, wearing sunsses and high heels. A receptionist immediately stepped forward to intercept her. "Miss Shannon, excuse me, do you have an appointment?"


    Vanessa took off her sunsses and nced at her. "Do I need one?"


    "From now on, yes, you do," the receptionist said, polite but firm.


    They had received a memost week: Vanessa Shannon was not to be allowed into


    Goodwin & Co. without prior approval.


    Vanessa took out her phone and dialed Gavin''s number directly.


    "Miss Shannon, can I help you?" Gavin answered.


    "Gavin, is Mr. Goodwin in the office? I''m in the lobby and I''d like to see him,"


    Vanessa said in her sweetest voice.


    "One moment, let me ask," Gavin said before hanging up.