69 A Desperate Bargain
1 sat in my car watching Sebastian’s taillights disappear around the bend ahead of us My heart was still racing from our brief encounter on that private mountain road. The way bed touched my face, tucking that stray hair behind my ear with such gentle
Tare a
“Ms. Shaw?” My driver’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Should we continue following Mr. Sinclair back to the mansion?”
blinked reality crashing back. “Yes, please.”
When we arrived, Sebastian was waiting at the entrance. He opened my car door
himself, extending his hand to help me out.
Thank you. I said, hoping he couldn’t feel my pulse quicken at his touch.
“The pleasure is mine, he replied, his deep voice making my stomach flutter.
We spent the next hour reviewing my sketches in his study. His insights were precise
and thoughtful. When it was time to leave, he walked me back to my car
“I’ll see you this weekend then? To view the items you’ve designed?” he asked.
Thodded, trying to sound casual. “Saturday works perfectly?
Saturday it is. He opened my car door again, the perfect gentleman. “Goodbye, Hazel
The way my name sounded in his voice made me blush. “Goodbye. Sebastian
As my car pulled away, I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in years, I felt something beyond the numbness that had consumed me since Alistair’s betrayal.
That evening I received my first rext message from Sebastian
*Looking forward to Saturday. Would goon work for you? I can arrange funch
Siniph, Professional. Yet read if five times before responding with equally measured Swords
*Noon is perfect. Thank you*
spent the next two days in a state of anticipation designing new pieces and checking my phone fat toccoften Fach time the screen lit up, my heart leaped, hoping for
another message from Sebastian
Vera teased me mercilessly about my obvious crush. Just admit it-you’ve fallen for
Tall Dark and Mysterious”
I have not, I protested weakly. “He’s a client. An important one.
“A client who chased down your car just to apologize for missing lunch, she reminded me with a knowing smirk
Friday afternoon found me at my studio, finalizing the pieces I would show Sebastian the next day I was lost in my work when my phone rang with a number I hadn’t seen in
weeks.
My father
My happiness evaporated instantly. With trembling fingers, I answered.
“Hello?”
“You ungrateful bitch!” Harold Shaw’s voice boomed through the speaker, making me
flinch. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Theld the phone away from my ear. “I thought you were still in detention.
“Released early for good behavior,” he snarled. “No thanks to you. You had me thrown
in jail!
“You committed fraud using my company’s funds,” I reminded him coldly. “You did that
to yourself.
“Your sister is dying because of you!” he shouted, his voice cracking with rage. “Her condition is deteriorating. The doctors say she has less than a month!”
tiny part of me felt a pang of sympathy for Ivy, despite everything she’d done. Butl Jardened my heart. “That has nothing to do with me
it has everything to do with you? The stress of your vindictive actions accelerated her decline: Are you happy now? Is this the revenge you wanted?”
A
#elesed my eyes, steadying my breathing. “Dad, I didn’t call the police to hurt by You
stole from me. There were consequences
“You ve always been selfish, just like your mother he spat
The mention of my mother sent rage coursing through me. “Don’t you dare speak
about ber?
“Your precious mother’ he mocked. “She was weak. Pathetic. Couldn’t even fight to stay alive for her own daughter.”
Tears burned behind my eyes. “I’m hanging up now.
“Wait” His tone suddenly changed, becoming almost desperate. “I need something
from you.
The abrupt shift gave me pause. “What could you possibly need from me?”
“Your mother’s jade bracelet,” he said quickly. “Ivy wants to wear it. Before she… before
time runs out.”
I laughed bitterly. “You must be joking. That bracelet is all I have left of mom. Ivy bullied me my entire life, stole my fiancé, and now wants my mother’s bracelet?”
“I’ll make it worth your while.” he said urgently. “The remaining shares of your mother’s company. They’re still in my name. I’ll sign them over to you?
I froze. Those shares would give me complete ownership of my mother’s fashion legacy -the final piece I’d been trying to reclaim for years.
Why would you offer that?” I asked suspiciously. “That bracelet isn’t worth nearly as
much as those shares:
It’s important to lvy” he insisted. “A dying wish. Just let her borrow it for a few days. That’s all
Something didn’t add up. My father never gave anything away without getting more in
return.
“What’s so special about that bracelet? I pressed.
Nothing! It’s just sentiment, Ivy always admired it when your mother were It His
voice had that famular quality–the smooth, practiced tone he used when lying
idea bebeve you
wood flatly
time, Think what you want he snapped But the offer stands. The shares for the bracaded-just for a few days, Ivy doesn’t have much time left
Tessitated These shares would make me the sole owner of my mother’s company. I’d speart wears trying to hars them back piece by piece
think about it I said finally
Don’t thank Yoo jong, be warned. “This offer expires in 24 hours. Text me your
The bee went dead
1st story desk, mind racing. Why was my father willing to give up valuable shares for
aceset / What was he hiding?
Iputed open my desk drawer and removed the velvet box containing the jade bracelet.
The smooth green stones caught the light, seeming to shimmer with secrets. My mother had worn it every day until her death. It was her most treasured possession and now, inexplicably, my father and hey wanted it desperately
My phone trusted with a text. For a brief moment. Thoped it might be Sebastian
offering or distraction from this new dilemma
stead. It was a message from my father
ore thing if you agree, come alone. Don’t tell anyone about our arrangement”
ering bells on pay head grew louder Something was very wrong about this 9. desperite interest moms inother’s bracelet What could possibity make f Bandes decer than open stares wowth milions
at the savors jade with new Angertip. remembering how it had lonkort bes
When uns father and laepe planedig headed to over the but is benter about my mother, about everything my father hild kept
devil But was 1 willing to make a deal with the dead to find those answers?
