Page 56 of Vicious Heir

“Ten minutes or so. She’s asked me like twelve times already where you are. I think she’s pissed.”

“Good. Let her stew. Did you get her coffee?”

“Sure did. Made her the crappy stuff though.” Jessie grins at me.

“That’s why I hired you.” I take a deep breath and blow it out. “Bring me an espresso in ten minutes. I’m going to need something after this.”

“Good luck.”

I push into my office, and immediately I’m assaulted by Helena Willing-Morris’s absurd cloud of perfume. Her white hair is perfectly coiffed, and she’s in a light blue pantsuit today, looking like a washed-up state senator.

“Where have you been?” Helena snaps as I close the door behind me. “I was told you’d be here at nine sharp?—”

“Sit back down, Helena. We have to talk about your massive fuck-up.”

She stares at me in open astonishment. I hold her gaze and don’t blink.

This woman is not used to someone talking to her like that. She’s been taking charge and laying down the law all her life, but she doesn’t have any power in here anymore. Now that I own the fund and I’m married to her granddaughter, Helena’s influence over my life is absolutely zero.

Which is also about how much respect I have left for her.

“How dare you talk to me that way,” she says, looking furious as I head around my desk. “I don’t care who you think you are, but nobody?—”

“You fucking lied to me.”

She stops talking. Her jaw works, but her eyes narrow in thought. This woman is crafty and clever, and she’s already figuring out what I’m talking about. I sink down into my chair but remain leaning forward, taking control of the room with my body language.

“What, exactly, do you think I lied about?”

“Demir Yilmaz.”

She hesitates before sitting sharply. Her legs cross, and she considers me primly. “I told you already, my lawyers are handling that snake.”

“And I’m sure that’s true, but we both know that won’t come to anything.” I study her for a moment, considering my plan of attack. “Do you know who detonated that car bomb during my wedding to Lucy?”

The sudden change of subject catches her off guard. “The police say it was a terrorist attack.”

“But a terrorist attack by whom?”

“I don’t know. You can go ahead and ask the mayor for all I care. That has nothing to do?—”

“It was Gray Wolf,” I say, cutting her off.

Her jaw flexes. Again, she doesn’t panic. It’s almost admirable. “And who is that?” she asks, which is smart. Pretend like she doesn’t know.

“Gray Wolf is the criminal organization fronted by Demir Yilmaz. The same Demir you pretended isn’t important. But we both know you were lying because your deal with him extendsmuch further than a simple loan against assets.” I press my lips together for a moment. “Unless you consider Lucy an asset.”

Helena says nothing. She drops the outraged pretense. Her face goes cold as she considers me, one manicured fingernail tapping against a gold necklace at her throat. “You really believe that man?”

“I believe the tortured and brutalized associates of his that I tossed into the river.”

Her mouth quirks. “Admitting to murder?”

“Don’t act scandalized. You know who I am. What I want to know is, why did you do it? Why did you promise Lucille to Demir only to give her away to me instead?”

I expect her to deny it. I don’t have definite proof of any deal yet. Demir says it happened, and his actions suggest it’s true, but that’s still circumstantial.

Instead, the old woman leans back in her chair.

---