Page 107 of Surprise! I'm Engaged To My Boss
“You were the ones who made Leah's life hell.”
“We just wanted her to study, to take an interest in the family business. After she ended up, in her rebellion, getting pregnant, we wanted to make sure our granddaughter had a decent future. You were just an irresponsible playboy who would probably end up bankrupting the office your father left you. Would, no:will.”
“Things are going very well around here, as you can see.”
“Still a reflection of your brother's management. How long will this continue? You don't even know whatyou're doing here, you didn't even finish college. But, getting back to the girl... your supposed fiancée... You think being about to get married counts in your favor, don't you? And that it's no big deal that you were caught getting drunk with the girl at a party. But... what if this is a recurring negative behavior?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, those aren't the only images I have. The night of Alice's party, for example... what did you guys do when you left there?”
That made me feel as if all the blood in my body had suddenly frozen. However, I said nothing and let that scoundrel continue telling what he knew, “Well... you went to a bar and got drunk again... so much so that your future wife made a pass at a guy, and you... my goodness, you attacked him.”
“Are you really going to try to use that lame argument? The guy is in jail and confessed to what he did: he put a sedative in Camila's drink.”
“You can present evidence of this in court. But will it do any good in the face of a publicly burned image? Imagine the press having access to the videos of that night... What will they say about you? Worse, what will they say about the girl? I learned that she was raised by her grandmother, imagine the poor old lady having to listen to comments about her granddaughter's totally promiscuous behavior?”
At that, I couldn't control myself any longer. I grabbed Caleb by the collar and pushed him until his back hit the wall. I forced my forearm against his neck, bringing my face close to his and looking him straight in the eyes, letting him see all my hatred. The phone on my desk rang, but I completely ignored it.
“Leave Camila out of this!” I yelled.
“How can I leave her out of this? She's your fiancée, isn't she? She's the one who's supposed to be raising my granddaughter with you if you win the lawsuit.”
“I already said that I can prove what that man did, that Camila was his victim.”
“By the time you can prove it, the girl will have already faced a complete mob lynching. And besides... He confessed what he did, but did he mention who ordered it? In the space of a few days, they tried to kidnap Michael Turner's fiancée and daughter. It only further reinforces how much of a risk you pose to those close to you. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you agree to the deal.”
Bastard!
Damned son of a bitch!
I pressed my arm tighter against his neck. He seemed to gasp for air, but I didn't mind at all. To my surprise, he didn't seem to mind either and even smiled, amidst his expression of pain. He even managed to speak again, albeit with difficulty.
“Are you really willing to do anything to gain custody of Alice? Even destroy the life of an innocent person? Before she met you, she was a young architect with a bright future ahead of her, a discreet woman who had never been involved in any controversy.”
He couldn't say anything else, because the strength in my arm increased even more. I was completely blinded by hatred and would have done something crazy, if it weren't for the hands of someone — who I soon realized was my secretary — pulling me, while she screamed.
“Mr. Turner, stop! You'll end up killing him!”
Killing him was all I wanted at that moment. But suddenly, I was overcome by a lapse of awareness of the magnitude of the mistake I was about to make.
I let go of him, turning my back and taking a few steps away while running my hands through my hair in an attempt to calm myself. Caleb fell to the floor and Emma, my secretary, crouched down beside him, checking to see if he was okay.
“What are you doing here?” I asked Emma. “Why didn’t you call before you came up?”
“I called, sir. Several times, but you didn't answer. Forgive me for barging in like this, but it's an emergency.”
“What kind of emergency?”
“Mrs. Camila, your fiancée, got into a problem.”
I stopped walking at that moment, looking at Emma for an explanation.
Chapter fifty
