The private dining room was spacious, though there weren’t many people inside.
Niamh wasn’t particularly surprised to see Sprague waiting for her.
Standing just behind him were two men in sharp suits. She recognized one–Sprague’s bodyguard.
The other was a stranger to her.
Though he wore the same black suit as the bodyguard, his entire demeanor radiated a quiet gravity. Niamh guessed he was Sprague’s lawyer.
“Nia, come in, have a seat,” Sprague said, his smile tight and insincere.
Niamh suspected the only reason Sprague had arranged the meeting through Jonathan was because he knew if he invited her directly, she might never have shown up.
“Nia, let me be frank,” Sprague began, “I don’t want you and Jonathan to get divorced. At least not yet. So, name your terms…”
As he spoke, the lawyer behind him stepped forward and placed a document in front of Niamh.
She glanced down, skimming quickly.
It was a contract. The opening clauses were non–negotiable: for the next six months, she was required to play the role of the perfect society wife, boosting the Thomas family’s reputation and public profile. Of course, the Thomases reserved the right to end the arrangement at any time, but she had no such privilege.
“The rest is blank,” Sprague continued. “You can write in your own conditions–money, connections, whatever you need, the Thomas family can provide it. Oh, and your uncle… what was his name again? Slipping my mind. Anyway, I heard his company’s not doing well. I could invest, help him through this rough patch, as long as you cooperate with us during this period.”
His tone wasn’t overtly forceful, but the arrogance of a man used to getting his way
was unmistakable.
Niamh sighed.
“Mr. Thomas…”
The moment she used that title, the false cheer on Sprague’s face vanished,
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Chapter 289
replaced by a chilly glare.
“You’re still married to Jonathan. You should call me Dad.”
Annoyance crept into his voice.
Niamh heard it but didn’t bother to correct herself.
“Mr. Thomas, I appreciate the offer, but I don’t need any handouts from your family. I’ve always managed just fine on my own.”
“Niamh-”
Sprague tried to cut in, but Niamh held up a hand to stop him, continuing,
“As for Bagot, I wouldn’t recommend investing in his company. He’s selfish, opportunistic, and frankly, not that talented. If you put money into his business, you’ll lose every cent. Besides, he cut ties with my mother and me years ago. Whether you help him or not, it won’t change my decision to divorce Jonathan. In fact, if you want to avoid being pestered by someone like Bagot forever, the best thing the Thomas family can do is finalize this divorce and distance yourselves. That way, Bagot won’t have any excuse to chase after your resources.”
She watched Sprague’s expression darken, but her tone remained steady and unwavering.
“I’m not a celebrity. I’m just a designer. Any buzz around me is fleeting, but someone like Bagot is a bottomless pit–once he latches on, he’ll never let go. Mr. Thomas, you’re a businessman. I’m sure you don’t need me to explain what’s truly in your best interest.”
With that, Niamh slid the contract across the table, pushing it back toward him.
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
She’d said everything she needed to, regardless of what Sprague thought, and turned to leave The Sapphire Fork.
Back in the driver’s seat of her white BMW 3 Series, Niamh drew a long, steady
breath.
She could only hope Sprague had actually listened.
She reached across to the passenger seat and pulled a folder from her briefcase.
Inside was the divorce agreement Jonathan had given her–not that she ever left home without it these days.
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Chapter 204
Suddenly, her phone rang. Jonathan’s name flashed on the screen.
Niamh answered.
“Finished talking with my father?”
“It’s done.”
“Did you change your mind?”
