Marina seized the opportunity to play the victim, her words tumbling out between sobs. She’d been worried Niamh might deny everything, but now she could milk the situation for all it was worth.
“Jonathan, Niamh revoked my membership from the Jewelry Guild. My suppliers. have cut me off, and I’m facing huge fines for breach of contract–not to mention the damage to my reputation. I only came here to beg her for mercy, to ask her to give me a way out. But instead, she insulted me–and then she hit me…
The more Marina spoke, the more pitiful she seemed, tears streaming down her cheeks as she wept.
“That’s a load of crap!”
Lana couldn’t hold back any longer. “You’re such a fraud, Marina! You were the one who started yelling at Nia. You tried to hit her first-”
Before Lana could finish, Niamh raised a hand to stop her.
Niamh knew all too well that, in front of Jonathan, any rebuttal would be useless. He’d only believe Marina–especially since she was actually crying, looking like the very picture of a wronged damsel.
“Jonathan, you have to believe me. Look at me–I’m a mess. If you hadn’t shown up,
who knows what Niamh would have done to me!”
Marina clung to Jonathan’s arm, her tear–filled eyes wide with desperate sincerity.
“…Yeah. I believe you.”
Jonathan’s voice was low and heavy.
Lana let out a sharp, exasperated, “Oh, for God’s sake.”
Jonathan ignored her, his gaze fixed on Niamh. He was waiting, certain that Niamh couldn’t just stand by in silence.
But Niamh only looked back at him, her beautiful eyes calm as a painting–utterly untroubled.
Still calm.
Jonathan, on the other hand, was anything but calm. Anger flickered in his eyes, his brows drawing together.
The look told Niamh all she needed to know: Jonathan hadn’t believed a word Lana
had said. He’d sided with Marina, just as she expected.
“Can I have a word with you? Alone?” Jonathan finally spoke.
His voice wasn’t as cold or angry as Niamh had imagined it would be.
“Is that really necessary?” she replied.
“It is.”
By the set of his jaw, Niamh could tell that if she refused, Jonathan would just drag her off anyway. The mere fact that he’d bothered to ask first was already uncharacteristically considerate of him. Not that her answer would have changed anything, of course.
It was late now; the sky outside had gone pitch black, the streets nearly empty.
Niamh followed Jonathan outside the ZM boutique.
“Whatever you want to say, say it,” she said briskly, not even glancing at him–so she missed the turmoil, frustration, and confusion flickering across his features.
“I’m asking you, for my sake, to let Marina off the hook,” Jonathan said, voice low.
Niamh almost laughed.
“Is Mr. Thomas begging me?”
Jonathan shook his head. “No.”
“Then are you ordering me?”
He shook his head again. “Also no.”
“If that’s all you wanted to say, I’ll be heading back.”
She turned to leave, but Jonathan caught her arm.
His hand was as cold as ever–just like the man himself.
Niamh shook him off and met his eyes, the neon lights painting her face in fierce, shifting colors.
“I’m not letting Marina off the hook,” she said flatly.
“Niamh-”
“I’m going to do everything in my power to destroy her–until she goes bankrupt.”
He was silent.
2/3
20.29
Chapter 404
“You’re welcome to help Marina, just like you stole my stones before. But don’t waste your time trying to talk me down.”
Her voice was final, leaving no room for negotiation.
But Jonathan didn’t get angry. Instead, he actually smiled–a strange, unreadable glint in his eyes.
“So this is how you’re planning to get back at me, isn’t it?”
