“What’s going on with Jonathan? Didn’t you call him?”
Marigold shot an impatient look at Sprague.
“Of course I called him,” Sprague replied, his expression dark.
“So? What did Jonathan say?”
“He didn’t pick up.”
Marigold rolled her eyes, unable to hold back her exasperation. “Would you look at your precious son–he’s really grown a pair now, hasn’t he?”
She folded her arms across her chest, bristling with indignation. “You talk as if he’s not your son too.”
Sprague shot back, icy and sharp, “He’s as much yours as he is mine.”
The Thomas family had already reached their limit in Aldonia–especially in Aldenville. It was time to expand their capital beyond familiar territory. The Quinn family in Coralis, with their deep connections in both politics and business, was the ideal match.
If Jonathan screwed this up…
Sprague’s fists clenched at his sides.
Just then, the Quinns arrived.
Hayes and Carlotta led the way, and of course, Ramona was with them. Carlisle, their driver, dropped them off at Verdant Lake Estates, but made it clear he
wouldn’t be joining them inside.
“Sir, are you sure you don’t want me to send another security detail with you?”
Hayes waved him off. “No need. I’ll be fine.”
“Alright then, sir. Ma’am. I’ll take my leave.”
Carlisle nodded politely to Hayes and Carlotta, then drove away.
Ramona watched the sleek black Mercedes disappear down the drive, her expression dripping with disdain.
Meanwhile, at Thomas Group headquarters, Niamh stood in front of the archive room doors.
10:21
She’d expected something like a university records room: shelves lined with neatly organized folders as soon as you stepped inside. Instead, when she opened the door, she was met with a wall of heavy, airtight safes.
She frowned, turning to the records manager. “Could you open one of those for
me?”
“Shareholders with less than ten percent ownership aren’t authorized to access confidential files.”
A voice rang out behind her–one she recognized instantly. Niamh turned, unsurprised to find Jonathan standing there.
Their eyes met. Jonathan flashed that effortless, charming smile he was known for, the kind that could disarm almost anyone.
But Niamh’s face stayed cold. If anything, seeing him only made her expression
frostier.
“You can go now,” Jonathan told the records manager without looking away from her. The manager nodded and quickly left.
Now it was just the two of them in the archive room.
“What’s the matter? Feeling guilty?” Jonathan’s sudden question caught her off guard, and for a moment she did feel a twinge of guilt.
But she forced herself to look calm. “As a shareholder, I’m just keeping up with the company’s projects. Is that a crime?”
Jonathan snorted. “Do you even believe that yourself?”
“I do!” Niamh said, chin lifted in defiance.
She watched as Jonathan moved to the safe, entering a passcode and placing his eye against the scanner. The thick steel door finally swung open.
“Any confidential file you want, I’ll get it for you,” Jonathan said, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk that was almost too subtle to catch.
Niamh shook her head. “No need. Honestly, I don’t care that much about Thomas Group’s projects.”
She turned to leave, but Jonathan caught her by the arm.
His hand was icy cold against her skin, like a piece of marble.
“Mr. Thomas, please show some respect,” she said, shooting him a withering glare
10.21
Chapter 453)
instead of shaking him off.
“Since you’re here…” Jonathan’s voice softened just a touch. “How about coming up
to my office for a coffee?”
