repair antique jewelry with ruined hands.
Marina had already contacted the Solmaris Museum herself. In the end, they’d agreed: she and Niamh would restore the piece side by side, and whichever of them did the better job would win the commission.
Marina wanted Jonathan to witness, with his own eyes, the moment she utterly defeated Niamh.
A woman with both hands ruined, unable even to take care of herself–there was no way someone like Jonathan would give her a second glance.
This time, Marina was determined to crush Niamh so thoroughly she’d never
recover.
After the gala, almost half the guests had become Marina’s new clients. She was certain the other half would be hers as well, once she finished restoring the museum’s antiques.
By then, Niamh would have nothing left.
As for Elmer, Marina honestly hoped Niamh would end up bedridden, needing constant care, so Elmer could spend his days doting on her.
With the two of them inseparable, Niamh would finally stop chasing after Jonathan. The Thomas Group.
Prescott could tell Jonathan was in a foul mood, but a report was a report.
“Mr. Thomas, those thugs have been found… Their hands are done for, and they’re locked up now…”
Jonathan said nothing.
“And, uh, the orthopedic doctor you requested… Miss Rivers sent him away.”
Jonathan, sitting at his desk, suddenly looked up, eyes sharp.
Prescott nearly jumped.
It had been a long time since Jonathan had looked at anyone like that.
1/3
17-29
“When did I ever ask for an orthopedic doctor?”
Prescott’s mouth twitched.
Would I go out of my way to find a specialist if you hadn’t told me to?
“And those medications…”
“Throw them out,” Jonathan cut him off.
“Yes, sir. I’ll do it now.”
Prescott had barely turned to leave before Jonathan stopped him again.
“Bring them back first, then throw them out.”
Prescott: …
If you knew they’d be returned, why bother sending them in the first place?
“Yes, sir. Right away.‘
Prescott personally delivered the medication to the hospital–unsurprisingly, it was all rejected.
But this time, he finally saw Niamh in person.
“Mr. Thomas, I think Miss Rivers looks well–her spirits, too,” Prescott reported
honestly upon returning.
“Of course she does, she’s got company,” Jonathan muttered.
“Sorry, sir?”
Prescott hadn’t quite caught that.
Jonathan’s expression grew even colder. “I said, you don’t need to keep reporting on Niamh. She broke her hand; it’s not like she has cancer…”
His tone grew sharper with every word.
“Even if she died… it wouldn’t have anything to do with me.”
With that icy declaration, Jonathan dismissed Prescott from his office.
Back at his own desk, Prescott let out a long sigh.
“Work gets harder every day in this line of business…”
Aldenville Convention Center.
2/3
17:29
Tonight, the annual Aldenville Entrepreneur Awards were underway.
Jonathan was there, of course, and Marina was among the invited guests as well.
In fact, Marina had just received the “Top Ten Young Entrepreneur” award.
Of course, she’d pulled a few strings to get it.
Winning the award wasn’t her real goal.
No, the award simply gave her the right to sit beside Jonathan at the banquet table. “Congratulations,” Jonathan said, raising his glass to her.
He wasn’t the first guest to congratulate her that evening.
“Thank you…” Marina replied, lightly clinking her champagne flute with his before taking a dainty sip.
Jonathan offered no further conversation. It was as if his brief toast was nothing more than the obligatory politeness of a business event.
Marina clenched her teeth inwardly.
If she wanted anything more tonight, she’d have to make the first move.
“Jonathan, I… there’s something I’d like to say to you…”
