Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 42: Connections II

Why was he looking at her like that? Was Gianna’s first thought when her eyes connected with Zane’s intense gaze.

That thought disappeared just as quick though when distaste replaced whatever emotion she had seen in those eyes she had considered beautiful once.

She looked away, and became suddenly aware that she was the centre of attention. "What?"

"You were looking at Zane Whitman." Esme retorted, folding her arms across her chest, chin lifting sharply.

"So?"

Esme looked bewildered. What was this woman feeling like?

Aggrieved, she moved forward, nudged Gianna aside, and tried to hug her brother, but because Noah’s hand wouldn’t let Gianna be clear from the moment, she only ended up mashing her body against his.

"You won’t let me hug my brother now? What sort of woman are you?"

"Esme, be careful." Noah’s voice had become chilly, a frosted edge settling beneath each syllable.

And when Gianna tapped his hand gently to release her, he felt like kicking his sister’s shins.

Watching Gianna leave immediately he obeyed her command, he cussed his sister underneath his breath, his jaw clenched.

Esme wasn’t happy about this. "Because..." Her words died in her mouth because Noah was already stalking after Gianna, not minding that they were fast becoming the centre of attention again.

"What is wrong with you? Can’t you hide your jealousy for even one minute?"

Esme scoffed at Mason’s questions, rolling her eyes so hard it nearly hurt. "What is wrong with me? What is wrong with you both?! That woman appears in the scene, and suddenly everyone is going wacko! Look at Brother forking out 100 million for an ass that isn’t even virgin!"

Mason drew away from her, as if her vulgar words were murder itself, his expression shifting into quiet disgust. "You are the one that is crazy..." he muttered, shaking his head, before walking away.

Esme gritted her teeth, fists balled by her side, her shoulders trembling with restrained fury. That witch. That fecking witch.

Since she came into the company, made an appearance, her own life was beginning to spiral, all her well-laid plans were beginning to unravel, and not in a good way!

How could she get past this?

First was Mason and her lovely uncle, now is her own brother. Her own brother had dissed her because of a woman.

This was a first, and it wouldn’t be the last, Esme concluded, feeling terrible. She couldn’t let this happen. She had to put this woman away by all means possible.

When she turned to leave, her eyes connected to Zane, Zane who was talking to one of her father’s friends, or was it business partner? Did it matter, they played golf together.

What was he onto now?

She inhaled deeply, her mind wheels running. Even though Gianna had debunked the rumour of her and Zane ever dating, she knew it wasn’t true.

A woman knew these things. And she knew that Zane and Gianna were more than friends... maybe the relationship had gone sour.

The thought of it left a sour taste in her mouth, because she once fancied Zane, still fancied him. As a matter of fact, she still had fantasies of getting married to him, and in that way opening some sort of truce between the families just like she read in novels these days.

Yet, Gianna had dug her claws in him too, at one time. Maybe still had claws in him. If not, why had he been going off the bat with her brother over some necklace?

Damn Gianna. She cussed as she made her way to Zane, a plan already forming in her mind. Gianna must go away from the company, and from her family.

"Excuse me, Uncle Lashk..." The old man, looking distinguished in his sixties, whom Zane had been talking to, turned at the sound of his name, smiling when he saw Esme.

"Esme, my dear, how are you doing..."

Esme kissed both his cheeks, her smile bright and sweetened for effect. "Very fine, uncle. How is your health, and Aunt Viran?"

"Good, my dear, good. You don’t visit us again..."

Esme smiled, shaking her head, aware of Zane staring at her, wondering at her impetus and intention. She loved it, that he was looking at her.

"You know how it can be with work... but I will visit this weekend..."

Lashk’s eyes lightened up. "Really? Not false promises like your old man?"

"Cross my heart, uncle..." She turned to Zane, as if seeing him for the first time, as if she hadn’t interrupted him mid-sentence. "Good evening, Mr. Whitman... how has it been..."

"Fine." Zane answered simply, wanting to get back to his conversation with the family man, his expression tight with polite restraint.

"That’s good... now uncle, I have some business to discuss with Mr. Whitman here..."

"Sure, sure..." Mr. Lashk waved them on with a wink. "Do go ahead. We can talk later..." He said the last part to Zane who had the grace to look surprised.

"What are you up to, Esme Newman?"

Connecting with people after the debacle of earlier had put the last piece of the puzzle into place. Noah Newman was a nephew of Arthur, and sister to the lady before him.

But that wasn’t what the romantic buffoon was really known for.

Apart from being a bully while they had attended high school together, the latter had single-handedly built a company, not wanting to rely on the Beckett’s wealth, which came from his mother’s side, overseas. An empire, more like.

Zane wasn’t sure how he did it, but he did it, and because of it, he was hot cake.

Zane wondered though if why he came back was to establish another branch or just to see family. He found himself hoping for the latter.

"Just wanted to greet an old friend, Zane."

"Cut to the chase."

Esme sighed dramatically, picking nothing off his chest, her fingers brushing his lapel as though plucking lint that wasn’t there.

Zane bristled, but held it in, aware of a few glances being thrown their way.

"You want his contact right... I can get that for you, whatever connection you need... as you see, he listens to me."

"And what do you want in return?"

Marriage. Esme laughed inwardly at herself. As if Zane would agree!

But he would agree to Gianna, wouldn’t he?

She had watched the video of the interview, and had seen the moment when he had been about to saddle his eternity to that bitch. What do they all see in her?

"I want you to take out Gianna."