Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 43: Connections III

Take out? As in murder?

Zane’s mind had instantly gone gangster mode, triggered by the phrase that had been commonly used in those old bleak days in the underworld.

There was no change in his facial expression, only that his gaze became more intense than before, more interested, as he waited for Esme to clarify what she actually meant by ’I want you to take out Gianna’ but the woman looked at him like she had been clear enough.

He was amused, he was annoyed in the same vein.

That she would think he would do anything stupid to hurt Athena’s friend, thereby harming his relationship with Ewan, was amusing. That she thought he would be bothered with Gianna was annoying.

That and her audacity.

Had her brother’s show given her some sort of backbone to speak to him? Or was it because of her knowing Laksh? Did she think him too desperate?

"Zane... you are not saying anything..." The casualness in her voice irritated him.

"Have we spoken before now?" he couldn’t help the question that slipped through his lips.

He watched her brows furrow in confusion.

Good. He was just as confused. Was he losing his touch?

"What?" Esme was befuddled. How did that have to do with what she had requested? 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I am asking if we have spoken before now... I remember you as Noah’s nerdy sister then with the spooky eyeglasses... but I am sure we have never spoken. Noah and I were never even friends."

Esme blushed, in shame, when she realized the picture that was in Zane’s mind. Images of hers, a personality of hers, she had quickly shed when she had seen the light in college.

She hated that it was what he remembered. Hated that...

"So, I am right then? We haven’t spoken before... So why the casualness in your voice? Or did your brother’s show tonight give you some sort of leverage? His return to the city perhaps..."

Esme swallowed, hearing the chills in Zane’s voice now. She had always seen him as a heartless playboy, known him as one, yet he had never played her before.

She wished to be played by him, to know that body, those lips...

Her thoughts were cut off when he bit back a hiss and turned to walk away. She immediately reached for his arm.

If they didn’t have attention, they had it now.

Zane, aware of this, held back again the urge to cuss the woman to death. What was this? Did she want to make it to the tabloids?

He stepped away from her like she was a leper, when he contemplated the possibility of this.

"What do you want?" his voice rang a note higher, his distaste evident in his face, should the people around get ideas.

Esme’s hands tightened into fists by her side. "Can we talk like civil people, Zane. I know you need that contact with Laksh..."

"And I know you want to get rid of Aldo because of your greed and jealousy."

Esme blanched. "That’s not it."

"Oh, but isn’t that it? She shows up in your company, clinches the top designer title, and now is dating your brother... and you feel threatened. And so, you think I am the right person to deal with that..."

An exhale. "Although for the life of me, I’m not sure why you would think that."

Esme shifted closer. This was her chance.

"She is Athena’s friend right... I followed the story of the Grey Virus for a while... surely, Athena would prefer that her friend work in your company. I want you to make her an irresistible offer... anything, anyhow, just take her out of my family’s company. I fear she is no good."

No, ugly, you fear she will take over. Zane mused, watched the display of hatred in Esme’s eyes.

So, Gianna already snagged an enemy to her side, in addition to Sabrina. Good for her.

Luckily, she had the romantic buffoon wrapped round her finger, for now... that one could keep her safe.

"I’m afraid I would have to turn down your offer. There is no vacancy in Whitman’s company... deal with your problems Esme Newman, or run to your cousin... he is the director..."

Esme scoffed. "He is already hypnotized by her, even my uncle does her bidding. I just don’t get it!"

Zane almost pitied the fellow before him. Gianna wasn’t really a good opponent to have on that field.

Without any more words to the latter, he turned and walked away. It was time to leave this hypocritical place.

—

"Gianna, I apologize for my sister’s behaviour. She can be a little miscreant sometimes."

Little miscreant? There was nothing little about the miscreant she had just left for peace to reign.

But she nodded, standing outside Rodney’s car, Rodney who already had the door open, whose eyes kept darting to Noah intermittently.

"Please say something, beauty..."

Gianna exhaled. "I have nothing to say, Noah, except that I will find a way to refund your money. You can tell your lawyer to draw up a repayment contract of some sort and..."

She pursed her lips when she saw the first sign of anger on his face. "I do intend to pay you back, Noah. I am not a charity case."

"I am not saying that you are, beauty." A pause, an exhale where the anger dissipated from his face and frame, where he stepped closer, hands twitching, wondering if she would let him touch her.

"I just want you to rely on me a little..."

"I can’t." Gianna deadpanned. The only people she could rely on were her friends, and the Thornes. No one else. It was too risky.

Noah sighed, ruffled his hair. "Okay." He said, just to move the conversation forward. "Do you still want to go on a date with me..."

He was relieved when she smiled sincerely.

"Yes. But during the weekend though... or maybe after the jewellery convention..."

Noah nodded, understanding. "I will just call during the weekend, if you are not free, we can postpone."

"Thank you." Gianna said, allowing her gaze to linger on his beautiful blues. "For tonight too. For making things easier."

But did he really, by making those jumps while bidding?

100 million. Heavens help her.

—

When Gianna returned home and saw her friends with the Thorne couple in the room, she paused in her movements, inhaled... and then the shout came.

"Gianna! What the hell!" but Chelsea was laughing as she got to her feet, and Gianna found herself realizing what Athena had felt all those times the latter had returned from dates or operations.

"What the hell indeed..." old Mr. Thorne agreed, but with a less amused tune.

Gianna sighed, covered the distance between her and the nearest couch and dumped herself in it. "I can explain..."

"Well, explain away dear," Florence said, relaxing into her husband’s side. "That’s why we have waited up so long."

Gianna chuckled, then talked about the night from head to bottom, including the last dinner she had had with her uncle’s family.

"You should have told me about Clement..." old Mr. Thorne started. "I would have sorted it out. That geezer with no conscience... as a matter of fact I will follow you tomorrow when you go to collect your properties..."

Gianna frowned. This was why she had hesitated in telling them. They always wanted to get involved.

"No, gramps... you need..."

"Rest?" old Mr. Thorne scoffed. "I have rested enough. I need to stretch my legs."

Areso laughed.

Gianna rolled her eyes, but she knew it was sealed in stone. She wouldn’t be going alone. She wouldn’t admit that she felt some tiny flicker of relief.

"And about Newman... I know about them. Well, they would have been obscure but for the Becketts. The marriage between Sonia Beckett and Paul Newman, had sort of brought goodwill to them... but it made Paul a bit lax, depending. He stopped grooming his own startup."

Old Mr. Thorne’s lips turned up in annoyance. "He had the means to do better, and he just relaxed. At least his son is a better one. I know of him, has a huge conglomerate overseas. If I should guess, he is back here to establish a branch, maybe even the family name..."

A pause. "Even though they have a good relationship with the Becketts, we don’t know the currents that run underneath..."

Gianna nodded. Wouldn’t she know that firsthand. To outsiders, her uncle took care of her well, but really the man was worse than the devil.

"So he really does have the money... spending 100 million though on a necklace..." Florence furrowed her eyebrows.

"I’m glad of course that you got it back..." she added when she noticed Gianna touched the said item. "But it was quite a splash... for strangers just having their second meeting..."

"I think so too." Chelsea agreed. "But he seems nice, right?" she turned to Gianna who shrugged.

"Yeah, he is nice." If not a little possessive. "But I’m planning to pay him back."

This time there was significant silence in the room.

Areso chuckled nervously. "Gianna, surely... did he ask for that?"

Gianna shook her head. "But I couldn’t take it..." she looked at old Mr. Thorne for understanding.

"Of course, you’re like my Athena in that regard. But how do you plan to get a hundred million, because I’m sure you won’t let us help you either..."