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“See, we are still legally married, and since we had the contract in place, there was no need for a prenup. Not to mention you didn’t have squat to your name, so it was an easy oversight on your part.”
Oh my God…this is not happening…
“Face it, Johnathan. You’re in way over your head here.”
She actually smiles at me. Smiles at me! The restraint it’s taking for me not to leap across the table and strangle her right now is almost unbearable.
A waiter stops at our table and places a basket of bread rolls between us. “Your usual, Mrs. Ronsberry?”
“Make it a double, James.” Isabella sighs, leaning back in her chair with a smirk. “My husband and us have a lot to discuss tonight.”
“Of course.” He bows before leaving, not bothering to take my order.
I’m numb, my thoughts racing back to when we signed the agreement. She’s right, our fathers signed the agreement; there was no need for a prenup. My father made sure nothing was in my name for this very reason, hers as well. It seemed like a normal business transaction. The agreement wasn’t long, and our fathers weren’t that old and in decent health. How in the fuck did this happen?
“No fucking way! Never gonna happen!” I yell louder than expected.
“Calm down, Johnathan. The way I see it here, you don’t have much of a choice,” Isabella says as if I never spoke at all. “We are married, and you acquired the business within our marriage. Not much to dispute.” My objections do not faze her at all.
I’m floored. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around what she’s saying.
“But just to make this easier, I’m willing to compromise.”
There’s more? She goes on. “You sign over fifty percent of the company, and you won’t have to explain to that little mouse you have in your office why your wife is pregnant.”
I think I’m going to pass out as the blood rushes to my head. “I haven’t touched you since we’ve been married!” I’m getting tunnel vision now; I can’t hear any people or see anyone but her and the smile that’s appearing across her face. This time it’s different; she knows she’s won. I’ve seen that smile before when she’s secured her biggest real estate deals for pennies on the dollar.
“But there was a time you did…Johnathan…” She leans forward, touching my hand and tracing her finger around my knuckles.
I think back to how she helped secure the deal in the first place. I had grown closer to Isabella as the two families had begun their business courtship. I was told they were real estate developers, which they also were. And our two real estate development companies would join hands. Our building and purchasing power would become unmatched. Isabella and my presence was requested during several meetings as we were the heirs and the bond to this business relationship. But we’d escape off to the side and let our fathers talk business. She knew what was being asked of her. She didn’t seem to mind, so we had a few fun nights of our own.
The waiter returns with two glasses, placing Isabella’s standard cosmopolitan drink in front of her and a glass of dark-colored liquid in front of me. One whiff lets me know it’s a rum and Coke. My favorite. I can’t help but wonder if it’s poisoned. I wouldn’t put it past her.
“We always used condoms.” I was starting to feel the defeat at this point. I could almost already anticipate her answer.
“Exactly, which worked out wonderfully. We have embryos!”
She’s insane. She was definitely part of the bigger plan. I’m sick.
“Daddy will be so happy that we’ve sorted everything out.” She smiles, taking a sip of her drink with a little bounce in her seat “He will have a new contract drawn up for you to sign at Frank’s celebration of life party tomorrow night. Kind of fitting, don’t you think? End of an old era, and beginning of a new…let’s just say smarter and younger generation.” The first time I see her happy and it’s at the loss of my freedom.
I take the chance and gulp my own dark drink, fear bubbling up faster than I can quell it. This wasn’t a meeting at all. Isabella planned this down to the rum and Coke.
When I get to the office tomorrow, I need to find something to pin on Leo. I’ve been tricked by the devil’s spawn herself.
CHAPTER24
Kylie
“She’s nuts. Completely psycho!”
I sit at my usual spot as Johnathan paces back and forth, a morning bagel gripped in my left hand. He has been going on nonstop since I walked through the door. I’ve never seen him so distraught, and the more he talks, the more I’m concerned. Not only is Johnathan at risk of being trapped in a life he hates, but his company is getting swiped right out from under him by his own wife. I break off another piece of my bagel and pop it into my mouth.
“I’m sure we can find something on Leo. We just have to keep looking.”
“And then what?” he yells, exasperated. “If I go to the police, they’ll just take me to jail right along with Leo. Ronsberry Law Firm will be history.”
I think about my deal with Jax and can’t help but feel guilty. I called him after I found out about Isabella and told him I’d help gather some information on Leo. I was having mixed emotions at the time and convinced myself it was the only way to possibly help Johnathan out of a dangerous situation when I clearly knew it was also out of spite. Now here I am munching on breakfast while Johnathan’s whole life falls apart.
