Chapter 50
The bald man’s phone was turned up so loud that every word from Vera was broadcast clearly to everyone in the room.
Effie clenched her jaw in fury.
She hadn’t expected Vera to be so vicious, willing to resort to such dirty tricks to get rid of her.
At this point, the bald man felt not an ounce of sympathy for Vera. His tone was unforgiving. “Vera, if you don’t want this getting out, you’ll wire me three million- right now. Otherwise, we both go down. I’ve got nothing to lose, but you? That’s a different story…”
Vera was stunned, caught completely off guard.
She forced herself to stay calm. This was not something that could see the light of day. “What the hell is going on?”
Weren’t they supposed to kidnap that wretched Effie?
How had this all flipped around to blackmailing her?
“It’s blown up. Someone saved the woman, and now she’s threatening to call the police. I’m sneaking this call to you. If I go down, I need to make sure my family’s taken care of. So unless you send me three million, I’ll tell them everything about you.” The bald man’s threat was cold, deliberate.
Vera’s knees nearly buckled.
Damn it!
How could these two be so utterly shameless?
She’d already paid them half a million, and now they were coming back for more —demanding millions as if her money grew on trees.
Rage boiled up inside her, and she almost lost her composure.
“Are you both insane? Didn’t I already pay you five hundred thousand?”
Goddamn it!
Did they think she was made of money?
If they wanted out, fine. Didn’t need them anyway.
Had they lost their minds from poverty? Why not just rob a bank if they were that desperate?
She couldn’t believe how unlucky she was to have found these two idiots.
But Vera didn’t dare let this explode. The scandal would ruin her. And now that her daughter was seeing Mitchell-if she became Mrs. Lloyd, their future would be set.
So she forced herself to swallow her anger.
But three million in one go? Vera felt sick just thinking about it.
“What? Not willing?” The bald man sneered. “I’ve recorded everything you just said. If you don’t pay up, I’ll leak it all. Let’s see if you can still show your face in public. I heard your daughter landed herself a wealthy fiancé…”
Vera was silent.
Her hand shook, veins bulging with rage.
She was cursing the man to hell and back in her mind. What kind of monster was this?
She’d tried to play dirty and ended up getting herself burned.
She couldn’t risk an all-out confrontation-the fallout would be even worse.
Taking a deep breath, Vera softened her tone, desperation creeping in. “I… I don’t have that kind of money. I’m just a woman on my own. That five hundred thousand was everything I have, I—”
“Yeah, right,” the bald man spat. “Think I’m that easy to fool? You’re Mrs. Bagnold, aren’t you? Three million is pocket change for a woman like you.”
“You see the fancy life on the outside, but things aren’t as easy as they look,” Vera began to play her part, feigning hardship.
“Cut the crap. You clawed your way up as a mistress, didn’t you? You know how to handle men—can’t you squeeze some more cash out of one of them? And think about your darling daughter. If people find out her mother’s this cruel, do you think her fiancé will still marry her?”
“So just pay up and keep my mouth shut. Otherwise, this goes public, and your daughter’s dream of marrying into money will go up in smoke!”
He’d hit her right where it hurt-Vera’s greatest weakness laid bare.