Trapped With The Untouchable CEO Chapter 08
At seven in the evening, I pushed open the door to the private dining room.
Martha was sitting on the sofa in front of the folding screen, reading a financial report.
Mia stood up the moment she saw me, her eyes and the tip of her nose flushed red. “Chloe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those harsh words to you last time.”
“Silly girl, I don’t blame you.”
I walked over and sat beside her, handing her the bracelet. “For you. Do you like it?”
Mia took the box, tears falling as she opened it. “I love it. Thank you, Chloe…”
Martha smiled and handed over the menu. “Chloe, see what you’d like to eat. Dinner’s on me tonight, so don’t be polite.”
During the meal, Martha slid a document across the table.
“Chloe, there’s one more thing I want to discuss with you today. Your studio has hit a ceiling. I’ve spoken with the company. We’re prepared to absorb your studio. And I’ll assign you the best team. This is the transfer agreement.”
I picked up the document, my heart sinking with every line I read.
The agreement required me to sign over all my shares for nothing, leaving me with nothing but a meaningless “Honorary Consultant” title.
“Martha, this is impossible.”
I pushed the document back. “I built this studio by staying up late drawing designs and chasing down suppliers and materials myself. Father even gave me the startup capital, saying he wanted to support me in doing what I love.”
Martha stirred the soup in her bowl and said slowly, “If you want to play hardball, don’t blame me for hitting back.
“I’ll just help you leak those photos all over the internet, and throw in a little video as a bonus. I have more than you think.”
“You were the one behind that dark web incident? Why?” In my shock, my voice trembled.
Martha’s face turned cold. “No reason. I worked myself to the bone for the Bennetts all these years, but your father only has eyes for you. When I ran into difficulties and begged him to lend me a little money, he refused, yet he poured money into your little studio to keep it alive. You people never treated me as one of your own!”
With our family torn apart like this, I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken, tears streaming down my face.
“If you were in trouble, you could have just asked me. You raised Mia. Even if we were never close, I wouldn’t have abandoned you. But why try to destroy me and take away my studio?”
She sneered, “If I asked to borrow 15 million dollars, would you give it to me?”
I froze.
How could it be so much?
Now I knew why she was targeting my studio. My studio is currently worth nearly 50 million dollars. If she was desperate enough to sell it cheap, she’d still get at least tens of millions.
“Cut the crap. If you’re sincere about giving me the money, sign this contract.
“I’ll give you one minute to think about it. In one minute, one tap is all it takes…” She waved the phone in her hand.
“Don’t you dare!” I glared at her. “Martha, don’t forget there are two people in those photos. Have you thought about the consequences if that person finds out?”
Martha sneered and clapped her hands. A middle-aged man in an expensive suit stepped out from behind the folding screen in the private room.
He looked familiar; I think I’d seen him at Alexander’s company.
The man grinned sinisterly. “Ms. Bennett, are you talking about Alexander? You think we’re scared of him?
“He acts all aloof and untouchable every day. Didn’t he still end up starring in those photos?”
“I’ve got a hundred ways to destroy him.”
My mind went completely blank.
Martha grabbed my wrist and forced the pen into my hand. “Chloe, I’m warning you, you’d better sign this today! Don’t make me do something you’ll regret.”
“Martha! Don’t scare Chloe!” Mia screamed and rushed over to pull Martha’s arm, but was shoved away.
She fell to the floor, crying even harder. “Chloe, just sign it, please, I’m scared…”
I looked from Mia, sobbing on the floor, to Martha’s vicious face, feeling both anxious and furious.
I was just about to call for help when the private room door was suddenly pushed open.