Chapter 88
Chapter 88:
But if she refused? Bella would be fired. Dave would be ruined. Her father’s legacy would be dragged through the mud. And if Victoria was truly ill — guilt, heavy and familiar, settled in her chest like a stone.
“Separate rooms,” she said. “No games. And I tell Dallas p>
“Tell him whatever you like. Just be there tomorrow,” Anson said, his smirk returning. He knew he had won. Her conscience had always been her weakness.
Eliza stood. Her legs felt heavy. “One week, Anson. That’s all. If you try anything, I leave p>
“I’ll have your old room ready,” he said.
P𝗼𝗽𝘶𝗹a𝗿 𝗌𝗍𝗈ri𝗲𝘀 𝘰𝗇 g𝘢𝗹ոо𝗏𝗲𝗅ѕ.𝖼𝗈m
Eliza turned and walked out without touching the wine.
Anson watched her go. He picked up his glass and raised it in a quiet toast to the empty chair. “One week is all I need to break him p>
He reached for his phone and dialed. “Claudine? Proceed with phase two. She’s coming back p>
The penthouse was silent when Eliza returned — a vast, open silence that felt nothing like the stifling quiet of Le Bernardin.
Dallas was on the sofa, a book in his hand, but his eyes were fixed on the door. He looked up as she entered.
“You’re late. I tried to pick you up from the office. Security said you left at six,” he said. His tone was neutral, but his body was rigid.
“I had a client dinner,” Eliza said, omitting the rest. She wasn’t ready to say Anson’s name. Not yet.
She walked into the living room but didn’t sit beside him. She took the armchair, placing deliberate distance between them.
“Dallas, I need to talk to you p>
Dallas felt the shift immediately. He closed the book and set it down. “Go ahead p>
“Victoria Hyde is ill. A heart condition.” Eliza twisted her hands together. “I saw the medical report. It looks serious p>
“I can have the best specialists in the country at her door by morning. I can have a hospital wing named after her before the week is out,” Dallas offered at once.
“She needs me,” Eliza said softly. “Her daughter.” The word felt wrong in her mouth, but it was the role she had played for so long.
“I’m going to stay at Hyde Manor. For a week p>
The temperature in the room plummeted.
Dallas stood. It was a fluid, predatory motion. “No p>
“This isn’t a request, Dallas. She raised me. I owe her this,” Eliza said, rising to meet him.
“You owe Anson nothing. This is his doing,” Dallas said, his voice cold and razor-sharp. “He is manipulating you. Again p>
“It’s not just Victoria,” she confessed, her voice cracking. “There’s a situation at S&D. A mistake was made on his project. He’s threatening to have Bella fired. And he has documents — about my father’s company. Old debts, old allegations. He’ll destroy my father’s reputation if I don’t go back for a week. To keep Victoria calm p>