Chapter 20: The Last Chance
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Chad couldn’t bear the stench clinging to him. He had the driver find the nearest hotel, booked a room, and threw away way all his clothes. He spent an hour in the shower, scrubbing every inch of his skin. Afterward, he changed into the new clothes the driver had bought, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp. Sitting on the couch, his heart refused to calm. The woman’s disgusting behavior, her foul breath, and the suffocating stench of her sweat when she hugged him haunted him like a nightmare.
“Damn it!”
Chad slammed his fist into the cushion. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He guessed Michael must have been duped, but that wasn’t the point. He had paid Michael to handle this, and if Michael took the money but got the wrong person, he couldn’t just shirk responsibility
He almost called Michael but stopped himself. In his current state, just hearing Michael’s voice might push him over the edge, and he’d end up unloading a torrent of abuse so severe that Michael would never dare show his face again.
Instead, Chad instructed his driver to call Michael. “Good afternoon,” the driver said. “My boss wants to thank you for finding the legal titan. We’re at..”
Michael arrived quickly, his face full of anticipation. As he stepped into the room, he greeted Chad with a smile. “Mr. Weatherfield, what a surprise! Did you manage to convince her to take on the case?” The oppressive atmosphere in the room hit Michael immediately. Chad’s dark, livid expression and the fury blazing in his eyes made Michael’s stomach drop. He glanced back to find the driver silently blocking the door–there was no escape.
Michael’s face turned pale. Before he could say anything, Chad spoke coldly. “Michael, do you know what I just went through?”
Without waiting for an answer, Chad lost control. He grabbed the whiskey bottle off the coffee table and hurled it at Michael, Michael ducked just in time, and the bottle shattered against the wall.
Chad jabbed a finger at Michael’s nose, his voice shaking with rage. “You idiot! Do you have any idea? The person you set me up with was a disgusting, obese woman who wanted to sleep with me! She’s no legal titan‘–she’s a revolting fraud! God, Michael! If murder weren’t illegal, I’d have already chopped you into pieces and fed you to my dog!”
Michael didn’t dare talk back. He knew he’d screwed up badly this time. If word got out, his career would be over–no one in New York would ever hire him or his team
n again.
Chad berated him for a full half–hour, his voice growing hoarse. When he finally ran out of steam, Michael bent slightly at the waist and spoke cautiously. “Mr. Weatherfield, I had no idea this would happen. I’m truly sorry!”
Chad stepped closer, his footsteps heavy with anger, as though trying to crush his fury into the floorboards. He grabbed Michael by the collar, forcing him to meet his eyes. His voice was low and menacing. “Michael, my divorce cooling–off period is running out. I’m giving you five days. Bring me the real legal titan–no excuses. This is your last chance. If you disappoint me again.”
He slapped Michael lightly on the cheek, a mockery of affection. “I won’t just replace you–I’ll have my men shove a bottle of Viagra down your throat and deliver you to that woman’s bed, all wrapped up like a gift.”
Michael broke out in a cold sweat. He knew he was powerless against the Weatherfield family’s influence.
Chad shoved him away, and Michael wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, nodding repeatedly. “I promise you, sir. This time, I won’t fail.”
“Get out of my sight! Chad barked.
Michael fled as though granted a reprieve from death.
Chad turned to his driver Before he could speak, the driver quickly said, “Boss, whatever happened today–I’m sorry. I must’ve been so tired I just dozed off.”
Chad gave a small nod. “Back to the office. I have a lot of paperwork to deal with.”
When he returned to Weatherfield Group, his secretary approached him as soon as he stepped out of the elevator. She whispered, “Miss Celine is here. We couldn’t stop her.”
Chad sighed, exasperated. He pushed open the door to his office to find Celine lounging in his chair, her legs propped up on his desk.
*Didn’t expect your crappy chair to be so comfortable,” she said with a grin.
“What do you want?” Chad asked coldly.
Celine swung her legs off the desk and glared at him. “Your ex–wife slapped me in public, and you didn’t even say a word? I’m your sister!”
Chad pulled out his checkbook. “Name your price. How much to leave me alone?”
*Give me a break!”
Celine rolled her eyes. “As if I care about your filthy money. No wonder you can’t keep a wife. You think throwing cash at every problem will make it go away? If I were her, I’d have dumped you the second
someone richer came along.”
The mention of Richard made Chad’s temper flare. He snapped, “So what? She humiliated you, and I’m supposed to step in and get slapped too?”
His voice turned icy. “Tm busy. If you want revenge, handle it yourself.”
11ll deal with her in my own way. Celine said, standing up and leaning toward him, her tone sharp. “But I’m giving you one last chance to act like a decent brother. Oh, and by the way, I should let you know–I’m joining the company. Dad already agreed.”
She rested a hand on the back of his chair and smirked. “Soon, you’ll be moving out of this office. Enjoy it while you can.”
As she walked out, Chad’s mind churned with frustration. Amelia was a curse. Ever since she’d filed for divorce, his life had spiraled into chaos. Now, thanks to her, his sister had barged into his career, threatening to wreak even more havoc.
