How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Malcom looked utterly stunned.

He never expected Jarrod to speak to him with such cold cruelty.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, his face turning even paler. "Fine, you can have them. But I want to see the money in my account first."

He was starting to understand-Elodie really did have influence if Jarrod was willing to go this far for her.

Forcing a stiff smile, Malcom tried to play nice, biting back his frustration. "Jarrod, come on, this project was your idea in the first place. Now that things have gone sideways, you can't just turn your back on me—professionally or personally. After all, I'm Elodie's father. For her sake, you ought to help, don't you think?"

He was desperate now, completely out of options.

The disaster at that project had come out of nowhere, and the repayment deadline was bearing down on him fast.

If he didn't fix this soon, The Harcourt Group would be finished.

Jarrod leaned back in his chair, tapping his knuckles against the desk. "If President Harcourt had shown Elodie any real affection, maybe you and I would still have something to discuss. But since you mean nothing to her now, tell me— why should I clean up your mess?"

Malcom's face looked sickly.

But he'd spent years maneuvering in the business world; he could tell that, beneath Jarrod's hard shell, he was still protecting Elodie.

Clearly, Jarrod cared about her reputation-hence the demand for the photos.

Actually, I've got even more-stuff with real bite. Here's my offer: you wire me eight million, just enough to settle with a few creditors right now. I'm not asking you to cover everything. I'll hand over all the photos. It's

already worked it out in

he could

the urgent ones and had some cash flowing

control, he still

other creditors-local companies in Eldermere knew he was Jarrod's father-in-law and would probably

money from my personal account,"

fixed Malcom with a level gaze, his tone steady and unyielding. "As for the negatives, hand them over now. The money

knew he'd gotten what

for his wallet and pulled out a memory card. "I brought it with me, Mr Silverstein. Don't worry I know you're a man of

Malcom carried something like this

cold glint flickered in

certain-Malcom wouldn't dare lie

didn't want Elodie's past dragged out into the open again. Malcom

this had

the card in

what he wanted and didn't dare

Harcourt Group's mess as quickly

Jarrod, but Elodie was clearly no longer useful to him. All he could

squeeze out