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.

photos aren't a problem. Actually, I've got even more-stuff with real bite. Here's my offer: you wire me

worked it out in

he could appease his

still other loans out there, but once he'd dealt with the urgent

things didn't spiral out of control, he still had a

Eldermere knew he was Jarrod's father-in-law and would probably cut

transfer the money from my

"As for the

knew he'd gotten what

card. "I brought it with me, Mr Silverstein. Don't worry I know you're a man of your

that Malcom carried something like

flickered in

certain-Malcom wouldn't dare lie

out into

had to

card in his hand,

wanted and didn't dare

Harcourt Group's

burn bridges with Jarrod, but Elodie was clearly no

out what