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.

luck. Instead, he forced another smile. “The photos aren't a problem. 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

already worked it out in his

that money, he could appease his

with the urgent ones

control, he still had a shot

in Eldermere knew he was

from my personal account," Jarrod said without

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

he'd gotten

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

Malcom carried something like this around didn't

cold glint flickered

wouldn't dare lie

past dragged out

bomb; this had to be dealt

Jarrod said, glancing at the card in

got what he wanted and didn't dare

Harcourt

bridges with Jarrod, but Elodie was clearly no longer useful to him. All

out