Chapter 358
I glanced down at my pink blouse and gray slacks. What was so wrong with my outfits? I dressed professionally… mostly. He really thought I needed supervision to pick out an outfit.
Looking at Logan, I saw my own disbelief mirrored back at me. This was absolutely ridiculous.
“Is that it?” Walter asked calmly.
in the
“These rules are to persist even after the time of Mr. Hatfield Senior’s death,” Mr. Smith continued, “In case of Mr. Hatfield Senior’s death, I, Mr. Smith, would become the new supervisor. I’d also ensure the name rules are adhered to and that the manners and decorum are upheld.”
“You?” I asked.
He glanced at me, a sliver of a smile curling the very edge of his lips. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“Me,” he said. “Yes. Also, if any of the rules are broken, Miss Whitaker would be denied further association with the Hatfield family.”
“So if I want to stay married to Logan, I have to keep my name, take classes, and have someone pick out my outfits?” I asked.
“And maintain proper manners and decorum at all time,” Mr. Smith replied. “Any slight or embarrassment that you cast upon the Hatfield family will be seen as breach of contract.”
Impossible. That could mean anything. There was no way they wouldn’t nitpick something just to kick me
out on purpose.
Walter glanced down at Logan and me. “I believe we have some counters to this.”
“This is non–negotiable,” Senior said. “Take it or leave it”
“And if we leave it,” Logan replied, narrowing his eyes at his grandfather. “Then this war continues. You don’t have all the control anymore, grandfather. The tides have been shifting and you know that, or you wouldn’t even be here.”
“I’m not afraid of those cowards you interviewed,” Senior snapped. “Let them lie to the news. We can dispute anything anyone says.”
“You don’t think they’ll fight back?” Logan asked.
“Never. They couldn’t defend themselves then, and they won’t now. At the first sign of trouble, they will run,” Senior said. “They are still terrified of me, after all. If they were to see me in person, they would flee the other direction.”
A few snickers sounded from behind the partition.
Senior and his lawyers glanced in that direction.
“I’d like to counter that assessment,” Logan said, standing. I stood beside him.
“Remove that partition,” Logan called.
At once, two volunteers rounded the partition, appearing at the side of it, and then began to push. It slowly collapsed, closing one panel after another, until the entire other half of the room was visible.
All the victims….
All the people Senior had wronged…
Well, at least, those that would come forward…
They were here, staring at Senior, unafraid.
His assessment of them was wrong, as was his overconfidence in his own intimidation. Maybe at one point, he was the most powerful man in business. But now, he was a sad old man trying to dictate every aspect his grandson’s life.
Just like he did his father. Who was now standing, along with the Christopher’s, in the sea of victims.
Senior slowly stood and faced them. “How can this be?”
“We’ve wronged so many people over the years,” Walter said. “Countless people, truly. I began making my amends years ago, Richard. Have you?”
“We did what was necessary,” Senior said.
“Did we?” Walter countered. “Or did we only care about the bottom line?”
“The bottom line was necessary,” Senior said. “We needed money to –
“Even after all these years,” said a female voice from the entrance of the ballroom. “It’s still only about the money with you.”
Turning, I saw Janice Weathers there in the flesh, with Dylan standing beside her.
Senior’s face paled sheet–white.
“Hello, Richard,” Janice said.