Chapter 6 - A Visitor at the Gates
Back at the DeLuca estate, the morning sun was streaming brightly through the leaded glass windows of the grand library.
Emily sat in a plush velvet armchair, sipping a cup of freshly brewed Earl Grey tea that Mrs. Gable had brought up earlier. She was wearing a soft, cashmere loungewear set that fit her comfortably, feeling like a completely different person from the exhausted, humiliated woman who had worn the stained waitress uniform less than twenty-four hours ago.
A soft knock echoed at the library door, and Vincent walked in. He had already shed his suit jacket, wearing a crisp white dress shirt with the top buttons undone, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms.
“Good morning,” Vincent said, walking over to pour himself a cup of black coffee from the silver tray on the side table. “I trust you slept well?”
“Like the dead,” Emily admitted, smiling softly. “I went down to check on my mother an hour ago. Dr. Vance said her oxygen levels are the most stable they’ve been in months. She actually asked me if we were staying in a hotel because she thought the wallpaper looked expensive.”
Vincent chuckled, leaning against the edge of the mahogany desk. “Tell her she’s welcome to stay as long as she likes. The estate is big enough for both of you.”
Emily’s smile faded slightly as she looked down at her teacup. “Vincent... I saw the news this morning. On my phone. The video is everywhere.”
“I know,” Vincent replied calmly, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Tyler’s company suspended him. Vanessa broke off the engagement. People are tearing him apart online.” Emily looked up, her eyes searching Vincent’s face. “Do you have anything to do with that? Did you direct the media response?”
“I didn't have to lift a finger, Emily,” Vincent said, his voice completely devoid of sympathy for her ex-boyfriend. “When you build your entire life on arrogance and cruelty, it only takes one small push for the whole house of cards to collapse. Tyler brought every bit of that upon himself.”
Before Emily could reply, the heavy oak doors of the library swung open, and Kael, Vincent’s chief of security, stepped inside, looking slightly tense.
“Boss,” Kael said, nodding respectfully toward Emily before turning his attention to Vincent. “We have an uninvited visitor at the outer security gate.”
Vincent’s eyebrows arched slightly. “Who?”
“Tyler Hayes,” Kael said flatly. “He managed to get past the initial press barricade by claiming he had a personal legal matter to discuss with the estate owner. He’s currently screaming into the intercom, demanding to speak with Emily.”
A heavy, dangerous silence fell over the library.
Emily felt a cold knot form in her stomach at the mention of Tyler’s name. The mere sound of it brought back the familiar, unwanted echo of his cruel words: “Who would ever love a woman that fat?”
Vincent set his coffee cup down on the desk with a sharp, echoing clack.
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't look angry. But the temperature in the room instantly plummeted.
“Bring him in,” Vincent instructed quietly.
May you like
Kael blinked, surprised. “Boss? Are you sure? We can have him dumped in the river by noon and no one would blink an eye.”
“No,” Vincent said, his dark eyes flashing with a cold, terrifying light. “Let him walk right through those gates. Let him see what he threw away. And then, we’ll finish this once and for all.”
