Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Herb chuckled lightly. “So, you’re telling me that our CEO personally invited you?”
“You can ask your CEO about that,” George replied coolly.
Herb turned back to Rachel, glancing at her with a mix of curiosity and irritation.
Rachel thought to herself, ‘I wish you’d just leave already. There’s no way he invited you.
At that moment, an assistant hurried over. “Herb, Mr. Sarratt is asking for you.”
Rachel gave him a reassuring look. “Go ahead, it’s fine.”
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George’s gaze was passionate as he watched Herb walk away, his eyes never leaving the man’s retreating back. Then his focus shifted back to Rachel. As soon as Herb was out of sight, Rachel’s expression turned even colder, and she made to leave.
But before she could, George grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “We still need to talk.”
Rachel, barely suppressing her annoyance, snapped, “What do you want to talk about?”
“Rachel,” George said, narrowing his eyes. “Have you met the new CEO of the Sarrattop Group?”
Rachel’s eyes flickered for a moment, but she quickly turned with a smirk. “I’ve met him. Why?”
A glint of mischief flashed in George’s eyes. He took a step closer. “Is he here right now?”
Rachel crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. “George, are you asking me for help?”
“I’d say that’s one way to put it,” he replied, his tone growing more serious.
She raised an eyebrow. “And why would I help you?”
George paused, taking a deep breath before speaking. “What if I told you I could give you an extra thirty million dollars as a divorce settlement?”
Rachel couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Please, no more empty promises. You still haven’t given me the hundred million you promised. Why should I trust you now?”
“Rachel…” George’s face darkened, and he took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Right now, you’re still my wife. If you’re not going to help me, are you going to help Herb instead? What’s in it for you? Let me be honest with you: Herb and I both want to acquire Elysium Media. For him, it’s no big deal. He’s just someone working for the Sarrattop Group. But for me, this project is everything. If you’re willing to help me, name your price.”
Rachel couldn’t help but laugh, finding the whole situation almost absurd. “So that’s your plan? Well, I’m going to set my price.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of George’s lips. He was starting to think he could get through to her.
Of course, he was right. Money talks.
Rachel raised a hand, gesturing for him to come closer.
George, obedient as ever, stepped in. She grinned slyly, leaned in to whisper in his ear, and said, “I want a billion dollars.”
Her words hung in the air. Acquiring Elysium Media would require a substantial amount to kickstart, and if he was willing to give her a billion dollars, she would make sure the deal was his. Meanwhile, she could always go after another buyer.
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Chapter 37
George’s face twisted into a stormy expression, his eyes flashing with fury. “Are you playing me?”
In a sudden, furious motion, George grabbed her by the collar.
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Rachel slapped his hand away with a loud crack, stepping back. “Are you out of your mind, George? I’m being serious. If you don’t believe me, fine. Let me go.”
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
George, livid, followed closely behind. He wasn’t about to let her walk off like that.
“Rachel, where do you think you’re going?”
Rachel picked up her pace, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that George was right on her heels. There was something unnerving about the way he seemed to know exactly where she was heading.
Was she really that familiar with the Sarrattop Group?
The way she moved through the halls, with such ease and certainty, it was as though she owned the place. If you weren’t familiar with the company, how could you possibly navigate its corridors so confidently?
Rachel’s stomach churned. The nausea was hitting her hard, and she felt like she might throw up at any moment. She quickly darted into an empty side room, hoping to escape George and find some relief.
“Rachel, what are you running from?” His voice came from behind her, grating on her nerves.
‘Why won’t he just leave me alone?‘ Rachel swallowed the bile rising in her throat, spinning around to face him. “What do you want, George?”
George looked around the luxurious room, scanning the unfamiliar space. “What is this place?”
“What does it matter?” Rachel snapped, not in the mood for small talk.
George scanned the opulent side hall. It was untouched, no one had entered, and it was eerily quiet. “You seem pretty comfortable here. Looks like Herb brings you here often.”
Rachel didn’t miss the implication in his words. She realized too late that her ease in the room gave her away.
She’d been here before–just before this party, when she had done a walkthrough. Every corner was familiar, every detail etched into her memory. Of course, she knew the place better than most.
“Yeah, so what?” she replied coldly. “Not every man is as indifferent as you are.”
“Indifferent?” George’s brow furrowed.
Rachel turned to face him with a bitter smile. “Yeah. Since I married you, I never once visited your company. Your world, your people–none of them even knew I existed. If that’s not indifference, then I don’t know what is.”
For a moment, George stood there, stunned. Rachel’s words hit harder than he expected.
He’d never really thought about it. She was right all along–he had never cared enough to include her, to truly share his world with her. He’d never even noticed how isolated she’d felt.
Rachel, seeing the look of realization flicker across his face, couldn’t help but feel a small, cruel satisfaction. Was he regretting his neglect now?
The regret came too late. It meant nothing.
Turning her back on him, she was ready to leave, to escape the suffocating tension. But as she reached for the door, she was
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Chapter 37
met with an unexpected resistance. The door, which had opened easily before, was now locked.
“Something’s wrong,” Rachel muttered, pushing the door again, but it wouldn’t budge.
George came up behind her and tried the door as well. “It’s locked?”
“Yes…” she said, confused and irritated.
Meanwhile, in another room, Bryant watched the live feed of them standing by the door, stuck. He smiled to himself, satisfied.
“Bryant, you brought me here for this?” Herb’s voice came from behind him, exasperated.
“Did you not know? Rachel has a thing for that Fox kid,” Bryant said, almost in a whisper. “You know, Herb, you’ve said a of things about Rachel, but you’ve never really understood her, have you? She’s determined, and she’s never one to back down.”
Herb shook his head. “Of course not. Rachel and I grew up together, practically naked–she’s like my sister. How could I “Well, that settles it then,” Bryant interrupted, cutting him off.
“But you know, if you’re going to try and push them together, do you even know what’s happened between them?” Herb asked, his tone serious.
“Has Rachel really lost all feelings for him?” Bryant pressed.
Herb paused, uncertain. “I can’t say for sure. But if Rachel has decided to move on, I doubt she’s ever looking back. She’s always been pretty ruthless about things like that.”
Bryant’s eyes gleamed with a strange determination. “Look, if Rachel still has feelings for him, and if he’s the one she want then I’ll make sure she gets him.”
