Chapter 36
Chapter 36:
She looked at her mother. For twenty-four years she had been afraid of this woman — afraid of her disappointment, afraid of her anger.
Now she just felt bored.
She walked past Elouise and headed straight for the stairs.
Aspen stood up to block her. “Where do you think you’re going p>
Jocelyn didn’t say a word. She raised her hand.
Slap.
She put her full body weight behind it. Her palm connected with Aspen’s cheek with a crack like a gunshot.
Aspen screamed, stumbling backward and falling onto the stairs. She clutched her face, eyes wide with shock. “You — you hit me p>
“That was for the burn on my hand,” Jocelyn said calmly. “And for lying to Kieran p>
“Robert!” Elouise shrieked. “She’s assaulting us p>
Robert marched forward, raising his hand. “That is enough p>
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗻
Jocelyn reached into her purse and produced her phone. She opened the photo gallery and held it up.
“Touch me,” Jocelyn said, her voice ice cold, “and you will answer to him p>
Robert stopped. He squinted at the screen. It was a photo of the marriage certificate.
“Gaston —” Robert read. Then his eyes bulged. “Collins p>
He froze. His hand dropped to his side.
“Collins?” Elouise repeated, snatching the phone. “What Collins? Like — the bank p>
“The only Collins that matters,” Jocelyn said. “Gaston Collins. The sole heir to the Collins Group. That is who I married p>
Silence. Absolute, terrified silence.
Robert turned pale. He looked as though he might be sick. He knew exactly who Gaston Collins was. He knew that Gaston Collins could buy the Wolfe Group with the change in his pocket.
“You — you married the Collins boy?” Robert whispered. “But — we thought p>
“You thought I was trash,” Jocelyn said. “You thought I married a junkie. Surprise p>
Elouise looked from the phone to Jocelyn. Her expression shifted instantly — the rage vanished, replaced by a grotesque, desperate warmth.
“Oh, darling,” Elouise breathed, reaching out to touch Jocelyn’s arm. “Why didn’t you say so? A Collins! My goodness — this is wonderful p>
Jocelyn stepped back. “Don’t touch me p>
“But Jocelyn,” Elouise said, with a smile like a grimace. “We’re family. This changes everything! Imagine the connections! The gala invites p>
“It changes nothing,” Jocelyn said. “Except the balance of power p>
She looked at Robert.
“I want the shares,” she said. “Now p>
The atmosphere in Robert’s study was thick with tension and the smell of stale cigar smoke.
Robert sat behind his desk, sweating profusely, a fountain pen trembling in his hand.
Jocelyn stood over him. “Grandma’s fifteen percent. And my father’s five percent. Transfer the voting rights to me. Irrevocable proxy p>
“Jocelyn, be reasonable,” Robert pleaded, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief. “This gives you controlling interest. I’ve run this company for ten years p>
“You’ve run it into the ground,” Jocelyn corrected. “You’ve been siphoning profits to pay for Aspen’s lifestyle and Mother’s gambling debts p>
“That’s not true!” Elouise protested from the sofa. She was pouring herself a stiff drink.