Chapter 57
Chapter 57:
“You’ll regret this,” June said to his back. “When the truth comes out, Cole, I hope it breaks you completely p>
She turned for the door.
Her hand closed around the brass handle when her phone buzzed — Brogan’s priority ringtone.
She pulled it out and answered immediately, her voice shifting into something softer, a stark contrast to every word she had just spoken.
“Brogan? Are you all right p>
Behind her, she heard a sharp snap. Cole had broken the pen in his hand.
“June.” Brogan’s voice was breathless on the other end. “Don’t do anything rash. We found the driver. He talked p>
June’s heart stopped. “What p>
“It wasn’t Cole,” Brogan said. “The driver was paid by Helix Pharmaceuticals — five thousand dollars to swap the pallets at a truck stop. Richard Beasley is a fool, but he didn’t order the poison. And Cole had nothing to do with p>
The silence in the room was absolute.
𝖬оѕ𝘵 𝘳𝘦ad 𝗍𝗁𝗶s 𝘄𝘦𝖾𝗸 𝗈ո 𝗴𝘢𝗅ո𝗼𝘃е𝗅ѕ.𝘤𝗈𝗆
June lowered the phone slowly. The blood drained from her face.
She had accused him of attempted murder. She had called him a monster. She had told him his hands were dirty.
And she had been wrong.
She stood at the door with her back to him, unable to move. The weight of it pressed down on her like something physical.
June stood paralyzed. Brogan’s voice was still audible from the phone she held loosely at her side.
“…June? Are you there? The police are picking up the Helix rep now p>
She ended the call. The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush bones.
She couldn’t just leave. If she walked out now, she was the villain — the hysterical ex-wife making false accusations.
June took a deep breath and turned around.
Cole was leaning against his desk with his arms crossed, watching her with a predatory stillness. He had heard the tone of her voice. He knew. “Well?” he asked, his voice silky and dangerous. “What did your hero have to say p>
June looked at the floor. “It wasn’t you p>
“I can’t hear you,” Cole mocked.
She looked up, her jaw set. “It wasn’t you. It was Helix. The driver confessed p>
“Ah.” Cole nodded slowly. “So the monster is innocent. The dirty hands are clean p>
“I apologize,” June said stiffly. “I jumped to conclusions based on the vendor contract p>
“An apology?” Cole pushed off the desk and walked toward her. “You broke into my office. You insulted my integrity. You called me disgusting.” He stopped inches from her, and she backed up until her spine hit the door.
“I said I was sorry,” June said, her voice rising. “What more do you want p>
Cole placed one hand on the door beside her head, trapping her. “I want to know why,” he whispered. “Why did you come here yourself? Why not send a lawyer? Why were you so angry, June?” He leaned in, carrying the scent of expensive whiskey and sandalwood.
“Because you hate me?” he asked. “Or because you’re terrified that you still care? You needed to believe I was the villain so you could kill whatever is left between us p>