Chapter 7 So-called Justice
1175 Words
Laura wasn't naive. If she drank this wine, she'd be no more than prey on a platter. Seeing James's smug demeanor, clearly uninterested in any real negotiations, she decided not to waste her breath. "Mr. Smith, I'm allergic to alcohol. I can't drink. If you're willing to sign the contract, great. If not, no hard feelings—it's your deal with Morgan Group, after all."
The issue with the recording pen could wait, but the man in front of her was trouble. Better to avoid him if possible.
With that, she placed the contract on the table and turned toward the door, only to find it locked. She tugged the handle a couple of times, but it didn't budge.
Before she realized it, James was right behind her. His arm snaked around her waist, and he hauled her back to the sofa.
"Mr. Smith, what's the meaning of this?" Laura's heart sank as a chill crept up her spine. Her fingers moved instinctively to the side of her watch, pressing the hidden button.
James didn't notice her subtle action. Instead, his smile turned sharp, and his tone dripped with malice. "Blame your father. He crossed the wrong people, and now you'll pay the price. Your life's worth far more to me than this little contract."
Laura felt as though her blood had turned to ice, but she kept her voice steady. "Mr. Smith, I'm here on behalf of Morgan Group. If anything happens to me, how would you explain it to them?"
James let out a bark of laughter. "You think I'd dare touch you without their blessing? Don't kid yourself."
In his mind, Laura's presence represented Simon's silent approval.
Simon had sent her here, and Harrison herself had called to ensure the "problem" was dealt with. To James, it all seemed like a perfectly orchestrated plan. After all, Simon and Laura's marriage had been kept under wraps; almost no one even knew they were connected.
Laura clenched the hem of her dress tightly, her thoughts spinning.
‘Someone her father had offended? The Morgan Group's approval? Was this all Simon's doing? Had sending her to negotiate been nothing but a ruse to get her out of the way?’
James's hand reached for her face, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You're a rare gem, Laura. It's been a while since I've had the chance to enjoy someone like you."
Laura shoved his arm away and stood abruptly. "I need to use the restroom. What's the matter—afraid I'll run?"
"Make it quick. I'm not a patient man," James said coldly, snatching her purse and phone to prevent her from calling for help. He pointed lazily to the private bathroom in the corner of the suite.
Inside, Laura pushed the door shut and tried to lock it, only to find the lock broken. She pressed the button on her watch again and again, praying it would work.
The watch, a custom designed by Eliot and Carter, had a built-in emergency alert system. She used to joke about it being a "genius watch" her little darlings had made for her, but now, it was her only lifeline.
In their living room, Carter was glued to his laptop, tinkering with new code, when the screen suddenly flashed a bright red SOS.
His heart stopped. "Something's wrong! Mom's in trouble—she sent an emergency signal! Eliot, get over here and help me trace her location!" he yelled.
Eliot dropped the dishes he was washing and rushed over. Lila, who had been playing in Simon's lap, looked up at him in confusion. "Mommy went to help you with work—why is she in danger?"
"Lila, come here!" Carter's face darkened as he glared at Simon. "For all we know, you're the one behind this!"
Simon's brow furrowed deeply. He couldn't shake the suspicion that this was one of Laura's stunts, but the glaring red signal on the computer screen made his chest tighten with unease. Grabbing his phone, he called Ethan.
"Who did Smith Group send to negotiate tonight? And where are they?"
Ethan sounded confused but answered promptly. "They're at Azure Garden International Hotel, but it's not Thomas Smith handling it. It's his son, James Smith. Sir, weren't you aware of this? I thought you were overseeing the deal—"
Before he could finish, Simon hung up abruptly.
He grabbed his coat and car keys, scribbled his number on the small blackboard near the door, and turned to Eliot. "Stay put, all of you. Call the police. I'm going to get her. Don't leave the house. If anything happens, call me."
"You think we're just going to trust you?" Carter snapped, his voice filled with fury. He had never liked Simon and would have kicked him out long ago if not for Eliot and Lila.
Simon took a deep breath. "I'll bring her back. I promise."
Eliot held Carter back as Lila called the police. Together, the boys hacked into the hotel's surveillance system, located the suite, and sent the room number to Simon's phone.
In the bathroom, Laura forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't rely entirely on the kids—they were just children. And what if Simon had already cornered them at home? She'd been far too careless to trust him.
"You think hiding there will save you? My patience is running thin," James growled, slamming his foot against the bathroom door.
Laura pressed her back against the door with all her strength, but it was useless. Two kicks later, the glass shattered, and James dragged her out by the collar.
"Playing hard to get, huh?" he sneered. "Well, whatever your father did, I'm here to deliver justice. Think of this as divine retribution."
As he spoke, he tore at her dress, exposing her skin to the cold air. Laura's eyes burned with fury. She bit down on his wrist as hard as she could. "My father was framed!" she cried through gritted teeth.
"Damn it!" James howled, throwing her to the floor. Blood dripped from his wrist where her teeth had sunk in.
His rage exploded. He slapped her hard across the face, splitting her lip. "You want to play rough? Fine. Let's see how tough you really are," he snarled, ripping at her clothes again.
Dizzy and disoriented, Laura's fingers brushed against a shard of glass on the floor.
Desperation fueling her, she gripped it tightly and drove it into his shoulder.
James screamed in pain. She scrambled to her feet and lunged for the door, but before she could open it, he grabbed her by the hair.
Blinded by rage, he raised his fist to strike her face.
"You dare fight back? I'll kill you!"
Laura squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the blow.
But it never came.
Instead, she felt a strong arm pull her into a protective embrace.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring into Simon's cold, stormy gaze.
The fury in his eyes was overwhelming, an inferno she'd never seen in him before.
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