Chapter 19
“Your husband is an idiot.” Thomas Hamilton’s penthouse office offered a panoramic view of Manhattan that made Barrett Industries’ headquarters look small and distant. “A talented one, but still an idiot.”
Emma sat across from her husband’s greatest rival, watching him read through the evidence she’d gathered. Two days had passed since the board meeting where she’d stood silent, refusing to submit her resignation while Luka consolidated his power over international operations.
“The question is,” Thomas continued, setting down Jack’s laptop, “why come to me?”
“Because you might be the only person in New York who’s successfully fought off a Diaz takeover.” Emma met his gaze steadily. “And because you probably hate them as much as I do.”
Thomas’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Hate is a mild word for what I feel toward Luka Diaz. He tried to destroy my company three years ago. Would have succeeded if I hadn’t caught him trying to plant evidence of financial fraud.”
“What kind of evidence?”
“The kind that ends with federal investigations and prison terms.” He stood, moving to his wet bar. “Scotch?”
“Water, please” Emma replied, patting her stomach.
Thomas’s expression softened slightly as he brought her sparkling water.
“How far along?”
“Six months.” She took the water gratefully. “Another reason I need to end this quickly.”
“Luka won’t stop until he controls Barrett Industries completely,” Thomas warned. “And Alex… what makes you think your husband won’t warn him about you coming to me?”
“Because Alex doesn’t know I kept copies of the Buenos Aires documents.” Emma pulled out a flash drive. “Including some that suggest the fire wasn’t an accident. That woman who died—she was investigating Diaz Enterprises, wasn’t she?”
Thomas went very still. “Where did you get that information?”
“I have some contacts. Really good ones. The problem is, most of the crucial documents are in Spanish. But you spent years in Latin America. I think you can read them properly.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Emma.” He took the flash drive, turning it over in his hands. “People who dig into Buenos Aires tend to have unfortunate accidents.”
“I’m already having an unfortunate accident,” she said bitterly. “My husband publicly accused me of corporate espionage. My reputation is in shreds. And Luka Diaz is systematically destroying everything I built.”
Thomas studied her for a long moment. Then he smiled—a real smile this time, predatory and pleased.
“What if I told you I could offer more than translations? What if I could help you take them all down?”
“I’m listening.”
“Hamilton Corp has been building a case against Diaz Enterprises for years. Money laundering, corporate espionage, suspicious accidents—all of it. We just haven’t had enough proof to move against them.” He held up the flash drive. “But with these documents, combined with our evidence…”
“You want an alliance,” Emma realized.
“A mutually beneficial arrangement.” Thomas’s eyes glinted. “You get your revenge. I will get Luka Diaz’s empire. And Alex Barrett learns what happens when you betray the wrong woman.”
Emma felt a flutter in her stomach—stress, she assumed. Or maybe just hunger. She’d been too nauseated to eat much lately. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch. Just conditions.” Thomas sat on the edge of his desk, closer than strictly necessary. “You work exclusively with me. Everything goes through me first. And when this is over, you come work for Hamilton Corp—as my new Chief of International Operations.”
“You’re offering me a job?”
“I’m offering you a future.” He leaned forward. “One where you’re valued for your abilities, not treated as a convenient wife who should stay quietly in her place.”
The flutter came again, stronger this time. Emma pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to steady herself.
“Are you alright?” Thomas’s concern seemed genuine.
“Fine. Just…” She waved off his concern. “What’s our first move?”
“First, we need to—”
The door opened, cutting him off. Alex stood in the doorway, his face a mask of cold fury.
“What the hell is this?”
Emma straightened in her chair. “This is a business meeting. What are you doing here?”
“With Thomas Hamilton?” Alex’s laugh was harsh. “You really are determined to destroy everything, aren’t you?”
“That’s rich, coming from you.” Emma stood, fighting a wave of dizziness. “At least he’s honest about being my enemy. Unlike my husband, who publicly accused me of crimes he knows I didn’t commit.”
“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.” Alex’s eyes fixed on how close Thomas was standing to her. “Hamilton doesn’t care about you. He’s using you to get to Barrett Industries.”
“Like you used her to secure your inheritance?” Thomas’s voice was silk over steel. “At least I’m offering her a real position, not just a convenient marriage.”
Alex took a step forward, his hands clenched.
“Stay. Away. From my wife.”
“Ex-wife, soon enough as far as I know, ” Thomas smiled. “I heard about the separation papers. Very cold, Alex, very corporate. Though I suppose that’s your style—sacrificing personal relationships for business interests.”
“You don’t know anything about our marriage,” Alex said sharply, his voice taut with frustration.
“I know enough,” Thomas replied, stepping slightly in front of Emma, his stance protective. His tone was calm but laced with disdain. “I know you choose Luka Diaz over her. I know you choose to protect whatever secrets you’re hiding instead of defending your wife. The mother of your child.”
Emma felt a flutter low in her abdomen, stronger than the ones she’d felt before. Her hand reached instinctively for the edge of the desk to steady herself, but the movement only seemed to worsen the unsteadiness creeping over her.
“Emma?” Both men turned toward her, their rivalry momentarily forgotten as her face paled.
“I’m fine,” she started to say, but the words came out unconvincing even to her own ears. The room seemed to tilt, and her knees threatened to buckle.
“You might need to see a doctor right now,” Thomas said firmly, his hand brushing against her arm to steady her.
“She needs to come home,” Alex cut in, his voice clipped. “Where she belongs.”
“Home?” Emma let out a bitter laugh, but it was cut short as another wave of dizziness rolled over her. “Where Luka could continue to threaten me in Spanish? Where Sophia can parade around as your ‘escape’? Where—” She broke off, clutching her side as a sharp pain lanced through her.
“I’m calling an ambulance,” Thomas said decisively, pulling his phone from his pocket.
“Don’t you dare.” Alex moved to support Emma as she swayed. “I’m taking her to her regular doctor.”
“I don’t want either of you—” Emma tried to pull away, but the movement made the room tilt alarmingly.
“For God’s sake, Emma,” Alex’s voice cracked with real fear. “Just for once, let me help you.”
The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was Thomas and Alex lunging to catch her as she fell.
She woke to the familiar sound of hospital monitors and her doctor’s concerned face.
“Mrs. Barrett, you need to be more careful,” Dr. Chen was saying. “Your blood pressure is dangerously high again. And in your condition, with twins, you can’t afford—”
“I’m sorry,” Emma interrupted. “With what?”
Dr. Smith blinked. “The twins. Didn’t… didn’t you know? It showed clearly on today’s ultrasound.” She turned the monitor toward Emma. “See? Two heartbeats, two distinct sacs. You’re carrying twins, Mrs. Barrett.”
Emma stared at the screen, at the two tiny forms floating in their separate spaces. Two babies. Two lives depending on her. Two reasons to be stronger, smarter, more careful in her war against Luka Diaz.
“Forgive me for asking a probably tactless question, but does the father know?” Dr. Smith asked carefully.
Emma thought of Alex and Thomas in the waiting room, probably still sizing each other up like corporate warriors.
“Not yet.”
“Would you like me to tell him?”
“No.” Emma kept staring at the screen, at her twins. “I’ll tell him when I’m ready. When I know who I can really trust.”
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table. A text from an unknown number:
“Remember our conversation about accidents, Mrs. Barrett? Luka sends his regards about your meeting with Thomas Hamilton.”
