“This isn’t a negotiation, Hedy,” he warned, his tone cold. “The press conference is in five days. Start preparing now. Don’t forget—your brother’s still in prison, and your mom’s in a hospital owned by the Lundeberg Corporation.”
His words froze the blood in my veins.
My mom and my brother were still in his hands. I had no power to resist.
I looked at him blankly, my heart like stone.
“Five days, right? Fine,” I said at last. “I’ll do it. But you’re going to pull all your people off my brother’s case and let the process go through normally.”
If he withdrew his men, I could arrange for mine to step in.
That way, five days from now, my brother could leave with me and my mom.
I kept my expression steady as I looked at Bryson.
For a fleeting moment, he felt as though I were far, far away from him. I could tell his heart gave a small, panicked tremor as he reached out a hand toward me.
But before he could say anything, Debbii called him.
By the time he returned from answering her call, Bryson agreed to my terms without hesitation.
He left with a smile, holding the contract I had just signed.
I struggled to my feet and headed straight for the hospital.