"I—I just feel bad for Mr. James!"
"You could've picked up the car yourself, but you made him go all that way. Now something's happened and you can't even pretend to care—"
I glanced at the message from Evan on my phone. A cold smile curved my lips.
"Save some of that sympathy for yourself."
"The damage assessment just came in. Repair costs are estimated at over three million. Card or cash?"
Virginia's knees buckled. She swayed, then glared at me with stubborn, wounded fury:
"Th-three million? That's extortion!"
Her gaze slid toward Leo, helpless and imploring.
"Mr. James..."
Leo pushed himself upright, wincing as the movement pulled at his injuries. He pressed his fingers to his brow.
"Gladys, she's barely out of college. Still a kid. Where would she get three million? Don't scare her."
"I'm the one who made the mistake. I'll pay for it."
Virginia's eyes lit up. The corner of her mouth curled with barely concealed triumph.
I looked at him, my voice dripping with mockery:
"How chivalrous of you, Mr. James. Wasn't buying her an entire dealership generous enough?"
Leo clearly hadn't expected me to know about that. His expression froze.