Not A Small-Town Girl

----

Danielle shot him a sidelong glance. "Black Web doesn’t

need dead weight."

In other words, only those who could pass their rigorous

tests had the talents they wanted. Lowering the bar wasn’t

an option.

“Black Web will be expanding its business," Danielle

announced. "Emery will oversee the new project." This was

her main purpose for attending the meeting.

“What kind of business? Why all the secrecy?" Nox asked

nonchalantly.

“You’ll know when the time comes. Any other questions?"

Danielle glanced around the room.

"No," the members replied.

Despite her youth, Anonymous’s commanding presence

left everyone feeling inexplicably intimidated.

----

“Meeting adjourned,” Danielle declared before striding out

of the conference room.

“Ms. Darling, what’s the new business line?" Emery asked

as he followed her out.

“I’ll send you the details tomorrow," Danielle replied.

The next day, Geoffrey and Polly arrived at the Hillside

Manor. They had no idea what torment Fiona had endured

at the Nathor Palace.

‘Fiona must have suffered in that bastard’s hands. | have to

get her out as soon as possible,’ Polly thought.

Polly had spent hours the previous night crying to Geoffrey,

exaggerating the situation until he agreed to accompany

her to the Charrington Manor to plead for Fiona’s release.

----

ousted Geoffrey from the oO

NS

Charringfén Group. Logan and >

Tara’sactions left them angry,@nd

helpléss. They had no intention of

ra their only son.

The last time they came to

CharringtopNWanor was when David

f

When the two arrived at Charrington Manor, Logan and

Tara were just about to have breakfast, which showed how

early they had come.

----

As soon as they entered, Logan knew what they were there

for. If not for Polly’s pregnancy years ago and his son’s

insistence on marrying her, he wouldn’t have allowed her

into the family.

Over the years, Polly’s greed and lack of decorum had only

proven his instincts right. Her sister, Fiona, was tactless to

a fault.

"Logan, Tara, km really sorry for the

trouble my ster caused at the

party," Polly-said apologetically. "| ~

didn’t kn@w she would speak so we

reckless I’m here to plead witiryou

to agk David to forgive her. After all,

wette family, and things have

tétome too tense.

----

“If David refuses to let her go, | will apologize to him. My

sister is not in good health, so let me take the punishment

in her place.”

Tears streamed down Polly’s face, a sight that would tug at

anyone’s heartstrings.

Geoffrey felt dyoang in his heart

when he s e tears in her eyes.

He thought David was blowing

things ob of proportion. "You’re Ais

elder.low could you apologizéto

him&He’s making too muchof a

fus8."

----

“Dad, Mom, you two were at the party. Why didn’t you stop

him? How could you let David take Fiona away?" Geoffrey

bemoaned.

Tara shot Geoffrey a stern look, thinking, ‘All it took was a

few tears, and now he’s under her spell. He even has the

nerve to point fingers at us.’

Tara and Logan had been wise all their lives, yet she

couldn’t fathom how they had raised such a fool of a son.

“Are you blaming us?" Tara asked sharply.

Geoffrey flinched at Tara’s chilling gaze. "No, that’s not

what | meant."

Logan glared at his foolish son. "| see you’ve got big

plans."

Polly listened anxiously. ‘Aren’t we discussing Fiona? Why

are they talking past each other?’ she wondered.

Geoffrey held his tongue while Polly sent him silent cues.