Chapter 3: The Price of Treason
Matteo took the phone from my hand and hit the dial button, placing the call on speaker. It didn't even ring twice before Derek’s furious voice exploded through the line.
"Emma! You better start talking! Brittany’s father is on the board of my firm, and if there's a scandal about another man's name on that kid's certificate, my promotion is—"
"Your promotion is the least of your concerns, Mr. Morrison," Matteo cut in, his voice perfectly smooth, perfectly cold.
The line went completely dead silent on the other end. I could practically hear Derek's breathing stutter as he recognized the voice of the man who effectively controlled his career.
"M-Mr. Vance?" Derek stammered, his arrogant tone vanishing into thin air. "I... I think there's a mistake. Why are you on Emma's phone? Did she... is she harassing your office?"
"Emma is currently residing at my estate," Matteo said, leaning against the mahogany desk, his fingers tapping the glass of his scotch. "And there is no mistake. I have legally claimed Lily as my daughter. Her medical care, her security, and her inheritance are now under the Vance trust."
"You can't do that!" Derek shouted, his panic overriding his fear for a split second. "She’s my blood! I told Emma I would sign after the paternity test! She’s trying to extort you, Mr. Vance! She’s a manipulative, hysterical—"
"Watch your mouth," Matteo whispered. The sudden drop in his volume was more terrifying than any shout. "If I hear you speak her name, or the child's name, with anything less than absolute reverence again, I will personally ensure Morris Logistics is evicted from the Chicago port by tomorrow morning. Have a good evening, Derek."
Matteo cut the call and tossed the phone onto the desk.
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"He's going to go to the press," I said, my hands trembling as I thought of Brittany's smug face and her massive online following. "Brittany has over a million followers. She’s already building a narrative that I'm the bitter ex trying to ruin their 'new beginning.'"
"Let her build it," Matteo said, walking toward the grand staircase with Lily's car seat. "The higher they build their house of cards, the more spectacular it looks when it burns."
