Chapter 49

A million bucks wasn't exactly pocket change. Arthur could swing it, but he really didn't want to hand it over to Zoey.

Especially since Zoey had just snagged fifty percent of the company's shares, he was seriously not down with giving her any more perks.

Seeing Arthur hesitate, Zoey smirked and said to Catherine, "I thought Dad loved you so much he'd cough up the cash right away. Guess you're not even worth a million dollars to him."

Catherine's eyes welled up, and she looked at Arthur, hurt. "Dad, do you want me to be tomorrow's gossip? If people start talking about me, won't it mess with your reputation?"

Arthur looked at Catherine, disappointed. He'd tried hard to raise her to be a sensible person, yet she was so easily baited by Zoey.

Ignoring Catherine, he turned to Zoey. "Zoey, you do realize if Catherine gets dragged through the mud, the company's stock will take a hit. That fifty percent you hold will shrink, and you'll lose way more than a million dollars."

Zoey shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I can't access the money from the shares anyway, but if I can get a million dollars right away, of course, I'll take the cash."

Arthur was so mad he almost blew a gasket, but he couldn't argue with Zoey anymore.

"Write me a promise. As long as I give you a million dollars, you won't let the lawyer sue Catherine," Arthur finally caved, and Zoey quickly scribbled it down.

"Dad, just transfer the money to my account. Oh, and don't forget the million dollars for the membership I just got," Zoey said.

Arthur's face turned beet red. "You still have the nerve to ask me for another million?"

Zoey blinked innocently. "Dad, the first million was compensation for Catherine. This million is what we just agreed on. The three directors heard it. Are you going to back out?"

She added, "I really wonder how often you've broken your word while running Spencer Group. No wonder it's going downhill under your watch."

Zoey sighed and looked at the three directors with pity. "You must be making less now than when you worked with my mom. It's been rough for you all these years."

Zoey wasn't just stirring the pot between Arthur and Catherine; she was also driving a wedge between him and the three directors.

Over the years, the three directors had indeed earned less under his leadership.

Juan and the others didn't say anything, but their faces showed they agreed, making Arthur's heart ache with anger. He wished he could down a whole bottle of heart meds.

"Fine, I'll give you two million dollars right now," Arthur grudgingly transferred two million dollars to Zoey.

Catherine couldn't believe it. In less than half an hour, Zoey had scored two million dollars. She almost passed out.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll put this money to good use. You all enjoy yourselves. I'll start to handle the company stuff."

Zoey smiled, grabbed her bag, and left with a spring in her step.

Catherine glared at her retreating figure, thinking of the shady boss of Apex Group, a malicious glint in her eyes.

'Forget it, there's no point in arguing with someone who's about to walk into hell,' she thought.

Zoey drove back home.

"You're back already. Did your shameless dad give you a hard time?" Claire asked worriedly as soon as Zoey walked in.

Zoey smiled. "Not too bad. Where are Gabriel and Travis?"

Claire replied, "They got tired from playing and are napping."

Zoey nodded. "Get ready. When Gabriel and Travis wake up, we're heading to Divine Horizons Hotel for dinner."

"Divine Horizons Hotel? That's fancy. What's the occasion?" Claire looked at Zoey, puzzled.

Zoey grinned. "I got two million dollars from my shameless dad. Might as well spend some of it."

"Wow, that's a shocker. Didn't you say he wouldn't even give you a hundred bucks when you were a kid? How'd you get two million out of him today?" Claire was stunned.

Zoey laughed and filled Claire in on what happened.

"You're incredible. If it were me, I would've just smacked Catherine," Claire said, giving Zoey a thumbs up.

Half an hour later, Gabriel and Travis woke up, and Zoey and Claire took them to Divine Horizons Hotel.

"Hi, I'd like a private dining room," Zoey said to the receptionist.

She figured it would be safer to eat in a private room with two kids.

The receptionist apologized, "I'm sorry, all our private rooms are booked."

Zoey had no choice but to take them to the public dining area.

John came downstairs and immediately spotted Zoey and her group.

He quickly headed back to the business meeting room upstairs and said to Henry, who was looking at a document, "Mr. Windsor, Ms. Spencer, her assistant, and Gabriel and Travis are at the hotel."

Henry was momentarily stunned, then immediately got up from his chair and walked out of the meeting room, with John quickly following.

Zoey was putting Gabriel and Travis in their high chairs when a drunk man staggered by and bumped into Gabriel's high chair.

The high chair immediately toppled over, and if it weren't for Zoey's quick reflexes, Gabriel's head would have hit the cold marble floor.

The man heard the noise, glanced coldly, and then turned to leave.

Claire, furious, grabbed the man's arm. "Hey, you almost knocked the kid over but you don't even apologize?"

"Do you know who I am? How dare you ask me to apologize? Get lost!" The man rudely pushed Claire.

Claire was shoved to the ground.

Seeing this, Zoey's face immediately darkened.

She quickly stepped forward and blocked the drunken, arrogant man. "Apologize to my son and my friend, or you'll regret it."

The man was about to get angry, but when he saw Zoey's face, he was instantly stunned.

This woman was stunning, not only with a perfect face but also with a curvaceous body, evoking an irresistible desire.

He suddenly grinned a sleazy, repulsive smile and even reached out to touch Zoey's face. "What are you gonna do to me?"

Zoey looked at his disgusting smile, her eyes suddenly cold.

This guy has a death wish.

Henry was halfway down the stairs when he heard Zoey's angry voice.

Turning around, Henry saw Zoey with her back to him, and a man standing in front of her, looking at her with greedy eyes.

The moment Henry saw that guy making a move on Zoey, there was a flash of pure aggression in his eyes—he was about to lay into the sleazeball with no hesitation.