Chapter 126: I Have a Solution
Knox's POV
"Mr. Pemberton, there's a lady named Natasha here asking to see you."
After getting the call from the front desk, I was so angry I almost smashed the phone.
First Helena, now Natasha. The Lockwood family just won't leave me alone, will they?
I held back my rage and said, "Tell her to get lost!"
The receptionist on the other end was so scared her voice started trembling.
"Yes, Mr. Pemberton, please don't be angry. I'll ask her to leave right away."
After hanging up, I irritably yanked off my tie and threw it hard onto the couch.
Helena, you forced me into this!
Just then, Lucy pushed open my office door.
"Mr. Pemberton, why are you so angry? It's just Natasha. If you want, I'll have security escort her out."
She walked over to me, picked up the tie from the couch and straightened it out. "She's making a huge scene down there, causing quite a commotion. Lots of people are watching."
"Get her out of here!"
Still fuming, I grabbed a book from my desk and hurled it to the floor.
The book landed at Lucy's feet. She frowned, bent down to pick it up. "I'll take care of it right away."
She turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Knowing Natasha's personality - she never gives up until she gets what she wants - even if we kicked her out today, she'd just come back tomorrow.
Rather than let this drag on, I might as well see her and find out what she wants.
With that thought, I waved my hand. "Bring her up."
"Okay."
Shortly after Lucy left, Natasha appeared in my office.
The moment she saw me, she rushed over and threw herself into my arms, immediately bursting into tears.
"Knox, why wouldn't you see me after you were released? Are you blaming me for the video? But I'm a victim too! We were both screwed over by that bitch Helena."
I really didn't want to hear Helena's name right now.
Just hearing it made my heart feel inexplicably irritated.
"Enough, let's not bring up the past."
"Why not? You have no idea how heartbroken and sad I was waiting for you, but what about you? You wouldn't even see me after you got out."
"Do you know how much heat I've had to take these past few days? Knox, you heartless man, you never think about me at all."
Natasha cried and shouted while pounding on my chest.
I impatiently pushed her away from me.
"Alright, I know you've had it rough, but I haven't had it easy either. You know what? The Lockwood Group just sent their lawyer over."
That stopped her crying. She frowned and asked, "What did the lawyer want?"
Then she suddenly remembered something she'd heard from John and quickly asked, "Are they asking for money?"
The mention of money gave me a headache. "Yes."
"But the company needs money everywhere right now. After what happened at the wedding, our stock price has been plummeting. We need money to stabilize it. Where am I supposed to get money to pay her back?"
Hearing this, Natasha said angrily, "She's clearly kicking you while you're down. Knox, we can't let her push us around like this."
I sat down on the couch, leaned back and rested my head, and scoffed. "Easy for you to say. I want to fight back too, but they only gave me one month. They said if I don't pay up in a month, they'll see me in court."
Natasha was furious. "That bitch Helena is so heartless! She has no regard for the past at all."
Then she asked, "What about your father? What does he say?"
I shook my head. "Dad's overwhelmed too. With year-end coming up, we need money for employee salaries and project settlements. I haven't even told him about this yet."
Seeing I was really in a bad mood, Natasha didn't dare make a fuss anymore.
She walked timidly behind me and quietly massaged my shoulders.
"Knox, don't worry too much. Even if they sue you, if you don't pay, what can she do?"
"What do you mean, what can she do?"
I rubbed my temples wearily. "The court can force it. The company has so many assets. If it comes to that, the company is really finished."
Hearing this, Natasha said with a smile, "Actually, I have a way to help you out of this mess."
"You?"
I looked up at her.
Maybe because she was coming to see me, her makeup was especially elaborate today. Even her crying earlier hadn't smudged it.
Now her delicate face was full of smugness. Seeing her with that expression, my brow furrowed.
Natasha might have some cleverness, but compared to Helena, she fell far short.
I shook my head. "What good idea could you possibly have?"
"So do you want to hear it or not?"
Natasha pushed my shoulder playfully.
"Fine, I'll listen. How could I dare not listen to you?"
I grabbed her hand, brought it to my lips and kissed it lightly, then looked up. "Go ahead, my advisor, what brilliant plan have you come up with now?"
"You know about my family's relationship with Helena's family, right? Think about it - if you were my boyfriend, they definitely couldn't keep pressuring you for money like this."
"How is that possible?"
I thought she had some good plan, but this was useless.
I pulled my hand back and picked up a cigarette from the desk, putting it in my mouth.
After lighting it, I took a deep drag.
I shook my head. "Business is business, family is family. In business, even blood brothers keep clear accounts, let alone when it involves such a large sum of money. Helena definitely won't care about that."
I blew out a smoke ring and looked up at her with a mocking laugh. "Don't forget, you stole her boyfriend. You think she doesn't hate you?"
"If Helena gets ruthless and comes after you too, what will you do?"
"It's not as scary as you make it sound."
Natasha sat down beside me defiantly. "You don't understand our family situation. Henry only has Helena as a daughter, and my grandmother has always been patriarchal, favoring men over women. She doesn't like Helena or her mother."
"Grandma has said more than once that she wants my brother Ivan to take over the Lockwood Group. I'm telling you, Ivan is already on his way back to the country."
"Once he comes back, he'll definitely join the Lockwood Group. By then, whether Helena can even keep her current position is hard to say."
"Really?"
I stubbed out my cigarette, pulled Natasha into my arms, and kissed her hard.
"I don't quite understand what you're saying. Even if Henry doesn't have a male heir, how could he possibly hand over his business to Ivan?"
"That's what you don't know."
Mentioning this, Natasha's face showed a hint of pride.
"We have my grandmother to thank for this. Grandma loves our family, and Henry really listens to her. Remember the jewelry incident?"
I nodded. Of course I remembered. Helena had brought it up to me more than once.
Honestly, I had resented Natasha for it too. If she hadn't been so greedy, I wouldn't have been embarrassed in front of Helena.
Maybe that incident was what made Helena start doubting me?
But it was in the past now. No point dwelling on it. With that thought, I asked, "Now that you mention it, I'm curious - how was the jewelry thing resolved in the end?"