Chapter 123 123. Negotiate With Jessica
The private jet's cabin was a beautiful decor of cream leather and polished wood. I sat curled on Lucien's lap, his arms holding me close, chin resting on top of my head. Through the window, clouds stretched endlessly white beneath us.
"What if she refuses?" I asked for the third time.
"Then we negotiate harder." His voice rumbled through his chest into my back.
"What if she calls the police the second she returns to the states?"
"Stop worrying." His hand rubbed slow circles on my hip.
"I can't help it." I twisted to look at him. "We're walking into a room with a woman you kidnapped, who has every right to be mad at you and destroy you."
"Which is why we stay calm." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "We present the offer. We don't engage if she provokes us. We keep our cool."
"What's the offer exactly?"
"I was thinking fifteen, and a continuous investment in her brand. Maybe a property abroad as well. That should be enough to set her up for life." He paused. "We could mention Lily and remind Jessica that dragging this through courts isn't good for-"
"No." I cut him off sharply. "We're not using a child."
"Fine, but it's not using her, it's reality-"
"It's manipulation." I poked his chest. "And we're not doing it. Jessica's made terrible choices, but Lily's innocent."
He sighed but nodded. "Fine. No mentioning Lily unless Jessica brings her up first."
"Thank you."
We landed in Zurich as the sun began setting, painting the Alps in shades of gold and purple. A car waited on the tarmac, driver already holding the door open.
The drive took us higher into the mountains. Trees gave way to snow-dusted peaks. The road narrowed, winding through terrain that grew more remote with each passing mile.
Finally, we pulled up to a chalet that looked like something from a luxury magazine. Dark woods and large windows, with smoke curling from the chimney. A very beautiful and comfortable prison.
Two guards in black shades and holding guns stood at the entrance. They bowed their head at us but didn't speak.
Inside, the chalet was warm. A fire crackled in the stone fireplace. This was nicer than most people's homes, including mine, but in Jessica's case-it was a dungeon.
Jessica was on a leather couch near the fire, blanket wrapped around her shoulders, book in her lap. She looked up as we entered and her whole body went rigid.
"Uncle Lucien!"
Lily came running from another room, pigtails bouncing. She crashed into Lucien's legs, hugging them tight.
"Hey, princess." He crouched down, hugging her back. "How are you?"
"Bored. We've been here forever. Mommy says we can't leave yet but she won't tell me why." Lily's bottom lip jutted out. "I miss my friends. Can you ask mummy when can we go home?"
Lucien's smile froze into a brittle mask. I saw his throat bob as he swallowed hard, a tiny, involuntary flinch in his jaw that told me Lily's question had hit a nerve he thought was well-guarded.
Over Lily's head, Jessica stood slowly. Her eyes fixed on me with such burning hatred I actually took a step back.
"Lily, to your room."
"But, Uncle just got here."
"To your room, NOW!" Her shout startled Lily who released Lucien immediately and ran away terrified.
The second Lily was gone, Jessica exploded.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" She advanced on Lucien, hands shaking with rage. "You drug me, send me off in a plane, lock me up for weeks, hold me prisoner, and then you have the audacity to come here with your girlfriend to gloat?"
"Jessica-"
"No! Don't ever call my name from that filthy mouth of yours. You kidnapped me and my daughter, you asshole. Do you understand what you've done? Do you have any idea-" She broke off, chest heaving. "You had better kill me right now, because I'm calling the police the second i lay my hands on a phone. I'm coming for your business, your relationships, your life! you bastard."
Whoa. This was gonna be a long negotiation.
"We're here to fix this," I broke the tense quiet.
Jessica's laugh was ugly. "Aww. Fix this? Is someone scared her boyfriend is going to jail? He committed a multiple crimes, baby. Start kissing him goodbye."
"I know what he did was wrong and I'm not here to defend it."
"So you are here to gloat then, right?" Jessica's eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"To put an end to this. To help find a solution." I took a careful step forward. "One that gets you and Lily out of here safely, gives you your freedom back and compensation for what you've been through."
"Compensation?" She swiped away a stray tear. "So basically your boyfriend made you come with him to throw money at his crime. He stole weeks of my life. Lily's life. She keeps asking why we can't leave, why we're stuck here, and I have to lie to her every single day because how do I explain that her 'Uncle Lucien' is actually a monster?"
"Hey don't-" Lucien started.
"Shut up." Jessica rounded on him. "You don't get to talk. You did this. You planned it, executed it, kept us here like prisoners. And for what??"
"You know you are not entirely a victim, right? You forced your way into my life, and what did I tell you regarding that?" He took steps past me, now towering over Jessica. Their eyes locked in a challenging battle until Jessica took a step back, intimidated. "You take whatever I dish out."
Jessica clenched her fists, taking stunned steps backward.
"Lucien." I held his arm to stop him from moving forward again.
So much for 'keeping our cool if she provokes us'. Why did I even expect something else from my stubborn boyfriend?
"Didn't you sleep with my father just to trap me? Oh and, what was that silly excuse you called it? Aha!" He clicked his tongue and smirked. "Revenge because I refused your advances and called you pathetic." He let out a dark chuckle. "You should be grateful I even let you live in this kind of house. Slums are better for people of your kind-" Jessica slapped him, her breathing laboured.
"Jessica!" I exclaimed, running to stand between them. "How dare you?"
"He pushed me to it. Always so cocky, so sure of himself, always running his mouth-"
"So you stooped that low?" Lucien's voice was ice. "You opened your legs for my father?"
"Lucien," I warned, shooting him a look.
Jessica's hands trembled. "You ruined me. My family was supposed to respect me. I spent years building myself up from nothing. I finally had their respect. And then you-" Her voice broke. "You destroyed my reputation with them. They know about Don now. They look at me like I'm dirty."
"That's on you," Lucien said coldly. "Not me."
I elbowed him hard in the ribs. Jessica sank onto the couch, head in her hands. Silence fell heavy in the room.
"Look here, Jessica. We can settle this amicably, or we can go the hard way. Aren't you pregnant for some random guy again? Think about your unborn baby, Lily, and your brand. Fifteen million in cash, continued investment in Jessica Bloom, and a property in exchange for your signature on an NDA. Then we'll never see each other again, even in hell."
I smacked his chest after his last sentence.
He fake-winced. "What?"
"I told you not to involve the kids," I hissed.
Jessica looked up, tears streaming down her face. Then she laughed. Not happy. Mocking. "You two are ridiculous. You know that? Why should I walk away for the sake of your happiness? You locked me up. You deserve to suffer. You are making it sound like you're doing me a favor, whereas you should be apologizing and begging on your knees to spare you."
"What?" Lucien laughed hard. "Beg?"
"Aren't you here because you are scared? Because you know how much my words can destroy you? You want me to accept your offer, you go on your knees and beg for my mercy. Both on you... right now. Beg. Beg me."