Chapter 7
Cecilia rushed to the fire escape stairwell and dialed the number she knew by heart with trembling hands.
The call connected quickly. Before Cecilia could speak, an impatient voice demanded: "Is the $200,000 ready? You know the account number—transfer it immediately..."
"What have you been telling people?" Cecilia's voice shook.
"I told the truth!" The voice on the other end was self-righteous. "Mock poverty, not prostitution! I'm doing this for your own good! With money, you can do anything and still be respected!"
Cecilia laughed bitterly at these words, though her eyes stung. "Why don't you do the same for Tanner and Marlee? Go around telling people Marlee's been screwed senseless?"
Paula's volume instantly escalated, betraying embarrassment at being exposed. "Cecilia, don't waste my time with this nonsense! I want to see $200,000 by the end of today! Otherwise... those things Winston left behind? I'll throw them all out like the garbage they are!"
Cecilia's blood froze instantly. Those items weren't just proof of Winston's existence—they represented the only beautiful moment in Cecilia's life!
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Watch me!" The call ended.
Cecilia had thought signing that agreement and selling her dignity was rock bottom. She was wrong. That was just the beginning.
After sitting in the stairwell for who knows how long, Cecilia returned to her desk, ignoring the curious glances around her as she opened her computer and began translating the impossible document.
Near the end of the day, she needed to deliver a routine report to the director's office. The door was slightly ajar, and she overheard Marlee speaking with the deputy director.
"Marlee, have you heard what they're saying? That your sister has a shady background and a messy personal life. Keeping someone like that in Legal will eventually ruin our reputation."
"She's a young girl with heavy family burdens. Taking shortcuts is understandable."
"It's only because Mr. Clifford is young and blinded by her pretty face. Once the novelty wears off, she'll have plenty to cry about. Just make sure you don't get dragged down with her."
"She's still my sister." Marlee sighed. "Dora, let's keep this between us. Spreading it would only hurt her."
Outside the door, Cecilia felt nauseated hearing this display of "sisterly love."
Such "understanding." Such concern to "keep it private." Her dear "sister" had just confirmed all the "shameless" accusations against her in a few sentences while positioning herself as the tolerant, kind-hearted sister who worried endlessly.
Cecilia returned the report to her desk and headed straight for the CEO's office with the acquisition materials. Since everyone already thought she was taking shortcuts, why not go all in? Might as well make it worth her while.
Cecilia placed the brick-thick stack of documents back on his desk. "Mr. Clifford, I can't finish this," she said flatly.
Edward finally looked up from his papers. "Can't finish?" His eyebrows lifted slightly, clearly surprised by her quick surrender. Somewhat disappointing.
Cecilia stepped forward. "I could do something else," her voice carried a desperate huskiness. "Like being a satisfactory wife to you."
Edward stared at her unusually bright eyes. For the first time, he realized this seemingly stupid, greedy Cecilia could actually be quite clever when pushed to the edge.
He studied her for a full thirty seconds, then stood up, walked around his desk, and took his suit jacket from the coat rack.
"Change your clothes. Come with me."
Half an hour later, Cecilia sat in the Maybach's passenger seat. She wore a Chanel suit just purchased from a luxury store, the price tags respectfully removed by the sales associate—the cost making her heart skip.
"My grandmother is a lifetime professor of political science and law," Edward said, eyes on the road. "She likes smart, polite girls. Beyond that, don't try to be clever."
"She doesn't like Rachel?" Cecilia asked impulsively.
Edward's hand on the steering wheel paused. "Getting my grandmother's approval is necessary for you to continue receiving payment."
The statement sounded like both an explanation and a warning. Cecilia responded with a simple "Oh" and fell silent.
The car entered a quiet, secluded residential area.
The Clifford family's old home was a two-story house with a yard. Edward parked but didn't immediately get out. He turned toward Cecilia, his large frame looming over her. Cecilia instinctively shrank back.
But he only reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Don't disappoint me," he said, his voice close, his cool fingertips sending a shiver through her.
Cecilia's heart skipped a beat.
As they approached the front door, it opened from inside. Rachel stood there in an elegant white dress, wearing a perfectly calibrated look of surprise and delight.
"Eddie, you're here! Your grandmother was just talking about you." Her gaze fell on Cecilia behind Edward, and she deliberately asked, "And who is this?"
"My wife, Cecilia Mellon," Edward said, naturally taking Cecilia's hand. "Cece, this is Rachel Hughes, a family friend who's like a sister to us."
He pronounced "wife" with unmistakable clarity while "sister" was said casually.
Cecilia could feel Rachel's gaze cutting across their joined hands like a knife. She played along with a shy smile, gritting her teeth, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Hughes."
In the living room sat an elegant elderly woman with silver hair. Edward's frosty demeanor instantly melted. He led Cecilia forward, his tone unusually affectionate. "Grandma."
"Hello, Grandma," Cecilia said sweetly, while secretly thinking how quickly Edward had slipped into character.
"Good, good," Joanna Clifford invited Cecilia to sit beside her, looking increasingly pleased. "Our Ed has a bad temper. You'll need to be patient with him."
"Grandma, he's very good to me," Cecilia forced out words she didn't believe herself.
Edward sat down beside her, his arm naturally encircling her waist, pulling her closer to him. He leaned down, his breath warm against her ear, instantly turning it bright red.
She sat rigid, afraid to move. This Edward was a born actor.
Rachel's smile became strained. "Mrs. Clifford, your tea. Ed, Ms. Mellon, yours as well."
She placed a teacup in front of Edward and was about to hand one to Cecilia. Edward intercepted it, testing the temperature with his lips before passing it to Cecilia. "Careful, it's hot."
Both women fell silent.