Ransom

•• Chapter 36 ••

I couldn't believe how quickly my situation could turn. Especially when I thought, in our moment last night, all together, we had found some form of unity. Edgar, Emmett, Slade and I.

In the weirdest way we balanced each other out. I swear we did!

But in the morning? It all unravels to be rivals simply playing the game.

And here I fucking was, palmed off back to Edgar?

Emmett fucking Ransom was cold, cruel and completely confused. Fucking psychopath. Just when I thought we were making progress. This was getting ridiculous.

At least I had a good sense of humour... but even I'm at my wits end right now. However... I had to acknowledge, the bigger picture was looming over the Ransoms... and Edgar was the only one truly in control. He picked me up on the side of the road and immediately he had two coffees in the cup holders. Hot. Ready.

One was for me.

The simple thought that he went out of his way, for me, has my lips twitching up into the start of a small smile.

Without a word, just a heavy, disciplined look; he picks up a coffee cup I know better than to grab without permission, and he places it into my trembling hands.

Then he drives off into traffic.

Edgar was well dressed, still so clean, but more relaxed today. Wearing a plain white shirt and jeans. His muscles pop... he definitely worked out this morning.

"Thank you," I mouth the words, sighing, "...so...I'm... homeless now or something... I can't keep up, because Emmett," I say his brother's name loud, finding my fire as I suck in a hard breath, "Emmett really knows how to... break... well.... t-this," I point to my chest, without looking at Edgar. I know he's watching.

My heart.

Emmett fucking Ransom also knew how to make some pristine five star Michelin scrambled eggs out of my brain, too.

A master at reeling me in... and letting me go... fuck.

"Everything Emmett said to you, I want you to delete it from your head," Edgar speaks as he drives, "He has a very nasty mouth when he's in the middle of business. This isn't about you. This is about us. We're competing for the same market, I have a better product - he's losing profits already... aside from the fact Knight Inc. is fucking up S&S&E to the point they are going to go bankrupt without my help... you're still in the middle, which is unfortunate... for you," Edgar pulls off into an underground carpark of a central city shopping mall, "We're going shopping, by the way, you need some pampering after that hard work last night..." ooOOoo, Dominant pampering.

I gulp down some coffee, holding the cup tight in both hands.

Edgar... was going to take care of me today?

I was not used to this.

I think to last night, and I remember something...

"Did Slade and Emmett... pay you for last night?" I ask, "The 10 million?"

"No," Edgar answers me simply, and I can tell that it annoys him as his brow arcs a bit then quickly levels out again. A brief show of... dare I say, uncontrolled emotion? So Slade and Emmett clearly knew Edgar's weaknesses too, he obviously despised broken promises, but who didn't? Edgar navigates the tight carpark nice and slow and precise, as he further explains to me, "I was going for their product quality... but I'm honestly starting to think you're going to be the one who ruins them."

"You think? Me?" I ask, still a bit numb from the moods of Emmett, who I had fallen in love with... kinda... it was very hard to think of my feelings for him without my heart twisting in my chest.