The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 27 Part 1

Like the title of this chapter. Please be warned.

Warning

The program was held.

We had an emcee, who had announced, in forced jubilance, that we were taking a short break.

A staff had taken away the food cart with the cake. The general manager of Nero had approached us, telling us to proceed to the room backstage. Grandma and Michael Black were already waiting for us inside.

Side by side, Jace and I stood in front of the heads of Prestigio and Nero.

I knew what to expect.

Grandma was already eyeing Jace like gum stuck under her favorite Louboutins. Which was made worse by the fact that Chairman Black was also looking at his son with a blank expression I'd also ever seen on Jace.

"Michael," Grandma stated grandly, "I think you should put your son on a leash. He's completely... unmanageable."

Michael Black made a noise in the back of his throat, "If that would've worked, I'd have done it ages ago. But you're the one who decided to tie your granddaughter to him."

At the word granddaughter, Grandma's hawk eyes shifted to me. I stood stiff, waiting for the onslaught.

She turned to me fully, "You were in on this stunt?"

The word stunt was like a slap to my face. And Jace beat me to answering, "She wasn't."

Grandma's lips twitched in displeasure, "I hope not."

Michael Black raised an eyebrow at me, "I also hope not."

Grandma cackled, blue eyes frosty, "You're lucky that pulled off, otherwise—"

"I wouldn't have done it if I had the slightest inkling it would fail," Jace parried back.

I had once almost told my grandmother was alike to him. But until now, with superior expressions barbed at each other...

They really were one and the same thing. I felt a twinge in my chest at that.

The first glint of an answering smile formed on Grandma's lips, "How humorous that people would buy such a... flamboyant declaration of affection. And you had Vinn Miller in on your plan."

Michael Black hummed, "Vinn doesn't have a hold in the business world, but his success in the entertainment industry is hard to ignore. His humanitarian services in Africa and the South East Asia has earned him quite the respect in our circles too. They would take your show at face value with him in it. If you include him in your plan, you already started at a higher footing. A practical move."

I must have lost my mind, hearing how coldly they analyzed what just happened. Their words were settling down any possible misunderstanding and I was seeing into the poison river clearly.

At least that was one nail knocked off my coffin.

The issue with Anyna was cleared out by that stunt. I should breathe a little easier now. How come my lungs felt like they were being squeezed out?

I hated that I knew in myself, somehow, in those few moments, I was part of the crowd we needed to fool.

It's a game.

I shouldn't forget that.

I was so stupid to forget that.

"Bragging your connection to Denver's is fine by me," Grandma stated seriously, "But if you play things this way on the wedding, I won't keep still. You understand we employ organizers explicitly to keep our events organized, right? If you planned to do their job, we shouldn't have wasted that money."