Rejected Heiress, Reigning Queen novel Chapter 283

A little while later, Gillian lay contently nestled against Tobias's chest.

"How did you get all this information so quickly?"

How could Tobias possibly know the intimate details of what went down at the Reynolds house that same day? She briefly wondered if Emma had orchestrated a deliberate smoke screen to throw them off.

Tobias pinched her cheek playfully. "Throw enough money at a problem, and there are very few secrets left in the world."

He had casually dropped fifty thousand dollars into Mrs. Landers's lap. For a housekeeper, life-changing money in exchange for a few whispered words was a deal she would never pass up.

Gillian's mind started racing with possibilities. She trailed her fingertips lightly over his chest, purring, "I want to contact Percy."

Tobias's gaze darkened for a fraction of a second, and Gillian rushed to explain. "He's always been obsessed with Emma. If we want to shatter whatever is building between her and Carter, Percy is the perfect wrecking ball."

"Smart girl. I like how you think."

Tobias twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, silently giving her the green light.

Back at the hotel, Carter handed Emma her own key card.

He didn't invent some convoluted excuse to share a room with her this time. With Travis freshly exiled, he was terrified of showing his hand and triggering the same defensive response.

However, to keep up appearances and ensure their safety, he had bought out the entire floor, securing both sprawling suites for them alone.

"Thanks." Emma took the card, a flicker of genuine surprise registering in her eyes.

This was the very first time Carter hadn't manufactured a reason to stay glued to her side.

A quiet, heavy disappointment settled in her chest. She must have completely misread his feelings for her.

Carter clearly didn't care about Travis's confession; he was just maintaining a professional boundary.

In a strange way, she felt relieved. Thank god she had swallowed her own budding feelings, otherwise, she would have completely humiliated herself.

They retreated to their separate rooms, both carrying the exact same suffocating weight of unspoken disappointment.

"Boss, don't you think she made that phone call to Julian right in front of you just to prove a point? To make sure you wouldn't misunderstand her relationship with Travis?" Jeff asked as they stepped into the suite.

Carter's brow furrowed, followed by a long, exhausting sigh.

"I have enough self-awareness to know where I stand. I can't compete with Travis in her eyes."

Travis was the man who had protected her through hell and back. Carter had seen firsthand how deeply Emma had unraveled when Travis was injured. Aside from Julian and Jocelyn, no one held a more sacred place in her heart than Travis Reynolds.

"Boss, she's incredibly pragmatic and guarded. She's never going to make the first move. I really think you should have taken the shot today."

"You've heard of those underground fighting rings in Eastern Europe, right? Tobias opened one years ago. But it's worse—it's essentially a high-end meat market. Young, beautiful men and women forced to perform. If some sick billionaire takes a liking to them, they just get bought and taken away. It's how he built his initial fortune and how he blackmails half the executives he works with."

"Word on the street is his most twisted event was a live human dissection. Apparently, a stunning woman was the lead surgeon."

Travis froze completely, staring at Tim with deadly serious eyes.

"And nobody shut him down?"

Tim shrugged helplessly. "Everything he hosts domestically is clean—mostly high-end acrobatics and exclusive parties. The real horrors take place in international waters or ungoverned territories. Technically, he hasn't violated any specific national laws."

"Oh, and I also found out he commands a highly trained mercenary unit. I just don't know where he's stashing them yet. I was worried they might target Emma, so I've been tracking them nonstop."

Tim wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to score points. Travis narrowed his eyes.

"He has absolutely zero personal vendetta against my junior."

Travis couldn't wrap his head around it. What could Tobias possibly gain by destroying Emma?

Sensing another opening to prove his brilliance, Tim eagerly leaned in.

"What if it isn't about him? What if it's all for Gillian?"