The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 187

Laila’s POV

“Come now, child,” Adelaide sand, waving me forward. “Sit down. Unless you plan on avoiding a meeting with the primary shareholder of this company that employs you?”

“No,” I said and forced myself to take a seat, even though all I wanted to do was run. I’d promised Jason that I wouldn’t be alone with Adelaide without him, and I’d wanted to keep that promise. But if she had bought the company out and became the primary shareholder, it wasn’t like I could just leave.

I hoped, being in the office building, she wouldn’t try anything here. This building was full people, both in my company, and others of different floors. With so many witnesses, she couldn’t expect to do something and get away with it… right?

Plus, that night in the hospital parking lot, if she had sent that man after me, it wasn’t like she was doing her own dirty work.

or at least, who I was pretending to be. Vanessa Harper wouldn’t back down Gathering my strength, I remembered who I was from anything, not even her somewhat frightening aunt.

I sat up straight, my back pressed firmly against the chair. For my own benefit, it would be best for me to pretend I didn’t suspect her of doing this for nefarious purposes. To uncover the truth, feigning ignorance seemed the best path forward.

“So,” I said. “Why have you decided to invest in this company?”

Adelaide smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes, which were both cold and focused – looking directly at me. I didn’t allow my own emotions to show on my face either, keeping my expression entirely neutral. I placed my hands on top of the conference table, lacing my fingers together.

I didn’t say a word, waiting for her to answer my question.

After a moment’s more staring at me, she finally answered.

“When you came to see me, you spoke of all this money, which you wanted to put into investments. Of course this made me curious. The company you work for must be extremely profitable to make that kind of money. What better way to invest my own money, than into something that makes my dear niece so much money? Seemed like a no–brainer, truth be told.”

“To buy out every other shareholder is a major investment…”

She laughed. “Honestly, Vanessa, are you truly so ignorant to the family’s wealth? Sometimes I wonder why you ran away from the high society to work. You could have been set for life.”

I didn’t believe that. Maybe Aunt Adelaide had money, but Victor never acted like he did. Though, knowing Victor, it was likely he was hording every penny, not wanting to spend anything on Hannah and Jessica.

Even if Vanessa had stayed, I doubted her family would have supported her lifestyle – not without extreme direction anyway. Goddess knew what they would have asked of her. I was happy that Vanessa had been able to get out of this situation.

But now, it seemned, I was getting pulled back into it.

With no one but myself to blame.

I wouldn’t have even been on Aunt Adelaide’s radar if I had kept to myself and not sought out the truth of the past.

“I thought you would be happier to see me,” Adelaide said. “When you reached out, you admitted you hoped that we were closer. Our family has been strained for many years. I can’t help but feel responsible. Truly. I didn’t reach out to you much after your father died.”

“My mother died too,” I reminded her.

Her smile twitched, ever so slightly. “Yes. Of course she did. But place those tears to rest, Vanessa. From now own, we will be seeing each other very often.”

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