The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 64

Seeing how quickly Sloane shut down the marriage idea, Riley knew exactly where this was going. "Tell me what you want, then."

"I want a million dollars, and I want a permanent contract with the company."

Ross leaped up, absolutely outraged. "A million dollars?! Are you out of your mind?!"

Even Riley was stunned by the audacity. The extortion was one thing, but demanding a corporate promotion? "He's basically an intern himself. He has zero authority to get you a permanent position."

"I know the CEO is his brother-in-law. Since you're his sister, that makes you Mrs. Landon. If you ask for it, I know he'll sign off on my contract."

Riley snapped her gaze to Ross.

Ross put his hands up defensively. "I didn't tell her! I swear I remembered your warning. I haven't breathed a word to anyone at work about my connection to Pierce!"

"Secrets don't stay secret for long," Sloane remarked smugly.

Knowing his exact relation to Pierce proved that Sloane had aggressively done her research. Her idiot brother had been played from the very start.

If this actually went to the police, Ross would be ruined, and the ensuing scandal would drag Landon Enterprises through the mud.

Pierce had already pulled strings to get Ross a job, and she refused to cause him any more headaches.

But since this was a blatant shakedown, Riley dropped the sympathetic act.

Her expression turned instantly frigid. "A million dollars is out of the question. I'll give you two hundred thousand, and you can forget about the job."

"Why are you giving her anything?!" Ross yelled, whirling on Sloane. "Are you made of gold? One night is not worth two hundred thousand dollars!"

Sloane completely ignored him, knowing he had no power here. She stared right at Riley. "A million dollars and the contract, or I call the police."

Sloane bit her lip, rapidly calculating her odds. "I want the money transferred right now."

Knowing she had won, Riley immediately called Quinn over to draft an ironclad non-disclosure agreement. Only after Sloane signed it and the funds were transferred did Riley finally relax.

By the time the mess was handled, it was past ten o'clock at night.

Riley offered to buy Quinn dinner, but her friend was still buried in case prep and had to rush back to the office.

Riley dragged Ross out to her car to drive him home.

Sloane waited in the shadows until Riley's car disappeared down the street before pulling out her phone and dialing a number.

"I did exactly what you told me to, but Riley didn't beg her husband to save her brother, and she refused to give me the job. She only gave me two hundred thousand dollars. She told me to call the cops if I didn't like it. She's Mrs. Landon. I couldn't risk fighting the family, so I had to take the deal."