Josey and Tila walked toward the car. Kenny stood nearby, ready to open the door. Just then, a voice called out from behind a tree.
“Josey.”
Josey froze. When she lifted her head and saw the person, her eyes widened in shock. Her breath caught as she quickly tapped Tila’s arm, pulling her slightly to the other side to block her view.
“Who is that?” Tila asked, squinting toward the tree.
“Someone I know,” Josey answered quickly. “Kenny, take Tila home.”
“I should stay with you,” Kenny said, looking uneasy.
“Go,” Josey said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Tila hesitated, still peering through the car window. “Who is that man, Mom?”
“Just go, Tila,” Josey said again.
Tila entered the car but looked out through the window as it drove off. Her eyes narrowed. What is my mother doing with a man like that? she thought, suspicion growing inside her.
Now it was just Josey and Kelvin.
Kelvin smirked. “Nice house.”
Josey folded her arms. “If you show up at my home again, I won’t let it slide.”
Kelvin chuckled softly. “What will you do, then?”
Josey glared. “Why are you here?”
Kelvin stepped closer. “Someone came to see me. Asking about the fire.”
Josey’s face turned pale. “What did he say?”
“He was asking if you hired me to do it,” Kelvin said slowly, watching her reaction. “How come you didn’t manage to cover your tracks?”
Josey’s voice grew cold. “You’re the one who botched the job. That woman and her daughter neither of them died.”
Kelvin’s eyes widened. “What? That can’t be true. The whole building burned down. How?”
Josey’s voice was sharp. “Who came to see you?”
Kelvin frowned. “A fine-looking guy. Dressed neatly, spoke calmly.”
“So?” Josey asked, her voice low. “You didn’t tell him, did you?”
Kelvin’s tone grew defensive. “You think I want to go back to jail? I’m not saying anything.”
Josey studied him for a moment, then smiled thinly. “I’ll cut you some slack for taking money from me for that incident. So, do one more job for me.”
Kelvin blinked. “A job?”
Josey’s voice dropped even lower. “Kill the daughter. This time, do it right.”
Kelvin stared at her. For a moment, he couldn’t speak. “You’re serious?”
Josey didn’t answer. She turned away, adjusting her purse. “You heard me.”
The next morning came quickly.
The clock showed seven. Josey stood in her bedroom, dressing up. The room smelled faintly of perfume.
“You’re up, honey,” she said softly to her husband, who was sitting on the bed, adjusting his glasses.
Mr. Larkin smiled faintly. “Must be a big day.”
“Every day is a big day for me,” Josey said, smiling in the mirror as she fixed her necklace.
Mr. Larkin held a white envelope in his hand. “I almost forgot. Faye gave me this yesterday.”
Josey turned. “What is that?”
“The results of a paternity test,” he said slowly, handing it to her. “It proves that Faye is my birth child.”
Josey’s face went blank. “What did you say? Who gave you this?”
“Faye did,” Mr. Larkin said calmly. “You really didn’t know about this?”
Josey’s fingers shook as she took the paper. She glanced at the letters and numbers on the page, her heartbeat racing. Then, in one quick motion, she tore it to pieces.
Mr. Larkin stared in shock. “Josey! What are you doing?”
Josey turned toward him, her eyes wide. “You trust something that Faye handed to you?”
Mr. Larkin frowned. “Why would she lie about something like this?”
Josey took a deep breath, then began her act. Her voice softened, trembling as she let out fake tears. “I’m doing everything I can to save your company. And you’re taking her side after all she’s done to us?”
Mr. Larkin sighed. “So, you’re saying this isn’t true?”
“Of course it isn’t!” Josey snapped. “Forging a paper like this is no big deal. She’s trying to divide us during this important time. Can’t you see that?”
Josey’s tears glistened as she bent down to pick up the torn pieces from the floor.
Mr. Larkin looked tired. “Josey, maybe we should talk about it later. It might take a while to understand what’s going on.”
Josey nodded lightly, forcing a smile. “Sounds good.”
She moved toward him and helped him lay back on the bed. “You should rest, dear.”
He watched her silently, unsure what to believe.
Josey pulled the duvet up to his chest and patted it gently. “I’ll see you later, then.”
As she turned to leave the room, her eyes hardened again. The kind tone vanished, replaced by a cold look of calculation. She walked to her dresser, picked up her purse, and glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
Her driver waited by the door.
“Madam, the car is ready,” he said.
Josey nodded. “Good. Let’s go.”
As the car drove toward the company for the special shareholders’ meeting, Josey’s mind was busy. The DNA test had shaken her, but she couldn’t afford to show weakness now.
In her mind, she repeated one thing: If Faye thinks she can expose me, she’s wrong. I’ll destroy her first.