Chapter 13 - The Unwanted Visitor
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Emily did not have to wait long for the ghost from her past to materialize. Later that afternoon, as she sat at her large mahogany desk reviewing the legal options to reject the conditional donation, her intercom buzzed sharply.
"Mrs. Saint Claire," her assistant, Clara, said, her voice laced with unease. "There is a gentleman here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment, but he insists that you are expecting him. A Mr. Richard Sterling."
Emily closed her eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. She drew upon the quiet strength she had spoken about at the gala just the night before.
"Send him in, Clara," Emily replied evenly.
The heavy oak door swung open, and Richard stepped into the room. The past ten years had aged him, but he still carried himself with the same arrogant, predatory swagger. He wore a sharply tailored charcoal suit, his silver-streaked hair slicked back perfectly. He smiled, a hollow, calculating expression that never quite reached his cold eyes.
"Emily," Richard purred, looking around the expansive, sunlit office with feigned admiration. "Look at you. Chairman of the Board. You've certainly done well for yourself since you threw me to the wolves."
"I didn't throw you to the wolves, Richard," Emily stated, remaining seated, her posture impeccable and unyielding. "I simply stopped protecting you from the consequences of your own actions. What do you want?"
Richard casually unbuttoned his suit jacket and took a seat in the leather chair opposite her desk, entirely uninvited.
"I want to help," Richard said smoothly, crossing his legs. "I saw the news of your ten-year anniversary. I saw that you are struggling to fully fund the new pediatric oncology wing. I have fifty million dollars sitting in an account, ready to break ground tomorrow. I am offering you a gift."
"It isn't a gift if it comes with a leash," Emily countered, sliding the printed contract across the desk toward him. "Exclusive pharmaceutical contracts for Vanguard? A voting seat on my board? You want to use my hospital's sterling reputation to launder your own disgraced image."
Richard leaned forward, his smile fading into a harsh, threatening line.
May you like
"You need that money, Emily. The city knows you need it. If you reject fifty million dollars for dying children just because of a personal grudge against your ex-husband, the press will absolutely crucify you. Take the deal. Let me back in."
"Get out of my office, Richard," Emily said, her voice quiet but vibrating with absolute authority. "The answer is no."
