FULL NOVELXO Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Athena glanced up at him, her eyes clear and bright, a flicker of shock passing fleetingly through her moist orbs.
She tugged the corners of her mouth into a cool smile, “Heard the Bradshaw family’s young heir has got the chills. Newman, you’ve been popping Scorpion these years, all for the sake of your kiddo’s health?”
Newman cut to the chase. “Payne’s the next in line for the Bradshaw Group. I’ll stop at nothing to see him grow up strong.”
His brows, wild as a forest, furrowed as he eyed the woman sitting on the bed, “Ms. Dempsey, if you’ve got a soft spot for me, spill the beans – give me Adonis’s contact.”
Before the man could finish, Athena chucked a pillow at him, “I wish you’d drop dead!”
Her hatred surged like a tidal wave. Newman took it as Athena being peeved because she’d been taken advantage of twice and hadn’t managed to snag any perks from him.
The man snorted at her antics. He’d already signed a four–month indenture deal with Athena. This chick wanting more was just asking for trouble!
Newman’s voice, icy as ever, rang out again, “Where are my clothes? He’d scoured the room. and his duds were nowhere in sight.
“Your clothes? They’re my potential lawsuit stash! Newman, sort things out with me peacefully, and you’ll get your clothes back.”
Athena’s tone was frosty and final. His clothes bore the traces of their romp, and she’d been burned by Newman before. Time to keep some evidence for self–defense.
Her wariness came off as a challenge and a threat to Newman, his eyes brimming with unbridled fury. “How am I supposed to get back to Cozy Retreat like this?”
Athena cast her gaze downward, sneaking a peek at him, “Left you a pair of boxers. That’s the last shred of dignity I’m giving you.”
Newman scoffed. He grabbed his phone, ready to call Kent to bring over some clothes.
Athena piped up again, “Oh, another thing, I used your phone to order some birth control pills.”
With an icy smirk, Athena added, “You wouldn’t want us to make a life–or–death mess, would
you?”
She added, “And oh, I accidentally picked up a call for you when I was talking to the delivery guy.”
Newman checked his recent calls and saw that Yolanda’s call had been answered.
“What did you say to her?” He asked Athena.
“I told Ms. Abbott not to get it twisted; I’m just a friend of yours.”
“Who’s friends with you?” His sarcasm was as clear as day.
“Should I have said we’re friends with benefits? Or maybe you want Ms. Abbott to know y you’re my slave?”
Athena’s mockery was laced with a cold laugh, and the mere mention of Ms. Abbott instantly changed the room’s atmosphere.
Newman averted his gaze from Athena and called Kent, instructing him to bring a change of clothes.
Seeing Newman had cooled his jets, Athena asked, “How’d you fall for Anna’s trick?”
“No clue.”
“So, why are you saying Anna drugged you?” She wanted to clear this up; she wasn’t about to take the fall for Anna.
Newman briefly explained, “Ran into her at the spa with your son.”
“You took my son to the spa?!*
Athena thought Newman had whisked her kid away after realizing Kevin resembled him, but why the heck to a spa?
Newman asked back, “You didn’t know? After Nossen Energy CEO’s wife whooped you, your kid went to get payback. He needed a ride, so I drove him there.”
Athena frowned, “The Nossen Energy issue has been privately settled. With your ear to the ground, you should know Nossen and the Dempsey Group are back on track. Mrs. West and I are even. How could you let my son drag you into teaching her a lesson?”
Newman looked at her, almost feeling like they were parents squabbling over their child’s upbringing, “You let that woman hit you, smooth–talking Jason into dealing with the Dempsey Group under Belinda’s thumb. But you call that even? Nossen had already agreed to a deal with the Dempsey Group. When the Bishop Group pressured them, they flipped. Now Jason’s back to trading raw materials with the Dempsey Group – it’s just business as usual. That woman hit you over a personal vendetta, and your son did the same to her. That’s even.”
Athena paused, feeling schooled by Newman. She fluttered her thick lashes, standing her ground, “Next time Kevin reaches out to you, turn him down. Settling scores is better to be avoided. He could put himself in danger, and I don’t want to see my son hurt.”
Newman’s handsome lips straightened into a line, and he coldly reminded Athena. “I’m the one who got hurt.”
Athena rolled her eyes, leaving Newman with an eyeful of sarcasm.
“Newman, you’re just asking for trouble, suffering for no good reason!”
The man licked the inside of his teeth, his hazel eyes swirling with chill, “In this whole mess,
Chapter 46
you’re the only one who’s had a blast!”
Athena’s eyes popped out of her head, her face the size of a palm covered in a thin layer of
frost.
She didn’t want to recall what had gone down from the car to the bed; all she wanted now was to get out of there and give Newman a good whooping! And just like that, Athena went for it!
Like a nimble cat, she pounced off the bed, stepped on a glass on the floor, and lurched forward! She smacked right into a chest as hard as rock, and in a blink, her mind went blank.
Then, a man’s mocking sneer rained down on her, and Athena was briskly shoved away, “That whole ‘fall into my arms‘ trick only works on me when I’m out of control.”
Newman’s phone started ringing; it was Kent outside at the villa’s gate. He turned around and headed out.
Kent, holding a paper bag with clothes, was gobsmacked to see Newman in just his undies. But he quickly straightened his face and respectfully handed over the bag.
Newman fished out some clothes and slipped on his pants, “Let’s go.”
Kent was dying to ask what the heck happened inside Ms. Dempsey’s villa that made Mr. Bradshaw lose all his clothes.
“Mr. Bradshaw, did your chest wound reopen?” Kent asked with concern.
Newman replied indifferently, “It’s nothing.”
Leaving Sunny Haven, Newman caught sight of the black Cayenne parked outside. He ordered Kent, “Get someone to clean this car inside and out, right now.”
Kent didn’t ask why; he just said, “Will do.”
Newman then inquired, “How did it go with the investigation at Sunlight Spa I asked you to arrange this afternoon?”
Kent reported, “Mr. Bradshaw, our guys didn’t find Anna. The room she had been in was already cleaned out.”
Kent continued, “After leaving, Anna went to the Golden Haven Inn, straight into Zoey’s room.” The man’s eyes were void of emotion, his stunningly handsome face shrouded in the night. Kent, trailing behind Newman, felt a chilling coldness and couldn’t help but hold his breath.