Chapter 85: Cut The Chase

As Crystal was putting the First Aid Kit away, she heard Nathan’s feet on the stairs. At first, she thought that was strange because he had just said that he would tell her about her Mother. Maybe he thought we would be more comfortable in the living room - thought Crystal, and she followed after him. When she got downstairs, though, she saw that he’d gone outside.

Crystal frowned as she looked out the front window, and she was shocked to see Carlos’s BMW parked in the driveway. He was getting out of the car, but Joyce was already halfway to the house.

Crystal gasped - What the fuck are they doing here?!?!?! The last time Carlos had been here was more than ten years ago, and the only reason for his visit was to help finalize the divorce and the division of property between her Father and Mother. Crystal had only been seven at the time, but she’d known why he was there. Why he was visiting today, though, was a complete mystery.

Crystal rushed out of the house to see what was going on, and when Carlos saw her, he called her name. Before he could say anything more, though, Joyce raised her fist in the air and shouted, “Crystal Smith, you dirty bitch! Todd Henry brought you, and in thanks, you’re trying to tear him down! You are an ungrateful slut! Do you really think you can buy the Henry Group?”

Joyce rushed towards Crystal, and she was about to slap her across the face. Before she could follow through, though, Nathan caught her wrist with his left hand. He placed his hand on her chest and shoved her so hard that she was thrown to the ground. Until that moment, Joyce had been so focused on Crystal that she hadn’t even seen Nathan. Now her mouth hung open like a fool. “N-Nathan... D- Davis…” she stammered. “I d-didn’t s-see you there….”

Joyce struggled to get up, and then she brushed the dirt and grass off her buttocks and the back of her legs. As angry as she was at Crystal, she didn’t dare attack her again if Nathan had her back. She turned to look at Carlos, but his face was completely void of emotion, and she could not tell what he was thinking. Then she noticed how tightly his fists were clenched at his side, and she couldn’t help but smile. He is angry- she thought - Good! After protecting Crystal for three years, he has every right to be angry!

There was a cold chill in the air, and the tension between the two parties was palpable. Then, suddenly, one of the BMW’s back doors opened, and Crystal groaned as she watched Todd step out. “Oh, fuck!” she muttered. Because of the tinted windows, she hadn’t seen him.

Todd turned to Joyce and said, “I have no idea why you insist on being so rude. It is embarrassing.” Joyce’s face turned red from anger and embarrassment as Todd turned to Nathan. “Are you going to invite me in?” he asked. “I have something to discuss with you.” Nathan nodded and gestured for him to follow him into the house.

Crystal made eye contact with Nathan, and he comforted her with his eyes. Then he took her hand and led her into the house.

Once they were in the living room, Crystal and Nathan sat in the love chair, and everyone else sat on the couch opposite them. Nathan sat with his legs crossed with one arm on the armrest and the other rested possessively on Crystal’s thigh. He looked calm and confident, and he seemed to care very little for whatever business Todd was here to discuss.

Nathan looked at Todd, smiled, and said, “Cut to the chase, Mr. Henry. I don’t have all day. So why are you here?”

Todd: “I’d like to discuss the acquisition...” Nathan: “Is there a problem? Can you not afford the terms we agreed to?”

“It seems that I cannot,” Todd admitted. “Our stocks plummeted this morning, and they are unlikely to recover fully. Our shareholders are in a panic. Would you consider releasing me from my contractual obligations? I am begging you for mercy.”

Crystal smirked. The sound of her Father groveling was like music to her ears. The Henry Group was in trouble, but it was Todd’s fault, and once the company hit rock bottom, Brilliant Group would be in the perfect position to swoop in and purchase all of the shares for next to nothing. After that happened, her father would be her employee! Oh, how the mighty have fallen! - thought Crystal.

“You are talking to the wrong person.”

Nathan turned to Crystal and said, “This is your department.”

Crystal crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and her smirk turned into a shark-like Cheshire grin. “I’m listening,” she said.

Todd turned to Crystal, and she could see the fear in his eyes. After what he had done to her, he knew that she had every right to hate him and no good reason to show him mercy. He had hoped to bypass Crystal and talk directly to Nathan by coming to the house, but he had failed to comprehend the amount of authority he had vested in Crystal. And from the look in Nathan’s eyes, he could see how much he loved her. “Crystal,” Todd pleaded. “Daddy was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you the way that I did. Can you forgive me?”

Crystal glared at her Father. She knew that all he cared about was the deal and his second family. She hummed and hawed for a moment as she pretended to think the matter over. Then, in a low tone of voice, she said, “I have no Father. My Father abandoned me sixteen years ago. He has a new son and daughter now. If you think that you are my Father for some reason, I hate to break it to you; you are mistaken.”

Joyce shook her fist at Crystal. “Crystal Smith!” she hissed. “Watch your tongue!”

Crystal smiled coldly and said, “This is my home, who said you could speak? Whenever you open your mouth, even your Father is embarrassed.”

“That’s not true!” Joyce shouted. Crystal shrugged but said nothing, and her calm demeanor infuriated her half-sister. Joyce began to stand up, but Todd put a hand on her to stop her. “That will be enough for you,” he said firmly. “Sit down and shut up! The adults are talking now.”

Joyce promptly sat back down, crossed her arms beneath her ample breasts, and began to pout. The sight of which made even Carlos laugh.