35
Chapter Thirty Five
When Amanda showed up to her father’s office the next morning with news of the blackmail, she didn’t for a second think that he would refuse to give her ten million dollars to ensure her reputation wasn’t stained forever.
She was prepared for a long lecture. Scolding. She had imagined he would be truly livid that she was in the middle of another scandal, with another CEO of her company.
She was ready to take whatever judgement and anger he passed. But she never thought he would think ten million dollars were too much a price to pay to protect his daughter’s image.
Even when she pointed out that the amount was only a tenth of her mother’s inheritance, which she had entrusted to him, he didn’t budge. He insisted ten million dollars was too much, that the business would suffer if he suddenly forked out that much money.
When he commented that people would rave about the video for a few days then forget about it, she didn’t want to believe her ears. She had found it odd that he blamed her about what happened with Samuel. But how could he, as her father, say that about the kind of video she was being threatened with? How could any father say that to their daughter?
He had called to her as she left his office—“Look, Amanda. I’ll get my security team to check into this and find the culprit before they can do anything with the video. That’s the most I can do.”
“I’d rather you don’t,” she said, facing the door. “I’ve told you about the second message. They claimed they’ll know if I try to report this, and they’ll release it right away. I’ll find the money somewhere else.”
She had left, still in disbelief and none the wiser on where to find such a large sum in two days.
What Amanda didn’t know was that the moment she walked into her father’s office and told him about the blackmail, she handed him the last weapon he needed to kick her out of the family.
The moment she left, Charles called his chief of security into his office. He told him everything as Amanda had narrated, then tasked him with finding the blackmailer before the two days were up.
He was going to spend money on this, alright.
To make sure the video got released.
**
The morning after Christmas, Tyra showed up at Rebecca Lemaiyan’s house.
When she rang the bell, it was Rebecca’s husband, Keith, who answered.
He frowned on seeing her. “Tyra?”
Without waiting for his invitation, she walked past him and into the house. “Hello, Keith.” She walked past the foyer and into the living room. “Nice house,” she complimented, looking around with a tight smile.
Keith went after her. “Was Rebecca expecting you?”
She turned to him. “Yes. She let me know she was around.”
Keith frowned. Tyra was there to see Rebecca? For what? As Amanda’s best friend, she and Rebecca were on opposite sides.
“She’s upstairs, she’ll be down in a minute. What are you seeing her about?”
“It’s none of your business,” she replied.
“She apparently has something on Amanda,” Rebecca’s voice came from behind him. She appeared beside him and beckoned to Tyra. “Let’s have a seat.”
Keith looked from his wife to Tyra in confusion.
“Are you sure it’s worth my while?” Rebecca asked Tyra once they sat down. “I have a meeting to get to.”
Tyra looked hesitantly at Keith, unsure whether to go ahead in his presence.
Rebecca waved her on. “Just say it.”
“I have a video that can ruin your sister and get her out of your way,” she revealed.
Rebecca exchanged a glance with her husband. Then she turned back to Tyra, brows raised. “You two are not best friends anymore?”
Tyra shrugged. “I have a score to settle.”
Rebecca nodded slowly. “What’s in the video?”
“Amanda and Lucas having sex in the office.”
The couple exchanged another glance. This time round, they were both caught by surprise.
“What?” Keith sputtered.
“They’ve been fúcking around since… Like, ever since he got here.”
“Did she tell you about it?” Rebecca questioned.
“I found out by accident.”
Rebecca laughed, throwing her head back. “I’m not surprised. She sure likes her CEOs, doesn’t she?”
Keith trained his eyes on Tyra. “Who took the video?”
“I did,” she replied. “I’m the only person with a copy.”
“And why are you telling us this?” he asked.
“Are you dumb?” Rebecca asked her husband. “Do you think she would survive such a scandal, after everything that happened with Samuel?” She smiled at Tyra. “What do you want for the video?”
“Five million dollars.”
Rebecca drew back. “Excuse me?”
“That’s nothing compared to what you’ll gain once she’s out of your way,” Tyra stated.
Rebecca shook her head. “Look, as much as I want her out of my way, I’m not that desperate. That’s too much.”
“Thanks to her past relationship, she fell out of favour with your father. He allowed you to take control of the fashion company. Imagine what he will do if she shames your family in this manner. You’ll have one less thing to worry about,” Tyra tried to convince her.
Rebecca shot to her feet and grabbed her handbag. “I’m not sure at the moment, but I’ll think about it. I’ll reach out to you before the day’s end. I have to rush to my meeting.”
Then she left, leaving behind Keith and Tyra.
“I really thought she would take it,” Tyra sighed.
“I’ll take it,” Keith offered.
She whirled on him. “What?”
“Rebecca has her father’s support right now. She doesn’t need the video to put Amanda in her place.”
Tyra’s brow shot up. “But you do?”
One side of his mouth pulled up in a smirk. “I’m sure you know about my history with Amanda.”
“I sure do.”
Looking at the carpet beneath, he paced. “I’ve tried amending things with her but…” He shrugged. “She’s too proud.”
“Amending things?”
“I want her back, but she won’t give me a chance. She even had the nerve to insult me and compare me to that ex of hers. Acted like she was too good for me when she’s just some slut fucking through her company.”
“She never told me about that,” Tyra claimed.
“If I have that video, she’ll think twice about acting all high and mighty with me.”
“Sounds good to me,” Tyra said. “Pay up and it’ll be yours.”
“I’ll give you half of what you asked from Rebecca.”
Tyra frowned instantly. “What? No way!”
“No? Two million, then?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re going the wrong way.”
“Am I? Rebecca is not going to buy that video from you, Tyra. I’m your best shot.”
She closed her eyes shut. “Fine.”
“I’m taking all the copies you have,” he said.
“As long as you get your copy, what does it matter to you?”
“I can’t control her with it if I’m not the only one with the power, can I?” he posed. “She’ll have no reason to do what I what.”
“Three million,” she said, getting to her feet. “I assure you’ll be my one and only client.”
After all, with the way things were panning on Amanda’s side, Tyra was doubting she would be able to come up with ten million dollars. When she asked for that amount, she never imagined Charles Lemaiyan would refuse to pay up. Amanda had shown up to her house the previous evening, and she had finally told her about the blackmail in the midst of some heavy drinking. Tyra was unhappy to find out she might not make ten million dollars after all, but she was also pleased to learn Amanda was playing safe and hadn’t reported anywhere.
Keith held his hand out for a handshake. “Deal.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “Don’t even think of fúcking with me, Tyra. Your company’s request for a fifty million dollar loan is still on my desk at the bank. At the moment, your family’s company is considered a risky borrower, and my family’s bank is the only one considering taking the risk. I’m sure you don’t want to see what will happen if I hold back my signature.”
Tyra pulled her hand from his tight grip and rolled her eyes. “Chill, man. I’ll give you everything. Don’t drag the business into this.”
She could give him the copy, but Amanda wouldn’t know she no longer had it. Whatever fraction of the ten million she could gather, it surely would look good with the three from Keith on top.
“I’ll drag whatever I want to,” Keith told her. “You’re not coming off as the most trustworthy person at the moment.”
“Jeez, I get it. You have my word.”
