Page 20 of Forbidden Flames

“Both Levi Harris and Matteo del Campo offered to speak with you, but I suggested that this conversation would be best between women.” She walked over to the head of the table. “Please, have a seat,” Emily replied, gesturing to one of the chairs around the conference room.

Agnes looked at the chairs and sniffed again, her nose lifting higher. “I don’t know why you demanded to speak with me. And I don’t have time to dilly-dally, my dear.” She moved to the window, not taking a seat.

Emily sat down and pulled the folder out of her notebook. “I appreciate your busy agenda, Ms. Albright. However, I need to discuss your son’s…activities.”

“My son,” she said with increasing fury, “is none of your concern!” Her sharp, blue eyes moved over Emily’s figure, or what she could see of it over the top of the conference room table. “If you are pregnant, I will not allow my son to marry you! You’ll just have to get rid of the brat!” She headed towards the door. “I will not have my lineage sullied by a member of the working class!”

“If you walk out that door, I will be forced to take these pictures to the police.” That stopped the older woman in her tracks. Slowly, Agnes Albright turned, glaring at Emily.

But before the older woman could speak, she caught a glimpse of the pictures on the table. She was confused for a moment. Then she gasped. “What is this? Pornography?” She lifted her glower to Emily. “Did you bring me all the way out here just to show me disgusting pictures?”

Emily leaned back in the leather chair. “These are pictures of a room in your son’s home.” She laced her fingers together, waiting.

She didn’t have long to wait. “You’re lying! My son is a good boy! He wouldn’t have this…this…filth…in his home!”

Emily shook her head. “Not only does he have this filth in his home, but he’s obsessed with me. In a very dangerous, demented way.” She laid out more pictures.

Agnes’ mouth fell open as she stared down at the images. “This…!” She was stammering now, horrified and disgusted as she clutched the pearl necklace at her throat. “This isn’t Gerald! He wouldn’t do things like that!”

Emily laid out more pictures. “This is what your son wants to do to me,” she said softly. “And I’m not going to let him.” She waited a moment, then said, “Either you can do something to protect me, or I will protect myself.”

Agnes pulled back, her lips pursing in fury. “What can you do? You’re nothing! You’re just a cheap, pathetic hussy!”

Emily didn’t bother to roll her eyes. “I am a large stock holder of the bank that owns your building,” she explained, laying out another document. It was a letter warning the Albrights of a possible eviction notice.

Agnes Albright’s jaw dropped as Emily continued. “You also own stock in Wayside Industries,” Emily pulled out another document. This was a financial background check. “You’reheavily invested in this company, Agnes.” She didn’t bother with formality as she gained the higher ground. “One word from me and your stocks will be worthless.” Emily tilted her head slightly. “I’m surprised that your financial advisor didn’t urge you to diversify, Agnes.”

Agnes’ face paled. “You can’t do that! You’re nothing! You don’t have that kind of power.”

Emily pulled out another letter. This one was signed by Matteo del Campo. “I can,” Emily said calmly. “And I will. Your son is sick. He needs help.”

“He doesn’t!” Agnes nearly screamed. Then she jerked the lapels of her coat, adjusting her shoulders. “You’ve done something to him! You’re a witch! You’ve dazzled him with a spell!”

Emily laughed, shaking her head. “The wealthy have tried that in the past,” she tsssked. “If you can’t beat ‘em down with bullying or financial manipulations, then burn ‘em at the stake, eh?”

Agnes didn’t like that idea and stepped backwards. “What do you want?”

“I want you to put your son into an institution so he can get the help he clearly needs,” Emily stated clearly. “I want him locked away in a place of your choosing where he can’t hurt me, or any other woman.” She pulled several more sheets out of the folder. “These are police reports.” She watched the woman carefully. “You’ve seen these before. Or you know about these women.”

“Whores!” Anges barely glanced at the reports before she bellowed the word, then visibly tried to regain control of herself. “They were just hookers!” Her eyes were bright with fury and indignation.

Emily couldn’t feel pity for the woman as she continued. “And because these women were poor and vulnerable, you and your lawyers were able to manipulate the system to get the charges buried.” Emily sighed. “Unfortunately, there isn’t anything the police can do to help me either, other than a very public investigation.” She pulled out a card from her folder. “This is the name of a very good publicist. She will assist me to ensure that every one of the details the police found in the past will be revealed. And anything the police find in this investigation,” she let her hand hover over the other pictures, “will be revealed. Your son is a predator, Agnes. And you know it.” She pulled all of the pictures close, but slid the letters closer to Agnes. “You’ve manipulated the system to hide your son’s mental illness and the abuses he perpetrated against these women. So, I want you to ensure women are safe by putting your son into an institution, so that he cannot get out and continue to harm others.”

Agnes wasn’t giving in. She sat in the leather chair, her hands clasped tightly together as she glared back at Emily. “There’s no physical evidence that Gerald did any of this!”

Emily tilted her head slightly and nodded. “You’re right. The police weren’t able to find any forensic evidence.” She paused, letting her words sink in before she continued. “But you know that Gerald did this to these women.” She pointed to the pictures of women with bruises on their wrists, ankles and jawline. “And you know that he wants to do this to me.” She patted the folder. “You manipulated the system to your advantage. But I have friends in higher places, Agnes. I guarantee that you won’t win this time.” She let those words sink in. “I’m going to make you understand how those women felt, how powerless they felt, when you covered up your son’s demented crimes!”

Emily stood up and walked towards the doorway. “It’s your choice, Agnes,” she said softly. “But I’m not bluffing.”

And then she walked out.

Agnes sat at the table, reeling with fury and impotence. Surely, there had to be some way to suppress this…this idiocy! Her son wasn’t sick. He wasn’t! Boys will be boys, that’s all, she assured herself stiffly.

Slowly, she stood up, adjusted her jacket and looked around. Was someone still watching her? With a sniff of indignation, Agnes lifted her chin and walked out of the conference room. The club was quiet as she made her way out through the front door. Thankfully, she didn’t run into of any of acquaintances. Agnes wasn’t sure she would be able to answer any questions at this point. Not after seeing those pictures and…well, the threat.

Getting into her car, she looked around. The parking lot of this particular club was filled with expensive vehicles. She was just starting to get into her car when a voice called out to her.

“Agnes!” She froze for a moment, wondering if that horrible woman was calling her again. But no, this was a male voice.

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