Page 135 of Playing the Game
“What about your phone? Could she have it bugged?”
“I don’t think so. Dad sent me a text saying Dorothy had been reinstated. If our mother were tracing my phone calls and text messages, she would’ve known that.”
Jonah nods, and his expression grows glum. “I hope this works, or everything we’ve worked for will be lost.”
“That and I’ll lose Dorothy and my son.”
My smile grows as I read Aiden’s email one more time.
Hunter,
I received an email about needing my help. I won’t work with Jamison, but I will work with you to get your mother apprehended under one condition.
Once Dori is out of danger, you find a way to get her back in a relationship with you. You do everything in your power.
I have to believe if she risked her career for you before she ended it with you, she cares deeply for you. Get your relationship back on track with my sister as soon as possible.
Tell me everything I need to know, and we’ll go from there. The sooner, the better. Aiden
I take a minute to formulate a plan about how this could work. Once I have an idea, I email him.
Aiden,
It’s great news you’re willing to help. I’ll send you a detailed list of everything you need to know shortly. I want to be sure I’m not forgetting anything, so I’d like to work on it first and then send it over.
In the meantime, trust me when I say this. I’m going to do all I can to work things out with your sister. With your help, it can be done.
Thanks, Hunter
My plan is falling into place. And with Aiden’s blessing around Dorothy and me, this is turning out even better than I thought it would.
I’ll remove my mother from the picture. I’ll tell Dorothy she can return to work and that Jamison kept that information from her. Then all I have to do is make sure Jamison stays far away. The rest will come in time.
She still loves me. I just need to remind her how good it is when we’re together. With her clause gone, it will be a breeze.
No more hiding out in a bubble. I’ll be able to give her a life of love and luxury while showing her off to the world. I’ll be able to honor her in a way I’ve always wanted to.
I sink back against my chair and dream of all the places I’ll take her. Maybe I can even find ways for her to travel with me for business meetings. I’m sure there are ways to bring the marketing director to some of the events.
An email from Isabella slides into my inbox, reminding me of one more thing I’ll have to figure out: how to get Dorothy on board with co-parenting my son.
I’m still not sure how much time I’ll get to spend with him at first, but with my mother in custody, Isabella will have him. And thinking about her raising an Efron is enough to make me want to fight for as much time as I can.
Maybe there’s a way to take down Isabella too.
I open her email and read it.
Hunter,
I can only assume you have the paternity results back. You shouldn’t have doubted me.
We need to discuss his future and how we’re going to deal with my pregnancy.
I’m aware you met with your mother. You know the plan now, so don’t go spreading the news this is your baby.
No one can know. I plan to tell everyone the father is an old flame who recently passed away, and because of my pain around that loss, the baby is going up for adoption.
Once he’s old enough and knows how the French organization works, it will be leaked that he is your son. The world will know he’s the rightful heir of the Efron dynasty. We will make sure he has the DNA test to prove it.
