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7

It was another hectic workweek for Jean, following procedure as she had been doing for years without really thinking. Her mind was occupied with a particular family. On Saturday evening as she was heading towards her car, Peter rushed towards her and handed her his business phone.

“It’s a woman named Avery Marcus-Cobalt. She says she’s the wife of that man that we are having that Electro deal with. She also says its an emergency.” He doubled over panting like he just ran a marathon meanwhile, the distance between the building and the parking lot was less than ten meters. Jean’s lip quivered at his exaggeration.

She hid her surprise at the fact that Avery would call her claiming an emergency but she wondered what the emergency could be as she took the phone from Peter.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Jean,” Avery’s shrill voice came from the other side of the call, “Don’t tell me you haven’t missed me. I couldn’t help but notice your popularity nowadays. I'm very impressed that-“

“What’s the emergency Mrs. Cobalt?” Jean wasn’t having any of Avery’s nonsense. She was bone tired and couldn’t wait to get home and have her aching feet rubbed. All in all, she just wasn’t in the fucking mood.

She heard Avery wince at her harsh tone.

“Well, well. You cant even acknowledge the fact that we were once best friends and gist with me a little?’

Silence.

“I guess not then.” Avery cleared her throat to make sure Jean would hear every single word she had to say because she meant all of it. “I have found out that you have a business deal with my husband. I don’t know what your motive is with all this but I have to warn you, stay away from him. Cancel the stupid contract, pay the damages and move to another state if possible. But I know you are stubborn as a mule and you wont give in that easily. Just don’t forget that you don’t have a bodyguard and buildings are as inflammable as reputations are spoilable.”

Jean scoffed at her mundane statement. Avery had never been somebody to think things through.

“Mrs. Cobalt, I marvel at your stupidity.” Peter looked at her wide eyed, “You seem to forget the role I play in your family’s financial affairs. Do you even know that the company your husband works in is broke and his salary has most likely been cut?” She could sense Avery’s jaw drop. “My ‘stupid contract’ is their saving grace and if it doesn’t work out, you may have to sell all your expensive jewelry just to feed yourself. So next time, know who you’re threatening and yes, I am as stubborn as a mule and your threats are not getting you anywhere except jail if this repeats itself. Trust me, this conversation is being recorded. So, would you still like me to tear the ‘stupid contract’ or not?”

The line went dead and Peter hesitantly collected his phone from Jean. He gave her a questioning look and she just shook her head, signaling to him not to press for more information. He nodded his head and walked back towards the main building. Jean got in her car and used her hands to cover her face as she let out a long sigh. She couldn’t wait to get home and have a hot bath with a cup of coffee to help her forget her worries. Not to forget her foot rub.

Meanwhile, Avery stood looking at her phone like it had the chicken pox. How could she have been so daft? She had just made a complete fool of herself to a woman she hated with all her heart and soul. She should have asked her private investigator to find out more about their contract. Fury boiled inside her and she threw her phone at the wall and watched it smash into pieces. Now, the stupid woman had made her break her phone. She had expected Jean to start begging and to do anything in her power to save her wretched business. Little did she know that the five-thousand-dollar dress she was supposed to wear to Esther’s gala the next week actually depended on Jean. It made her even angrier to think about it. She would have a talk with James about this. Nothing ever worked out for her and it wasn’t fair. The marriage she thought would bring her a fortune was going to be shattered if her billionaire nemesis didn’t go through with the business deal. How many times did she have to deal with Jean always ruining things for her? It seemed inevitable at this point.

Avery leaned on the wall as she let hot tears run down her face.

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