Page 154 of The Price of Scandal

“You don’t care about anyone or anything,” she accused.

“That’s not true. I care about Derek.”

“And I took him away from you,” she said smugly.

“No, you didn’t. You can’t destroy real loyalty, Lita.”

“Do you know what he whispered in my ear when he fucked me?” Lita said, taking another step closer. We were eye-to-eye, and, oh, I wanted to break that surgically straightened nose of hers.

A movement behind her in the door caught my attention. Derek, face full of fury, hovered in the doorway. I shook my head slightly, but he didn’t budge. Then Jane was pulling at his arm. Pushing him. And when that didn’t work, she jumped on his back and clamped an arm around his neck.

I almost laughed. Almost.

“See, Lita. You can’t even be bothered to do your own homework. I know Derek didn’t sleep with you.”

“How can you ever be sure? How can you ever know that he’s not lying to you?”

I leaned in, gleefully. “He doesn’t whisper anything in bed. He’s very vocal. And you’re not his type.”

Lita scoffed. “You just keep telling yourself fairy tales. I’ve taken men away from you before. Why would Derek Price be any different? You saw the pictures.”

“My attorney also had a conversation with the photographer you hired to take those photos. Oh,andshe spoke with Nina Nowak who had a lot of interesting things to say about you and your ‘generosity.’ Derek’s team tracked down all of those helpful college classmates from the articles. They all had suspicious deposits to their bank accounts. Ten thousand dollars each? Isn’t that a little light for a soon-to-be CEO?”

“Go fuck yourself, Emily,” Lita spat. She was losing her cool, her confidence. And that’s usually when she lashed out.

“And then there’s La Sophia. They have one hour to issue a public apology and abandon their claim to my patent. I imagine they’ll want that payment they gave you back. So what it all comes down to is you have nothing, Lita. Exactly what you deserve.”

“You fucking cunt. At least I stripped you of that title you were so proud of. At least I have that.” She gritted her teeth.

It still wasn’t enough for her. I could see it in her eyes, shiny with rage.

“Funny story. I didn’t actually resign. I orchestrated a buyout. A very generous one. Oh, and Derek and I are partners now. In his firm and my lab,” I said cheerfully. “So it all worked out really well for me. I should get you a thank you card.”

I could hear her teeth grinding.

“I hate you. I’ve always hated you. You should have been in that car. You should have died, too.” Her nostrils flared.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. Did you really want me to die, or was there another game you were playing?”

Her smile was unhinged. “I had cameras set up in his room. I could have gotten a nice payout for a sex tape starring Emily fucking Stanton.”

I was disgusted. This time it was Jane who appeared in the doorway, brandishing a stun gun. Derek hooked her around the waist, but she grabbed on to both sides of the doorway and silently wrestled for freedom.

“Instead, your meal ticket died because a bartender I didn’t know took care of me like a friend should have.”

“You always land on your goddamn feet, and I am so fucking sick of it! When is it my turn?” she raged.

“Never. Because you’re not good enough.”

She slapped me. Hard. The sound of flesh connecting to flesh echoed off the glass.

“Aw, is that the best you can do?” I asked.

On a howl of rage, she charged me, raking her nails down my arm and throwing an elbow in my jaw. I saw stars, but it was enough. I’d finally drawn a line I wouldn’t allow her to cross.

I wound up and plowed my fist into that pretty, pretty nose of hers.

She went down like a bag of hammers.