Page 85 of Under the Mistletoe

He takes a small step toward me. “And just how would you get information like that?”

I remain silent and he looks at me as realization dawns on his face.

“Your precious girl…” The tone he uses to talk about Jessica has my nostrils flaring.

“So I guess you’re here to strike a deal?” He grins, probably because he thinks he has the upper hand.

“We’ll be taking what evidence we have to ensure Jasper Textiles can no longer trade. To ensure Jasper Textiles crumbles.”

“And let me guess, you’ll be there to pick up all his pieces? Buy up everything he owns for a fraction of the price. Taking almost full control of the textile market.”

I nod. I’m not stupid, it’s an excellent business move and in line with our expansion plans. And he’s right. It will cement York Enterprises as the leader across the globe, and it will be the one thing my father wanted but could never accomplish.

“I will. However, I have no appetite to get into business with you. Nor do I have plans to expose your connections.”

“So what’s your offer, York?” He takes another step toward me, but I don’t back down. I can’t show weakness.

“I notify the authorities about Jasper. His business crumbles, and I take over his business. However, I’m not interested in the three docks he owns in Asia. I’m not interested in the supply chains he has as I already have my own. I’m also not interested in getting into business with you, Mr. Viscari. So if you had another party, someone more independent, that wishes to purchase those elements of the business from me once I have them, I would sell them to you at a price of your choosing."

He stares at me with narrowed eyes, but I can see him thinking. I just offered him a free pass. I could send him to jail, but I'm not that stupid. I’m no hero. I know that even with him away behind bars, he has contacts, contacts that would come after me, Jessica, her family, and connections of mine. It doesn’t stop with him. So I need to wash my hands. I need to ensure he gets off free while I bury Marcus like I want to.

“I have a contact with the Feds. I have two packages. One that details everything. One that details select things relating to Jasper Textiles only. It has no links or connections to you whatsoever. It does have a question mark over where Jasper got his investment money from. But there is nothing linking you to being that person.”

His eyes burn into me. He hates me. I’m sure of it.

“It’s now up to you which one I submit.”

“I could kill you right here where you stand, do you know that?”

“I do. Which is why I need an answer from you within the next five minutes, because if I don’t show up to meet my friend at the bureau, then the full file will automatically be sent and he will get everything.”

He blanches.

“It seems you’re as smart as everybody thinks you are. But I don’t trust you. So make no mistake, Mr. York…” He steps toward me until he’s right up in my face. “If the Feds so much as sniff around me about the Jasper deal, your pretty little girlfriend will know about it.”

“Three docks, logistics, sea channels will all be yours, and we won’t see or hear from you again,” I counter and see his jaw pop. Nobody tells this man what to do, and yet here I am practically blackmailing him.

“You have a deal. I’ll cease dealings with Jasper tonight. Give me forty-eight hours to clear out. Then you do what you need to. And let me be really clear, York… She will die if my name is even whispered… It would be such a shame to see the life drain out of her body. Such a pretty face and all.” He steps away immediately, walking back behind the boxes quickly as his men all follow him until I’m the only one standing there.

My hands are fists, hating him and his threats. But I got what I needed. Jessica and I scrubbed the file dry, so there’s no mention nor any connection to Teflon Teo in anything we have for the Feds.

I stride out of the warehouse and straight to the car.

“Drive.”

Gordon doesn’t waste time. We speed out of there quickly, a deal with the devil now done.

36

Jessica

Donovan said he took care of things, and I wish I could say I feel more at ease, but that would be a lie. I scrubbed the file just like he asked me to, erased Teflon Teo completely. It was a good idea. We need to be as far away from Teflon Teo as possible. Regardless of Donovan’s billions, there’s no fighting a man like him.

I’ve spent almost a week in the penthouse and have been getting cabin fever. Security is everywhere, in the building, around it. When he isn’t here, Donovan is calling almost hourly.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I look at him in the seat beside me. Shoulders tight, phone in his hand. He’s been working hard, trying to keep up a routine, so if Marcus Jasper was watching, he wouldn't suspect a thing. He submitted the clean file to his contact at the Feds. It’s out of our hands now. But Donovan has been working with Shelley and the finance team to get things in order, ready for a takeover behind closed doors.

“I don’t want you to stop doing what you love because of what’s happening, but I would be a liar if I said I wanted you at the sprinkler shop today.”