p to the curb outside Joanna
ead down, rushing through the lobby and into her private elevator. When the doors fi
d threw her keys onto the consol
sent forty t
you
ted Jessie
e phone,
ith absolute disgust. She didn't reply. She deleted
ck, leather-bound folder-the Madden family trust fund prenuptial agreeme
e hit with a massive penalty fee. She needed Freddie to be the one to brea
the intercom inter
door a moment later. Clara's face was pale, her hands
t a car. It's waiting downstairs. She wants
rue power behind the family name. The pool i
inutes," Joann
e the fabric had touched her. She put on a conservative, tailored beige suit. She sat at her vani
per nightmare of late-afternoon Manhattan traffic, the car passed
e sprawling mansion, leading her to Eleanor's
was pulled back perfectly. Her eyes, sharp as a hawk's,
er head slightly, letting her shoulde
her voice perfectly pitched
ey scattered over the wood. They were high-definition shots of
" Eleanor demanded, her
she tasted a faint hint of metallic blood. She let a single tear well u
ipped. I pulled Miss Beck down with me. Freddie was just... he wa
ool with me, Joanna. I know exactly what
m willing to issue a public apology, Grandmother. I will take full responsibi
m went
oyalty to the empire. Joanna's willingness to swallow her pride and take the blame for the
softened slightly. She gestured to the
ng her posture ri
bag," Eleanor said coldly. "But we do need
nna said, looking Eleanor straight in th
ressed the intercom button on her
ive secretary en
r contacts at the studios. Cut Jessie Beck from every audition list in Hollywood. Put
forced her eyes to widen in fake shock. "G
silence her. "He needs to learn that his action
pulled out a long velvet box
uble today,"
ique emerald necklace rested on the
ndmother," Joan
The moment the heavy oak doors clicked shut behind her, t
was complete. She had kept her hands perfectly clean, a
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