novelxo Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Newman laid it out for her with an ironclad tone, Tm not gonna marry you, no way the head honcho of the Bradshaw family would marry into the Dempsey family!”
Last night, Newman just saw her as some fresh–faced model called up for service by Zoey, not even sparing Athena a glance afterword
Now that he knew she was Ms. Dempsey, thinking that last night’s quick fling meant he was gotta put a ring on it, she was dreaming!
Athena’s lips curled into a mocking smile when she heard his words. With her hands clasped behind her back, she lifted her radiant face before Newman.
“Newman, don’t flatter yourself. A lousy lay like you doesn’t have the chops to step foot in the Dempsey family’s house! I wouldn’t marry into the Bradshaw family if you were the last family on earth! Do me a favor and take Zoey and get the hell out of Stardale City, will ya?”
Newman’s voice turned icy gradually as he negotiated with her patiently, “My son needs the hot springs at Mystic Ridge to heal, Ms. Dempsey. Name your price, anything within my power, I’ll do my best to meet all your demands!”
Athena’s eyes sparkled with even more brilliance at his words, “The Dempsey family isn’t hurting for cash. No matter how much dough you throw at us, Newman, we won’t lend you the Mystic Ridge Spring!”
Newman’s breath hitched, a frosty‘ layer clouding his handsome face as he lowered his voice, switching tactics, Thear, Ms. Dempsey, you have a son too.”
Athena’s heart skipped a beat and she grilled him, “What are you getting at?!”
Her out–of–wedlock son wasn’t a secret in Stardale City. And her child was this man’s.
Newman’s voice was chilling to the core, with a hint of ruthlessness, “If you kick us out of Mystic Ridge Villa and anything happens to my son, Ms. Dempsey, you better weigh the cost you’ll pay!”
His words hit her like a punch to the gut! Through clenched teeth, Athena spit out her words, “Are you suggesting you’d kidnap my son to blackmail me?!”
The man’s eyes were cold as ice, I’ve never been much for conscience! If my son is harmed, the whole Dempsey family will pay!”
The man, usually so suave, let his nasty true colors show in that moment! He warned Athena, “To keep my son alive, to use the Mystic Ridge hot springs, even if I’ve slept with you, I still can marry Zoey off to become the Dempsey family’s in–law! Ms. Dempsey, I was giving you a chance to name your price and you rejected it. If you don’t take it, you’ll be left with the short end of
the stick!”
Newman wasn’t just some thuggish bandit; he was an absolute tyrant! Athena knew Newman was a man of his word!
Five years back, right after Cornelia passed, this guy sent her packing when she was eight months pregnant, setting her up for a car crash, leaving her to give birth in the freezing cold. For his own kid, he wouldn’t hesitate to harm hers!
The absurd look in Athena’s eyes vanished in a flash, replaced by mockery and sarcasm. She played along, lips curving into a smile, eyes demurely lowered, “Alright, I’ll set a condition for you and your son to recuperate at Mystic Ridge Villa.”
Memories of her hard life at the Bradshaw family flashed through Athena’s mind. Newman treated her like a servant, made her do the menial work, and let other servants boss her around, heaping their chores on her
She couldn’t cook and got burned by hot oil and boiling water over and over. The calluses on her fingers from those burns hadn’t faded in five years, Her left ring finger, once smashed by a hammer, healed crooked because she didn’t get medical attention.
Five years later, Newman never recognized from these details that she was the once silly girl – he never cared when she was hurt, sick, or in pain!
She wanted Newman to experience everything she endured at the Bradshaws! Athena’s smile brightened as she laid out her terms, “Newman, I’m short a jack–of–all–trades nanny. Nowadays, finding a good nanny is harder than hiring a department manager! While your son’s staying at Mystic Ridge Villa, you’ll be my nanny, bodyguard, and driver, dealing with all my trivial tasks! Newman, my terms aren’t too much, are they?”
Newman’s forehead twitched, “Be your nanny?”
That was the most ridiculous thing he’d heard in his years in the business world!
“Yep!” Athena’s voice rang bright and clear, enjoying the sight of Newman’s face turning dark
“Why do you look like I’m about to gobble you up, Newman? Chill out. I’m just asking you to show off your skills, not sell your body. You may be easy on the eyes, Newman, but with your decorative but useless self, you wouldn’t even make two bits on the
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market.”
After a brief pause, Newman took a deep breath, “I’ll take your offer. But I want to lay down some ground rules with Ms. Dempsey” He warned her seriously once more, 1 hope Ms. Dempsey can forget about last night for good! And don’t harbor any out–of–bounds fantasies about me.”
Athena chuckled, her bright eyes brimming with sarcasm. Five years ago, after being rescued by the Dempsey family, she indeed still harbored some fantasies about Newman.
She regained her memory, and healed her body, no longer the ugly and stupid little fool; she was Ms. Dempsey, a match for Newman in every sense..
But the fireworks the Dempsey family set off for that woman on her birthday…they torched Athena’s last shred of infatuation for Newman!
“Newman, with those moves of yours, no woman’s gonna be left wanting more!”
Who the heck gave him that kind of confidence? Yolanda? The more Athena thought about it, the more disgusted she felt. This guy, getting frisky everywhere, really needed to be put in his place!
Newman frowned slightly, a touch of displeasure clouding his handsome features. Every time Athena critiqued his “skills“, Newman got irritated.
He heard Athena lay down the law, Tm setting some ground rules with you also, Newman. If you want your son to live peacefully in Mystic Ridge Villa, then play the obedient servant and follow my orders.
y are not
Besides, make it crystal clear to the Dempsey family elders, pronto, that the Bradshaws family and the Dempsey family joining forces in marriage! Oh, and one more crucial thing.”
Athena seemed to remember something and spelled it out for him, “Newman, you’re to be my servant, and only mine. Try your best to avoid my son, and definitely keep your distance from him!”
Athena feared that Newman, seeing the resemblance between Kevin and himself, might start questioning her identity. If this man figured out she was the once fool girl, she’d be silenced by Newman again for sure!
Having Newman as her servant was like keeping a tiger by her side. But the ordeal she suffered at the Bradshaw family five ago couldn’t just be forgotten!
years
She lost her innocence, her marriage, her child in Newman’s hands. How could she not seek revenge for a grudge as deep as the
sea?
Athena glanced at her watch and gave her order, “You’ve got 20 minutes to spruce yourself up, then hit the kitchen and cook me a meal.”
“Cook?” Newman’s eyes bulged in shock!
Ever since he crossed paths with Athena, Newman, who used to be on top of the world in Everglade City, found his life getting more and more bizarre! He was supposed to be a nanny, a bodyguard, a driver and now a chef too?!
“Ms. Dempsey, aren’t you afraid I’ll poison the food and kill you?” Newman’s voice was icy, laced with a hint of malice.
Athena’s lips curled into a smile, the sunlight casting a radiant glow on her delicate face. “For the sake of your son enjoying Mystic Ridge’s hot springs and staying alive, I’d advise you not to do anything stupid!”
Chapter 8