Chapter 78 The Threat
Emily was shocked, not only by seeing Christine again, but also by what she was trying to imply.
“We didn’t cost you your job twice,” Emily said.
Byron looked at the former journalist with contempt. “I admit, the first time was all me, and I’m proud of it. But don’t blame us for losing your job a second time.”
This was an exclusive event with luxurious decor and the most delicious foods. Emily enjoyed them to a certain extent as she got to attend a few, but sometimes the people at these events were not as high-class as the tone of the event seemed to imply. Christine seemed to worm her way into these things for the sake of appearing elegant and high-faluting.
“I don’t know how you did it,” Christine hissed venomously, “but I’m sure it was you. My magazine got completely shut down.”
“Maybe it deserves to be shut down for publishing lies,” Byron retorted.
“Let’s not get sucked into another mess,” Emily said, trying to pull him away.
“You’re right,” Byron said, “Nice seeing you, Christine. Sorry we couldn’t chat longer.”
“You didn’t like the article I wrote?” Christine said as they turned away, “That was just the beginning. The real fun is about to start.”
“Just ignore her,” Emily whispered.
Byron seemed unable to control himself. He spun around and turned to Christine. “If you’re going to threaten me, be very careful,” he said, his voice low but intense.
“Mr. Pollock and I have been talking about how you’re the laughing stock of the business world,” Christine said casually, “Other, hungrier investors are going to take over your territory, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“I’m poised to take over all your market sectors,” Pollock declared, peering at Byron with his beady grey eyes. “It’s only a matter of time. You’ve gone soft, Mr. Pomeroy, and it shows in your investments.”
Byron shook his head in disbelief. “Now I’ve heard it all.”
“We could have been quite the power couple, you and I,” Christine said, pointing a bright red fingernail at Byron, “but you chose an upstart little nobody instead. See how the tables will be turning.”
“You’re right,” Byron said to Emily, “we shouldn’t be wasting our times with this nonsense.”
They walked away from Christine and her new billionaire beau.
“What did he mean about taking over your territory?” Emily asked.
“He’s going to try,” Byron said, “but I’m really skeptical he could do any real damage to my companies. It’s true that I used to try to dominate the market in the old days, eliminating any competition, but I like to think I’ve become a better person since I stopped doing that.”
“Will it make you more vulnerable to attacks from investors like him?” Emily asked, glancing back at Christine and Pierre.
“Please don’t tell me you took him seriously,” Byron said, “He’s nothing.”
Leaving the party, Emily wondered what happened to Christine’s job at the tabloid. She got on her phone and tried to research the ridiculous magazine on the ride home in the limo.
“This is weird,” she said, “its website is closed down. It says they’re out of business.”
“Don’t look at me,” Byron protested, “I had nothing to do with it. I told you I wouldn’t go after her anymore.”
He had lied about other things, such as how excited he was about Chipfairies, but this was different. Emily trusted him to tell her the truth where a serious threat like Christine was concerned.
“Did you tell anyone else about Christine’s recent article?” Emily asked.
“I might have mentioned it to my mom...”
“Of course,” Emily said. “Sylvia. I could see her shutting down an entire magazine like this.”
“She wouldn’t,” Byron said, although he sounded uncertain.
“Why would you tell her? You know how she is.”
“I didn’t know she would shut down the whole magazine.”
“Did you really?” Emily asked.
He thought about it, closing his eyes in what seemed like regret. “You’re right, I should have known Sylvia wouldn’t let it go. She can be extremely ruthless when protecting the company.”
“When protecting you,” Emily added.
She was silent for the rest of the trip home, thinking through the situation.
When they got into bed, Byron seemed a little fidgety.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
“No,” Emily said, “why should I be?”
“The whole Christine situation. I shouldn’t have said anything to Sylvia. Maybe I subconsciously wanted to get revenge on Christine, and I knew Sylvia wouldn’t just let that article go unpunished.”
“I can’t get mad at you for things you do subconsciously,” Emily said, trying to lighten the mood.
“Does it mean I haven’t progressed at all, though?” he wondered. “I still let people provoke me.”
“Trust me, you’re doing much better,” Emily said. “You are really trying not to let her get to you, and that’s the important thing. I’m more worried about what Christine has in mind, now that she’s teamed up with that Pollock fellow.”
“Probably nothing good,” Byron said. He moved closer to her in the nest of silky sheets and pillows. “But let’s not worry about that now.”
