Chapter 78

**Blue**


I should have expected Artemis to find me eventually but man am I glad it was just now. Not that I was scared to square up with his dad, but in a physical fight I’m not so sure. As I glance around though I see all of the guys moving toward us making a wall from the press.

“Artemis this is ridiculous and childish. We could have discussed these matters in private. And how dare you bring your sister into this.” Mr. Rhodes Senor says.

He has already released me and Artemis has moved me behind him but I step to the side enough to see this face off.

“We know what a private meeting would result in father. It would be you bullying me into stepping down to your demands. “ Artemis lashes back.

“That is not true, and you best put that girl in her place when it comes to our family.” The words come out like venom but only half hits me.

I know I don’t belong here but Artemis wants me, so I’m not going anywhere until he demands I do.

“She is my wife and will be respected as such!” Artemis says in a low threat.

“Maybe it is best to move this conversation inside.” Athena says.

I have to agree with her. We made our positio known to everyone and now it was time to get into the real stuff.

“I agree but first Alan, Abigail, Artemis and I need to speak privately.” I demand.

Rhodes senior scowls at me and turns on his heels before heading back inside the building. Rhea gives me a quick glance but I signal her to go inside. She brings the others along with her while the rest of us stay behind. That’s when Artemis turns to me with a look that is both scary and totally hot.
“Follow me.” He demands but grabs my hand and start leading me inside the building.

He walks us to the right of the hall of elevators to a single door on the far wall. He uses a key card to lock it and we all shuffle inside. The lights turn on automatically and when I get a good look at the room I wish he hadn’t picked it. It looks a whole lot like a interrogation room. He finally releases my hand and starts to pace.

We all watch him and when I look over to Abigail she looks terrified. Alan wraps his arm around her shoulder as we wait. That catches Artemis’s attention.

“What the hell is this?” He says pointing at them. “Why are you hugging her after she betrayed us?”

Alan takes a deep breath and holds his head high. “She’s my wife.”

Artemis goes totally silent.

“We never told you because I knew you wouldn’t like us working together with how you feel about relationships. That’s why I can tell you that she didn’t mean the company any harm.” Alan explains.

“The evidence says otherwise.” Artemis says in that uncomfortably calm voice he uses when he’s mad.

“You don’t know the full story!” Alan says.

“I don’t need to! I understand facts. They don’t lie!” Artemis yells.

His composure is slipping. This is hurting him more than he would probably like to admit. I want to comfort him but I know he would be too proud to accept it.

“I had no choice. He threatened me!” Abigail says with a sob.

“In what way?” Artemis asks her.

She looks up at Alan who nods. “Alan and I have gotten into a lot of debt recently. We’ve been trying ro have a baby but it hasn’t been working. We tried IVF which is so expensive and used up all our savings to do it. We were desperate. He said that he would keep paying me if I helped him and if I didn’t he would make sure no one would ever hire me again. On paper Alan makes too much money for a loan to cover what we spent which means we are stuck paying all of the expenses. Your father offered to pay off all our debt if I helped him. With how things were going I wasn’t sure if we could fix this on our own.”

Artemis looks at his friend who has his eyes fixed on the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Alan half laugh and half scoffs. “You aren’t really the easiest guy to talk to and you don’t like personal issues in the work place. I wasn’t sure how you would react to all this. At least before.” He looks my way. “Until Blue came along.”

Artemis’s eyes move to me and I give him a gentle smile. Is that true? He sighs and pulls out one of the chairs situated around the table. He folds his hands on the table and was silent for several long agonizing seconds. When he looked up at us again I saw his face had softened.

“I believe you Miss Simons. Although I would prefer being told the truth from the beginning its too late to dwell on how things could have been different. I believe you because what you said is just the sort of thing my father would do.” He turns his attention to Alan. “Alan we have been friends a long time and it is my fault that you felt you could not come to me with your financial troubles or the truth about your relationship with Miss Simmons. Now that I know, I want to help you. You are my partner in this company which means you deserve to be taken care of financially. Once we buy the company from my father we will work on increasing your holds in the company.”

I am smiling like a fool when he looks at me next. “You’re right about how I’ve changed. Meeting Blue has made me rethink many things.”

My face flushes at the complement and I walk over to him. I don’t expect him to pull me into his lap and kiss the hell out of me in front of his friend though. When we pulls away he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ears and keeps his eyes fixed on mine.

“I’m mad at you for running off Mrs. Rhodes, but I appreciate what you did for me. It may backfire, but you gave my sisters a chance to speak out. You stood up for me…it’s enough to make me forgive you for all the shit you’ve done the last couple of days.”

I laugh and wrap my arms around his neck and lean in the whisper in his ear. “Don’t go soft on me Mr. Rhodes. I’m still waiting for that punishment you promised me.”

Someone clearing their throat breaks us from our little moment and we both look over at Alan.

“I don’t want to interrupt but we do have a lot of shit to do.” He reminds us.

Artemis wraps an arm around my waist and holds on to me as he gets to his feet. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

He keeps his hand on my lower back as we follow Alan and Abigail out of the room. Bryant and Dane are waiting nearby which makes me feel a little better about going into whatever situation we’re about to face upstairs. Artemis tries to access his private elevator but quickly learns that he’s been locked out. Several guards appear and ushers us toward the other elevators.

“This seems excessive.” I say.

“No shit.” Alan adds.

He slips his hand around Abigail’s and keeps her close to him. Artemis pulls me further into his side when we enter the elevator. The men join us inside and stand like a wall in front of the doors. This feels wrong…

As if sending my concerns into the universe the elevator stops suddenly. The lights flicker before the small room goes completely dark. I feel a strong hand grab my arm and pull hard dislodging me from Artemis.

“Hey!” I call out but another hand covers my mouth before I can scream or do anything else.

There’s a scream that’s quickly cut off. “Abigail!” I hear Alan yell.

There are grunts and yelling but I can’t make out anything. There is an odd smell around me and it’s making my head dizzy. It doesn’t take long for everything to go dark. What the fuck?

My head is killing me and it’s freezing. Where am I? I Crack my eyes open and immediately regret it when I’m hit with a super bright light.

“Owe!” I try to reach up and cover my eyes but I can’t move my hands.

They’re stuck! I try to pull at whatever is holding me but it’s not working.

“Blue?” Abigail’s voice sounds scared.

I force myself to open my eyes and try to get a grip on what’s going on. It takes a second for everything to become clear. When it does I see Abigail sitting about four feet away from me. She’s tied to a chair and her makeup is streaking down her cheeks.

“Abigail? What’s going on?” I desperately try to free myself but again it doesn’t do a thing other make my skin burn.

I glance around me but I can barely make anything out thanks to the light above us.

“Hello? Anyone there?” I yell.

I hear footsteps seconds before a large figure steps under the light.

“Mrs. Rhodes, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”