“Got any dirt for me?” I said with a half–smirk.


    eded the connections just as much as Melody did. Better to strike first than to take the hits. With


    Dexterid up, it was my chance to solidify Colin’s standing in the Langley Group. Otherwise, we’d be


    sitting ducks. Although it felt like someone had my back, cutting ties with Henry and his son left me


    feeling like I was walking on eggshells in the Langley family.


    Melody was clearly reluctant.


    “If you don’t want to talk, fine by me.” I headed for the door.


    “I found out…the president of All–Stars Consortium will be at a charity g in Sea City on the first of


    next month. It’s a fundraiser for orphanages, organized by the local chamber ofmerce.” Melody’s


    grip on my wrist tightened. “That’s all I know. The guy’s a legend in the business world, untouchable.


    Nobody dares cross him. We each fend for ourselves, but…don’t ruin my chances.”


    Her voice was shaky. She was afraid I’d y dirty.


    “Ha, you think you’ll even make it to next month?” I shrugged off her hand, “How much faith do you


    have in that face of yours? You think every man has the same blind spot as Dexter? A man at the helm


    of All–Stars Consortium isn’t just high status – he’s not going to be some young stud. I heard he’s a


    septuagenarian, and you’re ready to swallow your pride for that? Brutal.”


    My gaze on Melody was dripping with sarcasm.


    Apart from her beauty, she didn’t seem to have any other tricks up her sleeve. Getting into the


    Fitzgerald Group as Dexter’s secretary certainly wasn’t because of her qualifications.


    A mythical figure like the president of All–Stars Consortium falling for Melody? Surely he wouldn’t be as


    indiscriminate as Dexter.


    “Foebe Larson!” Melody clung to my wrist in panic, “Help me out. If I can get in with the president of


    All–Stars Consortium, I can help you too. Just keep me safe.”


    “Dexter’s not dead yet. How heartbroken would he be to find out you’re hunting for a new man before


    he’s even cold?” I asked sharply.


    Melody clenched her teeth, “Don’t nder me. I’m doing this for Dexter. Getting in with the president of


    All–Stars Consortium could be good for him too.”


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I was tired of her nonsense. “Want my protection? Okay, but like I said, kneel.”


    I was already halfway down the hallway. Melody intended to do it without any other people’s presence;


    proved she’d go to any length.


    “Don’t kneel here. When you made Phoebe do that, there was quite an audience in that hospital.


    room.” I scoffed. settling down next to Colin, “If you’re going to kneel, do it here.”


    Melody red at me with venom in her eyes, wishing she could tear me apart. She knew I was


    humiliating her.


    Colin, ever so obedient, sat on the bench, relieved when I returned and took my hand, “Phoebe, she’s


    not worth your time.”


    I smiled at Colin, “She won’t do it. Let’s head home.”


    “Foebe Larson!” Melody blurted out my name as Colin and I stood to leave, her eyes red with


    desperation, kneeling down in utter humiliation, “Please, I’m begging you. Dexter’s badly hurt. You’re


    the only one who can help us now.


    It was a public guilt trip. People around the hospital began to whisper.


    “Melody, when you ndered Phoebe and forced her to her knees, did you ever imagine this day would


    come?” I looked down at Melody, who was now the spectacle, and I almost wanted tough.


    Melody clenched her fists ferociously. I knew she couldn’t stand it.


    Women like her were the most dangerous, capable of both submission and dominance. She was


    enduring my humiliation because she was confident that one day she’d climb to the top and repay me a


    hundredfold for today’s shaming.


    That was why her ambitions were soaring, aiming to bypass Dexter and connect with the president of


    All–Stars Consortium.