?


    Vrie smirked. "I know. Now, if you''ll excuse me, I have things to do."


    Anthony stepped aside with a nod, and Vrie got back into her car, driving off.


    She had originally nned to meet N, but changed her mind and headed straight for the Genge residence instead.


    When she arrived, a maid greeted her, "Ms. Weir, Mr. Genge is waiting for you in the living room."


    Vrie snickered. Tom had known all along she woulde.


    Entering the living room, she found Tom lounging on the sofa with a smile. She mirrored his expression and sat across from him.


    "Tom, didn''t I tell you I want nothing to do with you and don''t want to see you again?" Vrie asked.


    Although she was smiling, her gaze was icy, filled with disdain.


    Tom was unfazed by her attitude. Calmly, he poured her a cup of coffee. "I can''t stand seeing anyone bully you, so I did something about it. How is that wrong?"


    Vrie took the cup he handed her and promptly poured its contents into the trash bin beside her.


    "I don''t need your fake kindness!" she snapped.


    Tom raised an eyebrow. "Fake? Is Brandon''s affection any more real?"


    "At least he''s more genuine than you," Vrie shot back.


    Her words wiped the smile off Tom''s face.


    "If he really cared about you, would he just stand by while the Weir


    et


    Group teeters on the brink of bankruptcy? If he were truly genuine, wouldn''t he have done something when he found out Zayn tried to


    assault you?


    "If what you consider ''genuine'' is a show with zero effort or cost, then yes, he''s very genuine," Tom taunted.


    His mocking tone made Vrie frown.


    "And what right do you have to criticize him? At least he doesn''t cheat on me or disappoint me over and over again," she retorted.


    Tom paused before replying, "Yes, I


    made a mistake five years ago. But I


    never touched anyone else. I just


    didn''t realize what I felt. Are you really going to judge me for one mistake?"


    "Once unfaithful, always unfaithful. I''m not giving you another chance. If you mess up again, it''s on me for being na?ve," Vrie answered.


    "I won''t make another mistake. That''s just your bitter assumption," Tom argued.


    et


    Vrie chuckled. "Don''t you get it?


    Whether or not you''d make another


    mistake, won''t give you another chance. Stop with these pointless gestures. I don''t need them. And leave the Updike Group alone"


    With that, she turned to leave.


    Watching her go, Tom smirked. "Well, Vrie, if you trust Brandon that much, let''s see if he can resist temptation."


    Vrie halted, turning back to re at him. "Tom, the more you meddle, the more I despise you. If you try anything with Brandon, I won''t let you get away with it!"


    Seeing her so fiercely defend Brandon wiped the smile from Tom''s face, leaving him cold.


    He stepped closer, an ominous tension filling the air. "Vrie, if you keep defending him, I can''t guarantee what I might do."


    Vrie held his gaze, unafraid. "Do whatever you want. It won''t change anything, and I''m not scared. But don''t think for a second I''lle back to you."