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The emotions flooding through the room nearly bring me to my knees. I’ve never seen Piers look so shocked in my life.

“Thank you, James.” Piers steps forward and shakes James’ hand. “I appreciate that and whether I care to admit it or not, I always looked up to you. Maybe not as a father, but as a businessman.”

Before he can see any more of the door burst open and a middle-age woman with ratty brown hair burst into the room.

“Lies! Lies! And more lies!” She wails! “How dare you hold this meeting without me? It was me who birthed the rightful heir to this empire!”

“Mum?” Piers whispers, his words carrying the weight of an anvil.

Everything happens so fast, it’s like an action sequence in a film when a car flips or a building blows up. It’s so fast, it’s slow. More yelling. Piers rushes to Willow’s side as James’ bodyguard flies around the table. Barrington jumps up, a glass of water tips, its contents spilling over the side and dripping onto the floor with a hushed tap. James sits as still as a statue in his chair as chaos ensues all around him. I press myself down into a chair and reach for my bag to get my mobile, to call Cohen.

Swiping it to life, I dial his number. It rings. And rings. I hear it ringing in my ear, but the ringing echoes, getting louder. It now echoes in this very room. The taunting sound, like a warning bell in my mind. What the bloody hell?

I suddenly get that tingling sensation on the back of my neck, standing up I move around the table to see Cohen barging into the room looking frantic, his disheveled state and unshaven face are alarming.

His horrified eyes lock on mine, “Scarlett?” He moves towards me.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were out of town?” I whisper, my heart pounding so hard, my ribs ache.

“I was I—” He’s close enough to touch me, but I step back as see the pain that flashes in his eyes.

“Stay away from her!” The mad woman orders, pulling on his arm. “You’re not supposed to be here!”

“Mum, what are you doing?” He yells, looking from her to me and back again.

“Mum?” Piers asks, repeating Cohen’s question, looking like he’s just seen a ghost.

Mum? My head swims with stars and my stomach rolls. I fall to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest as tears fall. More secrets, more lies.