Chapter 56: Unveiling the blackmailer’s identity

Ivy’s face

"Ro, God’s ready to leave- oh, hi Ivy."

The voice was cheerful, warm, and totally familiar.

My head snapped up to see Milo walking out of the mansion, beaming at me. "How are you doing?"

I barely held back a gasp, my eyes darting down to the phone still clutched in my hand. The red dot pulsed right next to the blue.

It couldn’t be.

Milo was the one blackmailing me?

How? He was just a sweet, slightly goofy guy who always seemed to be around. How could he be the one threatening to destroy my life and expose me to the brothers?

He took another step forward to us, his smile unwavering and my body reacted on pure instinct. I stumbled back and a strong arm shot out, wrapping around my waist and catching me.

"Easy, Vivi," Ro cooed, his hazel eyes clouded with concern. "What’s wrong? Are you okay?"

Even Milo looked concerned, his head tilted, his brow furrowed. "Are you good, Ivy?"

My mind raced, replaying every time I had been blackmailed. Did this even make any sense?

I mean sure he was always around.

That time I had been on a call with Dad, he showed up. When I was watching Gideon fuck the guts out I Tittyana he was there too. And the time I slept with Roman, we had met in Gideon’s study!

Oh my god, it was him all along. He was their best friend and of course he had unlimited access into the house.

Milo’s eyes narrowed, just for a fraction of a second, then it disappeared as fast as it appeared, but it was enough to snap me out of my spiral.

I was being paranoid. I had to get it together.

A high, nervous sound that grated on my own ears, left my lips. "Sorry! I haven’t had breakfast yet. Guess that’s what’s got me all shaky."

"That’s it? That’s all?" Ro scooped me up into his arms, my feet leaving the floor.

"Then we’re fixing that right now. I’m not going anywhere until I see you eat."

Christ.

"Ro, no," I protested, squirming.

"I’d rather see you eat first," his voice left no room for argument as he climbed the steps up to the door.

"You have somewhere to go right? Right Milo?" I glanced over Roman’s shoulder at Milo and the words died on my lips. Was that a sneer twisting his lips or is it just my paranoia again?

He caught himself and let out a booming laugh. "Well, I guess I’ll go tell God that Ro is playing chef."

"No!" The word burst out of me, sharp and loud earning questioning looks from both of them. I forced a smile up at Roman.

"I mean, you go. I’ll eat, I promise. I’ll even send you a picture for confirmation." I batted my eyelashes, laying it on thick. "Don’t keep Gideon waiting."

Roman hesitated, then finally relented, setting me gently on my feet just before the door. "Anything you say, beautiful. But I want that picture. And I want a smile in it."

"I’ll send you a whole photoshoot,"

He gave me one last, searching look, then nodded. He and Milo turned and walked down the steps while I opened the door and walked into the house.

I rushed to the window in the foyer that showed the two of them walking to the garage and pulled out my phone, typing a quick message to the blackmailer’s number.

"Can we talk, whoever you are?"

I hit send and peeked through the window. Milo casually fished a phone from his pocket. He glanced at the screen, his thumb moving across it. Then his head lifted and he glanced at the entrance door.

My stomach dropped. Horror and a white-hot rage flooded me. It was him. It was fucking Milo all along. I was so furious I could barely breathe, my hands clenched into fists.

I remembered the blackmailer’s last message.

Should we work together?

So he had something against the brothers, too? I wanted to run to Ro, Kai and Gideon, to scream Milo’s name and expose him. But then wouldn’t that expose me, too?

I had no proof that Milo was working against them. What if this was some elaborate test? What if the brothers knew and were using him to mess with me, to see what I would do?

So many fucking questions.

I fled to my room to change into my maid dress, my mind as chaotic as a tornado. What the hell was this? Milo?

I was barely out when a message from my father dropped in.

He sent me a link to a business article.

"Knight Industries Poaches Two Major Investors from Kingsley & Co."

"What?!" I hissed, my eyes widening in shock. No no!. The Knights had stolen two of our biggest backers.

Noo way. There was no way Roman had just offered me a whole apartment building while crippling Father’s company.

Father’s follow-up text was colder. "This is what happens when you don’t do your job. Start mapping out their schedules, Ivy. Or there will be no Kingsley & Co. for you to come back to."

How was I supposed to do that? They were like a freaking fortress.

I headed for the kitchen and Donna was there, bustling around the large island. She sighed when she saw me.

"Ivy, cherie!" She ladled a fragrant, steaming liquid into a bowl. "I was worried. You’re never late."

"Sorry, traffic. Is that... medicine broth?" I asked, the smell of herbs and chicken filling the air.

"It is," Donna confirmed, covering the bowl with a small plate. "For Master Malachi. He’s feeling quite under the weather." ℯ

My brows snapped together. "What? What happened to Kai?"

Her brows raised in surprise and I almost smacked myself in the face. Calling my boss by his nickname before a fellow worker? Really?

"Master Kai," I adjusted and I swear her brows rose even tighter, they almost hid under her white chef hat.

"He got pretty sick on their trip and has been confined to his room by his brothers," Donna replied dryly, grabbing a tray full of chicken broth. "I must say it is a surprise. In all my years of working with them, I have never seen him sick. I have to take this up to him now."

What the hell happened in LA? Scratch that, why was I even worried? Those assholes poached two of our biggest investors. I couldn’t afford to worry about him. This was an opportunity.

If I went to his room, I might be able to figure out where Roman and Gideon were going. I could get close to their schedules.

"I’ll go give it to him!" I blurted out, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them.