Chapter 25
Present Day
Gemma
I sat in my car, my mind now set on the task ahead of me. I'd spoken for a little longer with Zack after we'd kissed, trying to convince him not to leave, to ride out the storm and clear our names, but he was having none of it.
He'd told me he loved me and was now going to leave me. It was like being back in high school all over again, having him ripped away from my grasp when I needed him the most.
I opened the door of the car and stepped out, walking purposefully through the doors and back into my office. I had one thing on my mind now, something I needed to do.
I felt more eyes on me as I walked through the building and into the lift. I knew rumors must have been going around about why Cade and Zack had been fighting that night and, whether people thought I was involved or not, they still stared at me as if they'd get an answer.
If Mrs Banks gets her way they'll all get their answers soon, and it'll be just the sort of scandal they'll all lap up. But not if I have anything to do with it.
I stepped out of the lift and didn't even bother going towards my desk. I could see Annie out of the corner of my eye, standing up and watching on as I stormed through the office. She might have seen me rush off only a couple of hours before, but I hadn't noticed her then. No, then I only had thoughts of Zack's safety on my mind – now something else was dominating it.
I paced straight along the wall and down the corridor, keeping my eyes firmly on my target ahead of me. I felt like how Cade must feel when entering the ring – staring at his opponent and not looking anywhere else. I had the same tunnel vision now, my eyes set on Banks' office.
I heard Brenda once again protest as I stormed forward, but her words meant nothing to me. No, I carried on straight through the door and into the office, not caring if anyone else was in there or whether she was busy in a meeting.
As I entered I saw that she was alone, sitting behind her desk. I half expected to see Tara behind her, creeping over her shoulder like a good little minion. Thank God I'd not descended so low. Thank God I'd be able to escape this f*cking place with my integrity still intact.
Mrs Banks' head slowly arched up from the files on her desk, every movement so purposeful, so arrogant. She had such an air of superiority about her, as if no one else meant anything, as if the f*cking ground she walked on was sacred. Well that ground would soon start crumbling beneath her feet if she didn't do what I wanted.
“What is it now Gemma?” she asked, her voice taut. “Did we not cover everything earlier?”
I looked her dead in the eye. “I want you to drop the story.”
She looked at me for a moment, her expression hard, before her facade broke down and she cackled like a witch. It was such a fake and cracked laugh, rusty and put on. It sounded like she hadn't laughed for real in years.
“I'm afraid not Gemma. I've already told you how important this story is to me,” she said dismissively, turning her eyes back down to her work.
I began nodding, accepting her answer. “I did think you'd say that, Martha,” I said casually. “I know why you want to cause such a stir in the Logan family.”
Her eyes narrowed and turned back on me, sizing me up. “And what do you mean by that?” Her voice carried a more sinister edge now.
“Well, it's common to want to get revenge on those who wrong you, isn't it? God knows that's why I'm here.”
“Wronged me?” she hissed. “No one has wronged me Gemma, I think you're mistaken.”
I smiled and reached into my bag as I slowly walked forward towards her desk. “Really? I guess I must have got things wrong then?” I said, with a hint of sarcasm. “I mean, I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but I really thought I'd cracked this case.”
I pulled an image out of my bag and slowly placed it onto her desk. I could see her eyes light up at the sight of it as I pushed it towards her.
“Where...did you get this?” she growled, her voice shaking slightly.
“Well I suppose I can thank you for that Martha. It was you who always urged me to be more ruthless, go to places other's weren't willing to go. You know, that's just what I did, and it paid off handsomely.”
Her eyes were looking intensely at the image as I spoke, deep memories inside them. I could almost feel the hatred boiling inside her at the sight of her and Charles Logan, hugging and smiling happily on the beach.
“You know,” I continued, “I just might have found the sort of scandal you wanted from me Martha. Is this good enough? Will I get that promotion now? Martha Banks, happily married and trusted editor, shared a secret relationship for years with Charles Logan, himself married and with children. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a story like this will damage your reputation severely, will it not? Surely it's something that you want to keep under wraps?” I was enjoying this now, toying with her as she'd toyed with me. The hag had had it coming for years.
She looked completely on edge now, her cool and calm exterior breaking down and showing her for what she really was: a lonely, broken-hearted old woman, still clinging to hatred over the man who chose his family ahead of her.
Her lips cracked open, her eyes still on the picture. “What is it that you want?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
“Don't play dumb Martha, it doesn't suit you.” I said. “I've already told you what I want.”
I watched as her mind ran through her options, looking for a way out. “How about I give you that promotion....it's what you've always wanted. All of this business with the Logan twins will blow over in no time. People are fickle – they go from one scandal to the next. But this promotion could mean big things for your career...”
She really was a scheming bitch, always looking for an angle. I stood for a moment, pretending to consider it, seeing her eyes grow in hope. It all told me one thing: how desperate she was to keep the truth about her and Charles Logan from the public eye. I knew, now, that I had her at my feet.
“I'm sorry Martha, but as tempting as that offer is, I'm going to have to decline. There's one thing I want, and one thing only.”
My expression made it clear that I couldn't be bought, that I wasn't willing to relent. We stood there for a few seconds, staring at each other. I had the bitch by the f*cking balls now, and I was squeezing, hard.
“Tell Tara to drop the story,” I said. “Tell her to delete those photographs she took. Tell her that if she doesn't, she'll not only lose out on the promotion, but she'll lose her job as well. You know, just like you did with me.”
Her eyes were growing smaller and smaller by the second now.
“Do all of that, and make sure that this story doesn't come out, and I'll promise to keep your secret. If, however, anything get's out, I'll take my entire story straight to the press. I've got a whole write up just waiting to go, complete with pictures and love letters and everything else in between. I'm sure they'll be a lot of editors who'd love to get their hands on a scandal like that.”
I kept my gaze on her, my voice growing ever more triumphant. “Does that all sound fair to you Mrs Banks?”
Her thin lips remained tightly pursed, her eyes burning, as she nodded slowly, reluctantly.
I smiled and walked casually over towards the door, turning back just as I put my fingers to the handle.
“Oh, and one more thing....I quit.”