Chapter 9

"This... I’ve never hired a guy before, so I seriously have no clue what the going rate is. How much do you want?" Denise pouted. She was being honest! Jason practically flared his nostrils in anger—talking about market prices? Did she think he was for sale? "Denise!" he growled through clenched teeth. Seeing he was mad, Denise quickly tiptoed and kissed him on the lips, then gave a cheeky grin. "Come on, Jason, don’t be mad. I’m just a broke student here. Two hundred's all I’ve got left after budgeting my living expenses." Jason’s temples started throbbing. Was this girl for real? But after that one little kiss, all his anger somehow vanished. "Denise, do you even realize what you’re starting? You know what happens if you mess with me, right?" he said seriously, his voice low. Of course he saw through her little act. "But Jason, didn’t you kind of enjoy it too? You didn’t exactly push me away when I kissed you." Denise leaned in closer, her fingers suddenly slipping under his shirt. "Denise!" Jason warned again, voice tight. "Oh please, stop pretending. After all that went down yesterday—everything that was seen and touched... and now you’re putting on this noble act?" Denise threw his own words from earlier right back at him, with a smirk. Jason was completely at a loss with this cunning little fox. After they left the hospital, Jason told Denise to make her own way home. He had work at the office. Besides, if he dropped her off personally, who knows what the Montgomery family would think. Once Jason left, Denise dropped the playful front. Her smile vanished, and her eyes were filled with cold hatred. She was getting close to Jason on purpose. Her goal? Steal Samantha’s fiancé and hit them where it hurt most. Just as Denise was about to head off, someone called out behind her—Justin Montgomery. “Hey sis, I heard you got hit again. Are you okay?” Justin asked anxiously. He had just heard what happened. “I’m fine. It’s not a big deal anymore.” But when Justin saw how pale and worn-out she looked, he exploded. “I’m going to make them pay for this!” “Justin, no! Don’t go. I’ll deal with them when the time is right,” Denise quickly blocked his path, terrified he’d do something reckless. He wasn’t strong enough yet to take them on. Since they were kids, she and Justin had only had each other. He was her only family now. “Don’t worry, sis. I’m already sixteen now. I’ll protect you.” There was determination in Justin’s eyes. Denise looked at her little brother—over 1.7 meters tall already. He was turning into a real man. Yeah, he was growing up fast. Back at the Harrington Corporation, Jason sat down in his chair as Ben handed him a folder. "Sir, these are all the details we could find on Denise." Jason took the file and flipped through it. Ben’s efficiency never disappointed. It hadn’t taken long at all to gather this info. The report said Denise’s mother, Grace Wilson, was Arthur’s mistress back in Seaville—not his legal wife. Later, the legal wife, Vivian, showed up with two kids—Samantha and Alexander Montgomery—and had been suppressing Grace ever since. Eventually, Grace fell ill and died, leaving behind Denise and an adopted son, Justin. Samantha’s biological brother, Alexander, was currently studying abroad. Arthur doted on him and was clearly grooming him to take over the family business someday.