Female Novel
Chapter 50
“Yes. Someone had spiked my drink. After that, I somehow ended up inside this room where I ran intoMs. Rhonda. But I did not touch her, I swear.”
Narrowing his eyes, Artemis turned to regard Ken. “Get some people over to the scene and look intothe beverages to see whether there are any issues with them.”
“Understood.”
Felicity walked in from the outside, and a frown appeared between her brows when her sights fell uponRhonda. “What's up with you? How did you end up here?”
Rhonda's emotions became gradually settled through Beatrice's pacifying. Wrapping her arms tightlyaround herself, the former then started choking up, “I've been set up. Mom sent me back here to pickup some clothes, and when I was passing through the side passage, someone knocked me out andforced some drug down my throat.” novelbin
With that, she lifted her head to regard Felicity with teary eyes. Then, she continued in a hoarse voice,“Laurence is Max's granduncle and my future uncle so how could I possibly... You have to be the judgeof this, Mrs. Luther. I've been set up by some wicked people.”
Looking up at her son, Felicity asked solemnly, “How do you intend to handle this?”
While Artemis' gaze fell upon Laurence., his eyes betrayed nothing about his thoughts.
Considering how the two matters were intertwined, he reckoned that Luther Group's reputation wouldsurely suffer if he should choose to do nothing about it.
Certainly, none of that really mattered to him, for his primary concern was with his son. What wouldothers think about the boy should word of this spread?
Even if they would not say anything nasty to his face, what would they say behind his back?
He was positive that his son would be turned into a laughing stock.
As a father, he saw it as his responsibility to provide a conducive environment for his child to grow.
“Have the family doctor come over. If they had both been drugged, this matter must have beenperpetrated by a third party.”
With that, he scrutinized the reporters all around him. His keen eyes conveyed an implicit look ofdeterrence and caution. “If they were set up, then they too could be considered victims. I trust thatevery one of you here is a reasonable person who would not seek to compound upon their misery.”
The masses exchanged knowing looks with each other.
Artemis' message to them was obvious. He was indirectly using his tone to hint that they were tosurrender the photos that they had just taken.
“What are you suggesting, Mr. Luther? Are you forcing us to leave our film behind?”
Artemis' lips curled up while he turned his attention to the reporter with brows perked up. “If you do notwish to leave your film, you can always leave your camera behind instead. Rest assured that you will
not stand to lose, for I am offering to acquire your equipment at three times its value. Of course, youalso have the option of calling up your boss to get him to make a trip down to Luther Group'sheadquarters, as I'd be happy to have a chat with him in my office over his company's financingmatters.”
That was as overt a threat as any and had that reporter so spooked that he shuffled back a couple ofsteps.
Scanning through the faces in the crowd, Artemis let out a subtle smile. “Luther Group has wieldedinfluence in Hallsbay for many years, and I believe that all of you may yet continue to benefit from ourpresence here in the days to come. If we could all be discreet about the events that took place heretonight, I have no doubt that there would be more opportunities to collaborate abound. However, shouldanyone here cause a leak that affects my son's reputation, then do not blame me for being merciless.”
The crowd collectively shuddered.
How could they have forgotten about Maxton?
If word about the night's incident were to get out, the first person to be implicated would be the youngprinceling of the Luther family. As his father, there was no way Artemis would allow his own son tobecome embroiled in such a fiasco.
Clack!
Someone had already opened up and retrieved a roll of film from his camera which he handed over toa bodyguard at the side.
“I'm with Metropolitan News, Mr. Luther. Every shot I've taken tonight is in that roll of film that had beenhanded over to your bodyguard. I swear that I'll not breathe a word about anything that I've seen here.”
That yielded a smile from Artemis. “In the coming six months, you will be given access to Luther Groupfor your coverage of finance-related news. Send your company's representative to Luther Group todiscuss the relevant details of this collaboration tomorrow.”
The man responded with delight, for exclusive rights to cover financial news concerning Luther Groupwould be enough to make his company a real windfall.
“This is Beau Monde's film, Mr. Luther...”
“This is ours from The Lowdown Global...”
Seeing the perks the reporter from Metropolitan News received prompted the rest to produce their ownrolls of film from their cameras which they passed along to the bodyguards.
When Artemis cast a glance in the way of his subordinates, they got the hint and approached themasses to conduct a body search.
Returning from the front courtyard, Ken had in hand a goblet with wine stains left on it.
“I've ascertained that there are indeed traces of a drug inside of this wine glass, Mr. Luther, but I amunable to determine its source for the time being as it is way too chaotic out there.”
The family doctors from the two families hustled in just as his voice trailed off.
As though she had grabbed onto a lifeline, Beatrice immediately spoke up, “Quick, Dr. Zelinski. Comeover here and have a look at Rhonda to see whether she had been drugged.”
I can't look dejected, and I have to stay calm. There will be a way to turn this around.
She was convinced that so long as they were adamant that someone was out to get Rhonda, therewould be no way the Luther family would be able to blame it on her daughter.
On top of it, Laurence's involvement means that the Luther family would likewise be bound to secrecy ifthey wanted to preserve their own reputation.
There was a palpable shift in Bradley's expression after he had examined Rhonda. “This istremendously powerful stuff. Who was it who wanted to set up Ms. Rhonda? It's simply abominable.”
Immediately, Beatrice signaled to her daughter with her eyes, and in the next second, Rhonda bawledaloud. “I told you that someone wanted to set me up. Would you believe me now, in light of theevidence?”
Two alerting beeps accompanied the arrival of a message on Artemis' phone.
Pulling it out to check, he found that it was from Maxton.
Come over quickly, Daddy. We're at the boulevard outside of the Jefferson residence. Bailey has beendrugged, and she's not in a good condition.
The color drained from Artemis' face.
For a moment, he thought that the woman had managed to get away unscathed, but it was not thecase.
“Stay where you are. I'll be right there.”
After sending the message out, he looked up at Ken. “Send Laurence back to the Luther residence. I'llsort him out after I return,” he said staidly.
With that, he turned to regard Felicity. “Max has run into a bit of a problem on his end, so I have to goover to him. Please oversee things here. I'd have to make a move first.”
Upon learning that her grandson was in trouble, Felicity had to take her attention off consoling Rhonda.“Then go to him at once,” she said anxiously.
“Yeah.”
On the boulevard outside the mansion where they were, the agitated Maxton and Zayron were pacingback and forth.
“Didn't Bay say that the drug wasn't strong? How did she completely lose herself then?”
Sweeping his loose bangs away from his forehead, Zayron seethed, “Why the heck are you asking methat for? Isn't your mother the one who did the drugging? Why don't you go and ask her that instead?”
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