The sight of Brett lounging on his sofa, as if he owned the place, sent a wave of icy anger through Chris. It had been just days since their last unsettling encounter, and Chris had hoped stupidly that he’d seen the last of him. He had even changed the locks, a futile attempt to keep the man out of his life. Clearly, it had not worked.
"What are you doing here?" Chris demanded, his voice sharp, as he stepped into his living room. The air was thick with the scent of Brett’s expensive cologne, an unwelco intrusion into his personal space.
Brett smirked, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face. "Relax, Chris," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I just wanted to have a little chat."
"We have nothing to talk about, I don’t want to chat with you," Chris retorted, his anger rising. "Get out of my house."
Brett chuckled, unfazed by Chris’s hostility. "Co on, Chris," he said, rising to his feet. "Don’t be like that. We both know you don’t really an that." He stood up and took a step closer, invading Chris’s personal space.
"Besides," he added, his voice dropping to a low, nacing whisper, "the next ti I want to talk to you, I might just choose a more... public venue. Imagine the whispers, the speculation. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation, would it? I wonder what Levi would think, his best fans his enemy, strategizing, planning..."
Chris felt a chill run down his spine. He knew Brett was capable of anything. The threat was clear: comply, or face public humiliation.
"What do you want, Brett?" Chris asked, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger.
Brett’s smirk widened. "Now you’re talking," he said.
He walked over to the coffee table and picked up a frad photo of Chris and Levi, studying it for a mont before placing it back down. "It’s about Brandon," he said, turning back to Chris. "And his new position."
Chris felt a knot of dread tighten in his stomach. He knew this couldn’t be good.
"What new position?" he asked cautiously.
"Co on." Brett scoffed. "I know all about your eting with Lily."
Chris closed his eyes, wishing that he could wake up and find out that all this had been a terrible dream. But unfortunately, when he opened his eyes Brett was still standing in his living room.
"I want you to add a clause to the agreent," Brett said, his eyes eting Chris’s. "A clause that will transfer the majority of the Van Doren shares that Levi owns to Brandon if he decides to resign as interim CEO."
Chris stared at him, his mind reeling. This was outrageous. Brett was trying to manipulate the situation to ensure that Brandon gained control of the company, but why would he do that?
"That is impossible," Chris said, his voice firm. "I can’t do that. It’s illegal, and it’s completely against Lily’s wishes."
Brett shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "Lily does not need to know about it," he said. "You are the lawyer, Chris. You can make it happen. You are good at these things. A little creative wording, a few legal loopholes. No one will ever know."
"I won’t do it," Chris said, his voice resolute. "I will not betray Lily and Levi’s trust, and I will not participate in any sche that could harm the company."
"Tsk tsk tsk" tutted Brett, but there was not even a hint of sympathy in his eyes. "You have already betrayed Levi, this is just a little extra."
"You can’t force to do it." Brett insisted.
Brett’s smile vanished, his eyes turning cold and hard. "You don’t understand, Chris," he said, his voice nacing. "This is not a request. It is an order. And if you don’t comply, the consequences will be... dire."
He took another step closer to Chris, his eyes boring into him. "Think about it, Chris," he said, his voice low and threatening. "Think about what you stand to lose. Your reputation, your career, everything you have worked so hard for. It could all be gone in an instant."
Chris stared at him, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew Brett was serious. He was a dangerous man, capable of anything. He felt trapped, caught between his loyalty to Levi and the very real threat that Brett posed.
"I need ti to think," Chris said finally, his voice barely a whisper.
Brett chuckled, a cold, humorless sound. "You don’t have much ti, Chris," he said. "I suggest you make the right choice. For your own sake."
With that, Brett turned and walked towards the door, letting himself out. Chris stood there, his mind reeling, his body trembling with anger and fear. He knew he was in a precarious position.
He had to find a way to protect Levi and the company without putting himself in danger. But he also knew that Brett was not about to give up easily.
He was a persistent and ruthless adversary, and Chris knew that this was only the beginning of a very dangerous ga. The serpent had made his bargain clear, and Chris was now caught in its coils, struggling to find a way out. In simple terms, he was fucked.
*
Levi was roused from his nap by his phone ringing. He glanced at the screen with bleary eyes and winced. It was Chris. Probably calling to remind him of his responsibilities at work.
Levi guessed that after his mom tried and failed to convince him to co back to work, she had resorted to asking Chris to speak to him. He did not know how he could get them to understand that as long as Lyse was not okay, he was not going to be able to function, much less head a company.
He put his phone silent and dropped in his pocket before looking up at Lyse then he stiffened as he watched a small twitch of Lyse’s fingers. He had almost missed it and he thought that he was seeing things. But then it happened again, a more pronounced movent. His head snapped up, his eyes widening as he stared at her hand.
"Lyse?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
He watched intently as her eyelids fluttered slightly. Then, slowly, painstakingly, they began to open. Levi held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Lyse’s eyes, still hazy and unfocused, slowly ca into view. She blinked a few tis, as if adjusting to the light. Her gaze wandered around the room, finally settling on Levi.
"Who are you?" she murmured, her voice weak and raspy.
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