Hylda took a step back, remembering that this particular nobody had the weight of a big shot behind her. "What...what do you want?" Kira removed the cheque from Hylda's hand.
She offered the agent a sweet smile. 'You've come all the way down here to give us the cheque. I don't want you to have
made your trip in vain. So I'll take it."
She examined the figure on the cheque and nodded in satisfaction. 'You can go now."
Hylda, regaining her composure, made for the door.
For a moment back there, she had been scared by the girl's cold, almost savage stare.
"Why did you take the cheque?" Giana demanded.
"Why shouldn't I take it?" Kira placed the cheque In Giana's hand. 'It's for your hospitalisation and medical bills, and pain and suffering. It's rightfully yours."
She grinned. 'I think there might even be a little extra money left after you pay off everything. Take it. Buy yourself something nice.
Giana relented after Kira reminded her that it was Kayleigh's money. 'Your gain is her loss.'
Kira busied herself with packing up Giana's belongings. 'Do you want to go straight home or grab a bite to eat first?'
'Either one's fine,' Giana said. 'By the way, what you did back there with the agent? That was scary."
"What was?"
"That look. The way you stared her down, your eyes all frosty and emotionless. It reminded me of my headmaster back in primary school. And believe me, it was not a fond memory."
'Oh, that.' Kira shrugged. 'I learned that move from Austyn. The man can be quite intimidating. I don't have his stature. Nor his status. So I just copied his expression. It worked like a charm, huh? Glana didn't reply.
She once read in a magazine that after spending enough time together, couples would start to look like and act like cach other.
Kira could deny that she had feelings for Austyn, but her actions spoke volumes.
'She called me a what?' Kayleigh shouted.
She gripped the steering wheel so hard that her knuckles turned white.
Hylda offered a sheepish shrug. 'Don't listen to her. The girl doesn't know what she's talking about.
Hylda tried to placate the actress, but Giana's words had planted a seed of doubt in the agent's mind.
It was the first time Kayleigh's powerful backer, Mr McCarthy, withheld his support.
In the past, if someone touched a hair on Kayleigh's head, they would receive swift and severe retribution, not a six-figure cheque.This belongs to .
Besides, Hylda had gotten a call from Mr Scott earlier.
Mr McCarthy's assistant had requested a meeting with her, sounding ominous over the phone.
Hylda couldn't help but worry.
Shaking off those troubling thoughts, she said to Kayleigh, 'Just ignore them. You have bigger fish to fry. You're scheduled to attend a fashion show this afternoon. Let's get you to the studio for makeup and dress-fitting." "I'm not going. Cancel it.' Kayleigh started the engine. 'Get out.'
"Wait, what?"
'Get out of the car! I have something to take care of, Cancel the show. I'll call you later.'
Hylda stood on the sidewalk and watched the actress speed away.
She felt a headache coming on.
The show was a paid appearance.
She'd already received the deposit.
If Kayleigh cancelled without a valid reason, they'd have to pay damages.
Money wasn't an issue, but Kayleigh's reputation, already chequered, would take another hit.
Hylda sighed and looked around for a taxi.
Maybe she could bring it up at the meeting with Mr Scott later.
Kayleigh didn't slow down the car until she was at her destination.
The housekeeper who opened the door recognised the actress and stepped aside for her to pass.
'Where's Mr Cane?" Kayleigh swept into the room.
"Young Master is receiving a guest on the second floor."
Kayleigh bounded up the stairs without waiting to be announced.
She headed straight for the study, whose door was ajar.
Two voices were audible.
One was Liam Cane.
She didn't recognise the other.
The McCarthy Brothers
'Sean Santoro, the next time you want to see me, call ahead. Don't just barge into my private residence like an uncivilised brute. Didn't your mother teach you manners?"
*Relax, Mr Cane. I just popped by for a quick visit. Are you afraid to be seen associating with the likes of me?' The man called Santoro laughed. 'I just have one more question before I go-when are you going to make your move on McCarthy?' 'Like I told you last time, I'll make my move when I'm ready. And it's none of your business."