Chapter 9 - The Wounded Boss Who Refused to Let Her LeaveBy midnight, Kora’s face was everywhere.
Television.
News websites.
Social media.
BRIDE QUESTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH SAINT JUDE FIRE.
The articles were careful.
The comments were not.
She probably wanted attention.
Look at her.
Why would Leo Vale marry her anyway?
Gold digger.
Maybe she tried to kill them both.
Kora shut off her phone.
Mateo took it from her anyway.
“Stop reading.”
“I already stopped.”
“You’re thinking about reading.”
“You can see thoughts now?”
“Only obvious ones.”
She paced Mercer’s clinic.
“This is Leo.”
“Yes.”
“He’s turning me into the suspect.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re agreeing with everything I say, which is annoying.”
Mateo leaned against the bed.
“I nearly died yesterday. I’m conserving energy.”
Kora looked at him.
He smiled faintly.
Then she noticed his hand pressed against his side.
“Sit.”
“I’m fine.”
“Mateo.”
He sat.
Again.
Gino watched with fascination.
Kora checked the wound.
“No bleeding.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“Nurse.”
“Former nurse.”
She stopped.
He noticed.
“Do you want to go back?”
“To medicine?”
“Yes.”
Kora looked down.
“I don’t know.”
“You were good.”
“You saw forty minutes.”
“I saw the forty minutes where I didn’t die.”
“Low standard.”
“Important standard.”
She smiled despite herself.
Then someone knocked.
Gino answered.
A lawyer entered.
Her name was Olivia Hart.
Mateo had called her.
“I’m representing Ms. Bell,” Olivia said.
Kora crossed her arms.
“I didn’t hire you.”
“Mr. Rivas did.”
Kora looked at Mateo.
“No.”
Mateo shrugged.
“Yes.”
“You don’t get to arrange my life.”
“I arranged an attorney.”
“Same principle.”
Olivia looked between them.
“I can come back.”
“No,” both said simultaneously.
Olivia sat.
“The police have no evidence Kora started the fire. But someone leaked manipulated footage showing her entering the side corridor before the ceremony.”
Kora stared.
“I never went there.”
“We know.”
“How?”
Mateo nodded toward Gino.
“We found the original camera feed.”
Olivia opened a laptop.
Two videos appeared.
The leaked version showed Kora walking near the side corridor.
The original showed a different woman with Kora’s face digitally inserted.
Kora stared.
“They fabricated it.”
“Yes.”
Olivia leaned forward.
“That’s good news.”
“How?”
“Because altered evidence leaves fingerprints.”
Gino smiled.
“We can trace who created it.”
Mateo looked at Kora.
“And when we do, Leo stops controlling the story.”
Kora was quiet.
Then she stood.
“I’m going home.”
Mateo’s expression changed.
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“Leo threatened your father.”
“I’m not staying here forever.”
“Until we know who’s working with him.”
“You can’t order me.”
“I’m aware.”
“You sound like you’re ordering me.”
Mateo stood too quickly.
Pain flashed across his face.
Kora caught his arm automatically.
For one second they were close.
Too close.
His voice lowered.
“I watched a building explode around you.”
Kora looked at him.
“I watched you walk through fire carrying me when everyone else ran.”
His gaze stayed on hers.
“I am not interested in watching Leo get a second chance.”
Her anger softened.
Mateo continued.
“You don’t have to obey me.”
“Good.”
“But please don’t make it easy for him.”
The word stopped her.
Please.
Not a command.
Not a threat.
A request.
Kora slowly released his arm.
“One night.”
Mateo nodded.
“One night.”
She walked toward the guest room.
Then turned.
“Mateo?”
“Yes?”
“If you try to put guards inside the room, I’m leaving.”
His mouth curved.
“I was thinking hallway.”
“Two.”
“Four.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
“Goodnight.”
He smiled after she left.
Gino stared at him.
Mateo looked over.
“What?”
“I’ve never seen you negotiate down.”
“Go away.”
Gino grinned.
But an hour later, nobody was smiling.
The trace on the manipulated video came back.
The computer used to create it belonged to someone Mateo trusted enough to access his private home.
May you like
His younger cousin.
Nico Rivas.
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