âI know you can do it.â Evelyn held Emmelineâs hand, but it was flung away. âHe saved you back when you were shot. He wouldnât have done that if you were just his acquaintance.â
Emmeline was surprised he did that. She was an inch away from death back then, and Benjamin didnât tell her that he saved her.
âPlease, just help a sister out, will you? If you donât help me, my dadâs gonna kill me!â
And thatâs what Iâm gunning for.
Evelyn swung Emmelineâs arm, pouting. âEmma, pretty please? If youâre still mad at me, Iâll treat you to something someday.â
âI told you I canât help you.â Emmeling flung her hand away. âI donât deal with business stuff. You should bring this up to him if you really need his help.â
âBut itâs not that simple,â insisted Evelyn. âAll I did was run my mouth in Abelâs office, and he came down on us. It must be because of you.â
âAnd why are you so sure about that?â
Evelyn had no answer. The waiting room was closed back then, and she had no idea if Emmeline was inside, but this was her best bet. âEmmaâ¦â She teared up. âI have nowhere else to turn to. This is my first day on the job, and Iâm losing everything. At this rate, my dad will kill me. Please, help a girl out.â
âAlright, shut it.â Emmeline waved her down. âYouâre annoying me. Fine. Iâll try.â
âReally?â Evelyn broke into a smile. âYou really have to help me.â
âI canât guarantee anything,â said Emmeline. âSo donât get your hopes up.â She asked Janie to call Benjamin.
The men were on the golf court, so they couldnât hear the conversation. The moment Janie called, Benjamin took the call. âEm wants to talk to me? Alright. Coming right away.â
Abel stopped playing and returned with Benjamin as well, then Flynn followed quickly. He was a little scared around these men. In front of them, he was nothing. Even when he was a few yards behind them, he could still feel their aura, and it intimidated him.
They came back to the parasol, and Benjamin tossed a bottle of water to Abel. He too opened a bottle and glugged it down, while Flynn opened a bottle himself.
Emmeline said, âMr. York, this is a request from Ms. Murphy. Sheâd like you to idea what happened between you two, but you should handle it.â
âI see.â Benjamin nodded. âI am willing to negotiate, but I wonât be lenient. After all, I will be relinquishing a part of my profit just for this favor.â
Nervously, Evelyn asked, âWhatâs your plan, Mr. York?â
Benjamin said, âSince Ms. Louise has asked me to go easy on you, then Iâll be resupplying your company with the herbs.â
âThatâs great!â Evelyn jumped.
âButâ¦â Benjamin paused for a moment. âItâs not time to celebrate just yet. I am not finished.â
âWhatâs your term, Mr. York?â asked Flynn nervously.
âI will increase my prices by three percent. If thatâs alright with you, we can sign the deal,â said Benjamin.
âThree percent?â The Murphy siblings were shocked.
Evelyn put on a bitter smile. âMr. York, thatâs a bit too much, donât you think?â
âI think itâs perfectly fine,â said Benjamin. âIâd have canceled the partnership if not for Ms. Louise.â
Evelyn looked to her brother for help.