Chapter 12 - The Blackmail Attempt
The following evening, as Lily was finishing up her first official administrative shift as General Manager of The Meridian Room, her phone rang.
She answered it politely. “Hello, this is Lily Carter.”
“Miss Carter,” a harsh, unfamiliar voice spoke over the line. “This is Richard Price, CEO of Price Logistics. I believe you met my daughter, Vanessa, a few nights ago.”
Lily’s posture instantly stiffened. “Mr. Price. If this is regarding your corporate lease with Calder Enterprises, you need to contact Mr. Calder’s legal department.”
“I’m not calling about the lease, Miss Carter,” Richard said, his tone dripping with fake sympathy. “I’m calling about your mother’s unpaid medical bills at St. Jude Medical Center. Eighty-two thousand dollars, to be exact.”
Lily felt the air leave her lungs. Her hand gripped the edge of the desk. “How... how do you know about my mother’s medical bills?”
“My firm holds the legal rights to those debts, Miss Carter,” Richard explained smoothly. “And due to a sudden 'administrative review,' we are demanding full payment of the balance within forty-eight hours. If you fail to pay, we will immediately seize her care contract and transfer her to a state facility.”
Tears of instant panic welled in Lily’s eyes. Transferring her sick mother to a state facility would ruin her treatment.
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“Please... you can't do that!” Lily gasped, her voice trembling. “I’m making monthly payments!”
👉 “There is a way out, Miss Carter,” Richard purred over the phone. “If you cooperate with us.”
