Chapter 315 Leverage and Leverage

“Double your bonus,” Wyatt said.

Laurie froze.

She rubbed her forehead like she was tempted but too proud to admit it.

Wyatt glanced at Yunice, then added casually, “How about Mr. Jameson as your mentor?”

Mr. Jameson. One of the top figures in pharmaceutical research.

Laurie felt the threat instantly.

“I’ll take her,” she said quickly.

Wyatt smirked. Too easy.

Yunice looked down, feeling for a moment like she was being… kept.

HR got to work finalizing her paperwork. Laurie left to assign her a workstation and probably smooth things over with the rest of the lab staff.

Yunice finally got a moment to speak to Wyatt. “Does this count as abuse of power?”

Wyatt chuckled. “If I can’t even give my wife a little special treatment, what’s the point of being CEO?”

He said “wife” so naturally. Yunice had found it jarring at first, but she was starting to get used to it.

Wyatt’s tone turned serious. “But don’t take the lab lightly. Three months ago, there was an explosion. If you mess up too many times, I’ll revoke your clearance.”

Blunt, but fair.

Yunice nodded earnestly. “Okay.”

Then she added, “Thanks… for doing all this for me.”

Wyatt glanced at her, and after a pause, asked, “Do you feel like you might love me a little more now?”

His gaze was intense, unwavering.

Yunice didn’t dodge. She answered honestly, “A little.”

His lips lifted into a slightly smug smile.

He stood, still holding her hand. “Let’s go eat.”

Yunice followed him, teasing, “So… you married me to repay a debt?”

“I did.”

“And your way of repaying kindness is marrying me? Why not marry Elianna?”

Wyatt said, “Because I’m a mama’s boy, and you’re the daughter-in-law my mom picked.”

Yunice burst out laughing. “That’s not how ‘mama’s boy’ works.”

He was clearly messing with her.

In the elevator, Wyatt said, “Your SATs are in two weeks. Want to pause lab work for now?”

“You support me going to college?” she asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?” he replied. “One of us being uneducated is enough.”

Yunice’s chest tightened. “You’re not uneducated.”

It wasn’t that he lacked ability–he just never got the chance. The Powell family never gave him one.

The elevator doors opened.

Standing outside was Taylor, dressed in business attire, staring them down coolly.

She was reporting for duty at the Cooper family today. From now on, she’d be running into them often.

As Wyatt and Yunice exited, Taylor entered.

She turned around, watching their silhouettes disappear before the doors closed.

For a moment, she felt a twinge of emotion.

The couple everyone once thought would fail… looked like the only ones who were truly thriving.

Neither of them were what the rumors claimed.

During lunch, Yunice’s phone vibrated.

She excused herself to the restroom to return the call.

A man’s voice answered. “Elsie took the bait.”

Elsie was strapped for cash.

Though she had multiple properties and luxury cars, the upkeep alone–insurance, maintenance, utilities–cost her hundreds of thousands every month.

Paul used to foot the bill, so she never gave it a thought.

But now Paul was broke. He couldn’t even keep himself afloat, let alone her.

Elsie had no concept of restraint. Her salon cards alone cost tens of thousands, with each visit easily racking up thousands more.

To keep living that lifestyle, she had to sell.

Today, she planned to offload a luxury car Paul had gifted her.

Yunice told the man over the phone, “Tell her we’re not buying.”

Then added, “Throw her a bigger lure.”

She hung up and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Time to stir the pot a little more.

Debt collectors were already blowing up Elsie’s phone.

She had tried selling a sports car, but the buyer–clearly not impressed–had walked away. Desperate, she turned to a pawn shop.

But the price was far lower than she’d hoped. Just as the deal was about to close, Owen stormed in and shut it down.