Chapter 77
Dawson glanced at Jamie, who immediately stepped forward with a full glass of red wine, offering it to Britney. Though Jamie wore a polite and almost overly friendly smile, Britney found him just as terrifying as Dawson. Almost on instinct, she took the glass. Her eyes flicked back to Dawson. The moment their gazes met, she flinched and quickly looked away. Het spoke in a mumble. “T.1 was wrong. Y–TOLL_”
“Want me to do it?” Dawson’s expression remained unreadable.
Britney clenched her jaw, then raised the glass of red wine and poured it over her expensive pink coat. After the splash, she carefully handed the glass back to Jamie, her manner so polite it was almost an apology. Jamie took it without a word, and Britney forced a tearful smile at Dawson. “You… you go ahead and get back to work. I’m leaving.” But Dawson’s expression didn’t change.
Britney began to tremble. The pressure was unbearable, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She gave up, turned on her heel, and left. Serena stood frozen in shock. As Britney fled, she quickly grabbed a jacket from a nearby bodyguard and rushed after her, wrapping it around her shoulders. The two of them hurried to the car together. With a loud thud, the car door slammed shut and locked. The engine roared to life, and the car sped off, only coming to a stop a block away.
“Do you want to tell Damien about it?” Serena asked.
Britney had always exaggerated Dawson’s scariness, but having seen him just now, Serena finally understood why. His presence alone carried unspoken authority and power that brooked no dissent. Autumn struck Serena as nothing short of incredible. How did she even get along with someone like that? Wasn’t she afraid?
Britney’s face blanched, and her heart was racing. She wanted to complain, but if anyone looked into it, they’d see that she had provoked Autumn first. Sure, she could lie, but Dawson wasn’t Damien. One phone call to Hank from him, and she’d be done for. And with Dimes clearly siding with Autumn, who was now entirely ignoring her, her situation was even more precarious.
And Dawson? He was far more intimidating now than he ever was when they were kids. Britney’s fear only intensified.
While grabbing Serena’s arm, her eyes brimming with tears, she whispered, “Serena, tell me. Am I really going to be completely powerless against Autumn from now on?” Being splashed with red wine was one thing; she could brush that off. But the idea of constantly living in fear of Autumn’s shadow was what truly terrified Britney. Even the thought of it was unbearable.
Didn’t Dualen tell her to sign? Aurum’s crazy about him; she wouldn’t dare go against him. She definitely quit, and then everything will return to normal! A flicker of hope lit up in Britney’s eyes. “You’re right, you’re right! Autumn will resign. Damien warned her, after all. I just got unlucky today and ran into Dawson!”
“Don’t worry,” Serena said softly, trying to soothe her.
Britney took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Clasping her hands together, she pleaded, “Oh please, God, you have to protect me. Don't let Dawson go to Hank with this.” Hank had mellowed out over the years, but he was still unyielding. If she messed up, she’d be sent to the Caldwell residence for a week to “collect on her actions,” which basically meant being locked up and not allowed to step outside. It was less resilient from being in prison. Britney would go crazy if she couldn’t leave the house for a single day. The thought was unbearable. “Please, God, I’m begging you.”
Serena watched her friend’s panic and grimly said, “Just praying won’t be enough. You need to be more proactive, or God won’t hear you.”
“You’re right!” Bonney’s eyes lit up as she grabbed her phone and called the Pearsons. “That high school charity project M. Pearson mentioned earlier? Britney Caldwell will personally donate ten million dollars!”
After hanging up, Britney finally felt a lot more at ease. A deep breath escaped her, and her tears hardened into a crueler resolve.
“Autin,” she said. “I’m waiting for your restitution.”
Once Damsoni was no longer Autain’s, he’d have no reason to defend her, and then she’d have nothing to fear. Meanwhile, a thought nagged at Serena. Why did the old Autumn always seem so indifferent?