Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 170

Audrey's POV:

I stirred awake briefly in the early morning light, reaching across the bed only to find empty space where Caspar had been.

The sheets were cool to the touch—he'd been gone for some time.

Fragments of an earlier conversation drifted through my sleep-addled mind.

"I'll take Noah to school today," Caspar had whispered, his hand gently brushing hair from my forehead. "You need rest."

I'd mumbled something incoherent in response, then fell into sleep again.

The shrill ring of my phone cut through the peaceful morning silence some hours later.

I glanced at the screen, surprised to see Sienna Bailey's name flashing.

"Hello?" I answered, my voice still raspy from sleep.

"Audrey," Sienna's voice sounded artificially sweet.

"Mother wants you to come over for lunch today. "

I sat up in bed, immediately alert.

Eleanor Bailey extending a lunch invitation? This had all the markings of a trap.

But whatever game Eleanor was playing, I was more than ready to attend.

After all, she had no idea that I'd been quietly acquiring all the Bailey Group shares they'd foolishly sold off to outside investors.

Now I held the controlling interest, making me the one with the most power in the company.

"Tell her I'll be there," I replied, quietly.

It was finally time to confront Eleanor and George, to make them reveal everything they knew about my child.

After hanging up, I reached for my phone again and dialed Emma Clarke's number.

Caspar's words from last night echoed in my mind—two separate teams following Emma.

The thought made my stomach clench with worry.

"Emma," I said when she answered, not bothering with pleasantries, "are you safe? "

A brief silence, then a soft scoff.

"Seriously, Audrey? After everything we've been through in London, you're worried about a couple of amateur surveillance teams? I'm almost offended."

"The two teams that were following you," I pressed, ignoring her teasing. "Are they still there?"

"They seem to have disappeared suddenly," Emma replied, her voice turning more serious. "It's strange."

There was a pause on the line. "Wait a minute. How did you know there were two different teams? I never mentioned that."

I hesitated, then decided on honesty.

"Caspar told me last night. Apparently, one of the teams belongs to him."

"Thornton's?" Emma's voice was surprised. "Well, I have to admit, his team has skills. I thought I'd shaken yesterday."

She let out a low whistle of reluctant admiration.

"I'd like to meet whoever's running his security sometime."

I reminded her in a serious tone.

"Focus, Emma. If one team was Caspar's, then the other—"

"Could be the organization," Emma finished, all traces of humor vanishing from her voice. "They're still offering that bounty on us."

A chill ran down my spine.

"Emma, please be careful," I said, my voice dropping to almost a whisper. "I wish I could offer you a place here at the Thornton estate, but—"

"God no," Emma cut me off with a nervous laugh.

"Can you imagine? 'Hello, Mr. Thornton, this is my friend who's being hunted by international killers. Mind if she crashes in your guest room?' That's too absurd."

"I'm sorry," I replied. "I'm worried they might target the people around me. Noah, Caspar—"

"Audrey," Emma's voice turned firm, almost stern.

"I would never let that happen. Trust me, I won't let anyone trace it back to you."

I closed my eyes, guilt washing over me.

"You and Jasper are also very important to me," I said softly. "I can't lose you, too."

"Nothing will happen," Emma interrupted.

"And please stop with the sentimentality before my lunch. It ruins my appetite."

Despite her flippant tone, I could hear the affection in her voice.

"Fine," I conceded. "But if anything changes, anything at all—"

"You'll be the second person I call," she promised. "Right after my weapons dealer."

"Emma!"

"Kidding! Mostly." She said. "I'm going to look for food. Bye! "

I sighed, at a loss for what to do with her.

After showering and dressing, I grabbed the leather folder I'd prepared days ago.

Today was the day I'd finally confront the Baileys about everything—especially about my child.

---

The Bailey family's Upper East Side apartment seemed unchanged at first glance.

But as I stepped further inside, subtle differences caught my eye—the antique Tiffany lamp that once stood in the corner was gone, as was the small Degas bronze that had been Eleanor's pride and joy.

The Ming dynasty vase that normally dominated the entryway table had been replaced by a convincing reproduction.

They were selling off their treasures, piece by piece.

I hadn't expected things to deteriorate so quickly.

"Audrey! How wonderful to see you," Eleanor exclaimed with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. George stood beside her, equally inauthentic in his welcome.

I maintained a cold, distant demeanor as I stepped inside.

"Where's Grandma?" I asked, noticing the absence of the only Bailey I actually cared about.

"Oh, she received an invitation to that new gallery exhibition downtown. Couldn't miss it," Eleanor explained.

I nodded, knowing full well Margaret hadn't received any such invitation—I'd arranged that. I didn't want her present for what was about to happen.

As we settled into the living room, Eleanor's plastic smile widened.

"Before we discuss anything else, I simply must congratulate you, Audrey. Finding your birth parents after all these years—what a blessing! The Coles are such a... prominent family."

Her voice dripped with false warmth. I simply stared back, unmoved by her performance.

"Yes, quite the revelation," George chimed in, his eyes darting nervously between Eleanor and me.

"Speaking of the Coles... perhaps you could, ah, speak with them? About their rather aggressive business approach toward Bailey Group?"

And there it was. Barely two minutes into our meeting, and they'd revealed their true purpose.

But the realization that my biological family had taken it upon themselves to exact some form of retribution was... unexpected.

For a brief moment, I felt a strange warmth—the novel sensation of having people fight battles for me rather than me always standing alone.

"What George means," Eleanor interjected, shooting him a warning glance, "is that family should support family. And despite this wonderful new connection you've discovered, we still consider you a Bailey at heart."

I maintained my silence, watching them squirm.

Without a word, I handed George the folder.

He took it and opened it blankly, his expression shifting from confusion to shock as he reviewed the documents inside.

"What is this?" he demanded, his voice suddenly hoarse.

"Ownership transfer documents," I replied calmly. "Bailey Group now belongs to me."

Eleanor snatched the papers from George.

"This is impossible! "

"You sold shares to various investors at desperate prices whenever you needed quick cash. What you didn't know is that I was secretly acquiring all those shares through different proxy companies."

I paused, letting the information sink in.

"Combined with what other panicking shareholders have been offloading, I now own fifty-three percent of Bailey Group. I control the company now."

The color drained from their faces as the realization sank in. Eleanor's hands began to shake.

"You can't do this!" she shrieked, lunging toward me.