Jack Hardy The Legacy Returns

005 Two Conditions

Juliet rushed to Jack, checking him for bullet wounds, and found him clean. Despite the adrenaline-fueled fight, there wasn't even a bead of sweat on his forehead. Only his fingers and knuckles were covered in dirt and soot.

Before Juliet could vent her anger for his foolhardiness, her phone vibrated in her coat pocket. Still rattled, she answered the call with shaking fingers, forcing her voice to be steady. "Grandpa…"

The old man's voice crackled on the other end. "Juliet, the news is already buzzing about shots fired near the route you usually take. Are you okay—"

"I am safe, Grandpa. Sorry for being careless. I'll be back soon."

As soon as Juliet disconnected, another call followed immediately. This time, it was her assistant from Angel Skincare, her voice high-pitched and panicked.

"Ma'am, you need to get here right now. Maybelin just stormed in with a dozen lawyers and is demanding to see the CEO."

Maybelin was a Hollywood star whom Juliet had been trying to sign as Angel Skincare's brand ambassador. She even sent gift baskets along with the latest products. Why would she bring lawyers to her company in a fit?

"I'm on my way," Juliet said. She spun towards the Bentley, where the old chauffeur, Henry, was already back behind the wheel. Jack slid into the passenger seat beside her without a word.

They reached the glass tower of Angel Skincare in under twenty minutes. When the elevator doors opened, chaos greeted them. Reporters crammed the hallway, their cameras flashing, and microphones were thrust at their faces for answers.

Inside the main conference hall, Maybelin, Hollywood's reigning queen of flawless skin, stood at the head of a long mahogany table.

Her face was a nightmare of red, angry eruptions that looked like tiny volcanoes. An army of suited lawyers flanked her, their briefcases open, and documents spread like battle plans.

"Your Eternal Youth cream ruined my face!" Maybelin shrieked as soon as she saw Juliet. "I used it last night for the test and woke up to this! I have a five-million-dollar photoshoot for Vogue tomorrow at dawn. How am I supposed to show up looking like a pizza?"

Juliet tried to calm the raging celebrity. "Miss Maybelin, please. Let's talk privately. There has to be an explanation. Our test results showed no side effects—"

The actress slammed a manicured hand on the table. "Your rotten product has failed me! I'm suing Angel Skincare for $1 billion in damages, for breach of contract, emotional distress, loss of earnings, and defamation of my brand. My lawyers say we have an open-and-shut case."

The room erupted in murmurs. The media cameras clicked like lightning outside the glass doors. Juliet felt the blood drain from her face. A heavy payout like that would force Angel Skincare into bankruptcy.

After her father's death, the young woman vowed to reclaim her place in the Forbes family as the heiress. Juliet's grandfather gave her a chance at proving herself worthy with two conditions. First, to succeed as the CEO of Angel Skincare, and second, to find a suitable bridegroom.

However, if the company tanked like this, the Forbes patriarch would cut her off from the inheritance.

"Miss Maybelin, I understand your frustration," Juliet said, almost pleading. "We'll cover all your medical costs, and fly in the best dermatologists tonight. We'll compensate you for the photoshoot too—"

"Compensate me?" Maybelin snapped. "My face is my career, and one night with your poisonous product ruined it! I want your company in the sewers after I get my billion dollars! Get out of my sight before I add harassment to the list."

The room fell into stunned silence. Juliet's cheeks burned in humiliation. She turned on her heels and walked out of the conference room, and kept walking until she found a quiet hallway lined with posters of flawless models.

The moment she was alone, Juliet buried her face in her hands, and hot tears spilled from her eyes.

Someone's footsteps approached the hallway softly. She didn't look up but quickly dabbed her cheeks with tissues, thinking it was her assistant. "I'll be right there—"

"Hey, are you okay?" It was Jack Hardy, that smug man who had saved her life.

Juliet wiped her eyes roughly, refusing to meet his gaze. "I'm fine. If you're worried about our marriage agreement, let me tell you that the deal is off. However, I'll wire you three months' allowance for rescuing me from assassins. Since we never signed the contract, you're free to go."

Jack wasn't listening to her rambling. "Perhaps I can help you in the Maybelin case."

Juliet looked at him with furrowed brows and laughed bitterly. "Are you kidding me? You're a good fighter, Jack, but this is a legal issue that'll cost billions in lawsuits, lawyers, and media sharks. You can't punch a courtroom into submission. Please, just leave. I'll be going out shortly to announce my resignation."

The young man shrugged and rose to his feet. He started walking back towards the main hall without another word. "I'm going to fix it for you."

"Jack!" Juliet scrambled to her feet, hurrying after him. "Are you even listening to me? You'll humiliate yourself and make everything worse. Stop!"

Jack's broad shoulders pushed through the double doors into the conference hall. The entire room turned to stare at the casually dressed man who looked completely out of place.

"Maybelin," he spoke loudly and clearly. "If I make those facial eruptions disappear completely, will you withdraw the complaint and become the official ambassador for Angel Skincare?"