Chapter 0352
Chapter 0352
That day, we changed our minds and decided to release six interviews to the website, with Michael Hatfield’s being the final. Overnight, the story gained so much national traction that the sheriff and two security men show up at our door.
“Logan Hatfield? Hazel Whitaker? The mayor wants to speak with you privately at their office,” the sheriff said.
I’d insisted on answering the door with Logan again. Logan Inched over slightly now, shielding me with his shoulder.
“When?” Logan asked.
“Now,” the sheriff replied.
Logan and I looked at each other. Tammy and Frank came forward from the living room.
“Is everything alright?” Frank asked.
1 guess Hazel and I need to take a drive downtown,” Logan said.
We can come with you,” Tammy said.
“No,” the sheriff replied. “The invitation is for Logan and Hazel only.”
“Now, wait one minute,” Frank started.
“It’s okay, Dad,” Logan replied. “Call Dylan and have him meet us down there, okay?”
Frank’s face twisted with unhappiness but he agreed. “Sure. But be careful.”
I glanced up at Logan, wanting to ask him if he was certain about this. From the way his jaw clenched, I knew he felt like we didn’t have any choice.
“We’ll drive ourselves,” Logan said.
“That won’t be necessary,” the sheriff said. “We’ll take our car.”
“We’ll drive ourselves,” Logan said again more forcefully. He had a few inches of height on the sheriff, who had to look up at him.
The sheriff curled his upper lip, obviously frustrated by Logan’s lack of compliance.
“Fine,” the sheriff eventually relents. “But if you veef off course for even a minute, we’ll do this my way. got it? And you won’t like my way.”
“I understand,” Logan replied.
He glanced at me, and I gave him a subtle nod. Whatever happened next, I would be with him one hundred percent.
As Logan followed the sheriff’s off–duty car, he gripped the steering wheel with a white–knuckled grip.
“Why would the mayor want to see us?” I asked.
“He’s undoubtedly in my grandfather’s pocket,” Logan replied.
Chapter 0352
+25 BONUS
I didn’t know why that news alarmed me. After all, he had everyone else on his payroll; it shouldn’t have been a shock that political officials would also be on that list.
“You think he means to pressure us,” I said, realizing.
1 absolutely think that. We’ll have to be on guard the entire time we are in there, alright? Stay together, don’t let them separate us. And we’ll stand our ground.
“Alright,” I said, nerves prickling as trepidation made my stomach upset.
We followed the sheriff’s car to the garage parking of city hall. Then, after parking, the sheriff and the two security men escorted us into the city hall building and then down the winding corridors to the mayor’s office.
Inside, the mayor was standing beside his desk, talking to the governor, who was sitting behind it.
They both looked at Logan and I as we stepped in.
“Mr. Hatfield. Miss Whitaker,” the mayor said cordially
“It’s Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield,” Logan coolly corrected.
The mayor’s smile went tight, but he said, “Of course,” and gestured for us to sit at the two chairs facing the desk.
Behind us, the two security men stood outside the office, while the sheriff stepped in with us. He closed the door behind him, then continued to stand there blocking it, crossing his arms.
Logan and I accepted the seats and sat down.
“Mr. Mayor, Mr. Governor,” Logan said politely. “Hazel and I were just talking, wondering about what either of you could want to talk to us about.”
The Governor leaned forward on the office chair, which creaked under his hefty weight. “You don’t have to play dumb in these walls, Mr. Hatfield. I’m sure you can reasonably guess that we are all here at the request of Mr. Hatfield Sen
“I’m not certain why the mayor and the governor would care about the personal affairs of a grandfather and his grandson,” I interjected. It was easier for me to get away with playing dumb than Logan could. Everyone in the room, except Logan, already thought I didn’t belong to begin with.
The Governor cast me an annoyed look. I batted my eyelashes, innocently.
“Logan,” the Mayor said, redirecting the conversation. “We know you have your principles here, and we can respect that. Senior is a crotchety old fool who has held onto the old ways so long, he’s stubborn to anything new. But he’s also a man with an excessive of power and money’- both of which he’s trying to use right now to try to wipe his own company off the face of the earth.”
“People are being hurt,” the Governor added. “Profit margins are shrinking, not just for Hatfield Supply, but for companies across the state.”
Ah, there was the real problem. Not so much the people, as the money.
“In order to get Senior to back off, we need you to play ball,” the Governor said.
Chapter 0352
425 BONUS
“My grandfather has already offered me a deal, but it has excluded Hazel,” Logan said. “Hazel is the woman I love and will remain my wife. That is non–negotiable. Until I hear that stipulation accepted, i won’t even consider another offer.”
“Even if he goes full scorched earth?” the Mayor asked. “Even if the entire economy suffers for it?”
“I’m sorry,” Logan said, head high. “But my grandfather’s behavior is not my responsibility. He is the one doing these things, not me. I cannot be asked to break myself to fit into some impossible mold for him just to keep the peace.”
“It’s only until the old bastard dies,” the Mayor adds. He stifles himself after receiving a harsh look from the Governor. “I mean, it can’t be more than a few years. At most!”
With how much spite filled Mr. Hatfield Senior’s body, I’d be surprised if he didn’t outlive us all just to prove he could.
“Even then,” Logan said. “I will not divorce my
wife.”
Pride and happiness filled up in my chest, hearing Logan talk about me like this. How many times in the past had he tried to hide me away to keep the peace or to protect his reputation? No longer. Now, he was adamant in making sure everyone knew my place was beside him.
Not even threats from Grandfather, Michael, the mayor, or the governor seemed to sway him now.
“Senior is the one that started all this,” Logan said, “All he had to do is accept Hazel as my wife, but instead he chose a path of intimidation and harassment. I cannot allow that to continue. I will stand up for my wife and the life we will live going forward.”
The governor sighed as he leaned back in the chair, which squeaked under his weight.
The mayor stepped toward us. “Is there nothing we could offer you to make you reconsider?”
“No,” Logan said flatly. His frown deepened. “You say that you are here at Senior’s behest. Best case scenario, I could assume you are his friends. If that’s true – really true – perhaps, given all of the evidence that has been released to the true nature of his character and the other evidence that could still be out there…”
Logan x
a breath.
“As his friends, the person you should be talking to is him,” Logan said. “He’s the one to convince to let this go.”
