You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 307

Tina was boiling with anger, desperate to teach Patricia a lesson. A dog? Fine. She’d show Patricia what it really meant to be treated like one.

She marched straight across the room, her steps quick and heavy. As she got close to Patricia, her hand flew up, ready to strike. But just as she was about to land the slap, everything snapped into focus for Tina.

Patricia’s lips curled up into a slow, sly smile. She pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek, eyes dark and shining with the thrill of victory.

“Thank you, Aunt Tina,” Patricia said, her voice sweet and mocking.

“You—” Tina froze, realizing in that instant she’d fallen right into Patricia’s trap.

—

Outside, sirens screamed. The press conference downstairs had just ended, and a flood of reporters was pouring out of the building. They caught the perfect scene: police leading Tina and Patricia down the steps.

The gossip mill kicked into overdrive. No one had dared to approach them inside, but now, every reporter made a beeline straight to the police station.

Theo was just leaving after giving his statement when he passed Patricia in the hallway. Her smile made his skin crawl. He glanced at the front of the station and saw camera flashes going off nonstop. That’s when it hit him—he was in the middle of a media circus.

“Patricia, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Mr. Newton, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Patricia replied, tilting her face just enough to let him see the fresh, red imprint of a hand on her cheek.

She might as well have been waving a flag that said: I’m here for something else entirely.

As she walked past him into the main hall, Patricia thought, So you want headlines? I’ll give you a live show. I’m not just in the news—I am the news.

That’s generous enough, right?

Sure, a fight between her and Tina would get attention. But what really got people talking was the rumor about her ex-husband, Theo, hiding a body in his trunk. Scandal or murder—the choice was obvious. Everyone knew which story would blow up bigger.

As for Tina’s slap, Patricia wasn’t in any rush. She could wait.

Three years ago, she nearly broke the Newtons. Now, she was back and even more unpredictable.

“Mr. Newton, I’m not sure if I should say this…” the secretary ventured.

Howard leaned over the desk, veins standing out on his hands. “Say it.”

“Right now, the best move is to make peace. Give the company a chance to catch its breath. Otherwise…” She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.

Howard understood. A real grown-up knew when to fight and when to back off. Even if a young woman had him on the ropes, he had to recognize when it was time to swallow his pride.

Better to retreat and regroup than lose everything.

“Get in touch with Mr. Miller. Ask if he’ll act as a go-between and set up a meeting with the Parsons.”