“Just let me explain,” I plead. “This is all a big misunderstanding. I would never intentionally manipulate you.”
“So you’re not a kindergarten teacher pretending to be an investment banker?”
That shuts me up.
He’s made his point on that one and I know nothing I have to say will be able to convince him that I’m speaking anything but a lie.
I fucked up. Bad.
“Andrew, there’s a very good reason for that. I just need you to lis—”
“Get the fuck out of my house!” he roars, and turns away from me.
My heart shatters into a million pieces. I stare at him before closing the distance between us.
“Please hear me out,” I plead, placing my hand on his shoulder.
Andrew shrugs me off roughly and grips my wrist in one fell swoop.
“Keep your fucking hands off me. And. Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. House,” he reiterates, even louder this time.
He drops my wrist from his clutches like he fears contamination and turns his back on me once again.
Deciding not to test my luck any further, I back away slowly and head for the stairs. My vision is blurred with tears by the time I make it to the foyer and Gladys’ voice is unclear as she tries to console me.
Throwing open the door, I start walking. The closest bus stop is more than a mile away and I pray my feet will carry me there before I collapse from the sorrow burning in my chest.
***
Sitting on the bus, I try not to fall apart before we reach my stop but the gut-wrenching sobs are threatening to make a premature appearance.
I want an explanation from Edward, but all attempts at contacting him are a dead-end. He sends me straight to voicemail each time I call and all my texts come back with a message telling me I’m blocked.
That fucking bastard.
I decide that the best way to ward off my impending breakdown is to occupy myself with something other than my depressing thoughts.
Opening the email application on my phone, I try my last avenue for getting in touch with Edward.
My message is straightforward.
Pick up the fucking phone or I’m calling the police to report your ass for investment fraud.
Not even a full minute passes before my phone rings.
“What the fuck kind of power trip are you on?” I answer the phone on the first ring, livid and unable to contain my rage. “How dare you block me after the shit you’ve put me through this summer?”
“Ms. Tucker, I would advise you to—”
“I’m tired of your fucking advice,” I roar angrily. “Cut the shit and tell me where we can meet or I swear to God, I’ll keep my promise and go to the police.”
Rattled by my threat, Edward mumbles a location for me to meet him and I hang up in his face.
***
The office building is tall and overstated, nothing like the subtlety of Castle headquarters.
When I reach the fourteenth floor, I step off the elevator and head for the double glass doors at the end of the short hallway.
It’s late, and there’s no receptionist stationed at the front desk but a light is on in an office down the hall. Edward steps out of it a second later.
“Ms. Tucker, glad you could make it,” he greets as if I’m here under normal pretenses.
“What is going on?” I demand, advancing on him.
That’s when I notice his nose is a purplish blue color and there’s a faint red mark about the size of a palm resting on his cheek.
Andrew beat me to it.
Good.
“I can’t believe you went behind my back and contacted Andrew.”
Perturbed by my loud tone, Edward squints at me and shrugs.
“What do you care? You can stop pretending to like him now. You should be thanking me.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I was never faking anything.”
“Sure you were. Which is why you kept your real boyfriend in the shadows while you played your part. Give it up, Ms. Tucker. The cat is out of the bag. I know all about your relationship with Mason Reid. You sneak off to see him before you run home to my brother.”
Has he been following me? How the hell does he know about Mason?
My stomach churns at the violation. He’s the one who told Andrew I was meeting him behind his back?
“Mason isn’t my boyfriend. He’s a friend. Not that I have to explain anything to you.”
“Whatever you say, Ms. Tucker,” he shrugs dismissively.
“I know you used me to steal from Andrew,” I announce and you could hear a pin drop, it’s so silent.
“What are you talking about?” It’s his turn to ask questions.
“Rio Venture Corp is as fake as the position you made up for me, and I want answers.”
Forty-two
LILAH
“You hate him so much that you were willing to steal his inheritance?”
I’m floored after Edward’s explanation. Not to mention repulsed. How much hatred could someone hold in their heart to their own flesh and blood?
I’ve seen some fucked-up family bonds in my day, but Edward is really pushing the limits.
“He doesn’t deserve a dime of that money,” Edward insists, standing firm in his bullshit. “My father worked hard to give us everything we have and Andrew couldn’t care less. He’d rather squander it away on his failing attempt at an art career and traveling the world to fuck as many women as possible. He’s a disgrace to the family name.”
Blinking slowly, I try to process everything he’s saying but it’s a chore. My brain is at its wits’ end making it harder to process bullshit.
“Andrew is his own person and you hate him for it. I didn’t see it until now but you really loathe him for being his own person because all you ever knew how to do is be a miniature version of your father. You’d really stoop this low to hurt your only remaining family member and that’s some sick shit. You’re
