by Megyn Ward
Hearing it all laid out in front of me makes me a little sick to my stomach, but I shove it all aside, focusing on the fact that Kylie needs me. “Yeah—I went off the rails for a bit but I’m trying to make it right. I’m letting you and Jonas jerk me around like a goddamned—”
“For money.” Niles drops his hand and narrows his eyes, a wave of disgust passing over his face. “You’re letting Knightly jerk you around for money.” It doesn’t matter that he’s the one who signed my life away. It doesn’t matter that he is undoubtedly turning some sort of profit off of my misery and humiliation. The fact that I’m letting Jonas pull my strings disgusts him.
The money stopped mattering to me months ago. My compliance has nothing to do with money and arguing with him about it won’t do any good. It won’t help Kylie.
I straighten myself and drop my hand. “Okay. Maybe you’re right.” I have to force my jaw to unclench enough to let the words out. I’m used to eating Niles’ shit and I’ve done it for a lot less. If I can kiss his ass for a sports car, I can do it to save someone’s life. “I appreciate your guidance and advice. I’ll go back to school—wherever you want. I’ll apply myself and join the firm when I graduate.”
Niles looks at me like just said the dumbest thing he’s ever heard. “Not my firm. I only hire winners.”
“Fine.” I cross my arms over my chest to keep myself from reaching out and jerking him across the desk. “Mom’s parents set up a trust for me. They gave me money. I want it. It’s mine.”
“I’m executor with full authority until you’re 35.” Niles rises from his desk with a chuckle, his signal he’s done with me. “Seems even your beloved Grampa knew what a fuck-up you’d turn out to be.”
“I’ll relinquish my trust fund—both of them.” As soon as I say it, a feeling of relief washes over me and I know whether he helps me or not, I’m done. I’ll never ask him for so much as a stick of gun for the rest of my life. “I’ll move out. You’ll never hear from me again. Ever.”
He looks at me, trying to use his silence to build up my hopes but we’ve done this too many times. I know him too well. I know better than to hope Niles will ever put me first.
“No.”
That’s all he says, and I know that’s it. He’s not going to help me.
“There’s going to come a time in your life when you need something from me,” I tell him. “When that time comes, I want you to remember this moment.” Before he can even open his mouth, I turn my back on him and leave.
When I make it to the front door, Alicia is still slumped on the couch. “She made you have drinks with her friends?” She gives me the kind of look you’d give one of those monkeys that’s forced to wear a stupid hat and perform for pocket change—like I’m adorable and pathetic, all at once. “Come on, that’s cruel.”
I don’t answer her. I don’t even stop. She’s right. I am pathetic.
I can’t wait for the elevator and take six flights of stairs two at a time to crash into the lobby. At least the group has checked in and the lobby isn’t crowded.
Bobby is chatting with an older couple, giving them advice on the best place to eat lobster. If I knew where the keys to the Mercedes were, I’d grab them. Unable to wait, I interrupt, getting disgusted glares from the couple.
“I’m sorry. But I’ve got an emergency. Bobby, can I get my keys?”
Bobby opens a metal key box with movements slow as melting ice. “She’s had many admirers, boss. Everybody wants her.”
I flip around and stare at my car.
The hand-me-down Mercedes Niles gave me last year.
That’s my solution.
Twenty-Seven
Kylie
An hour after I talked to Zach I’m showered, changed and determined. I step off the bus in the financial district. I know Zach wants to help but I can’t take a chance on waiting for him. If Diana is going to get the help she needs, it’s up to me.
The sound of my sandals clicking across the tile signal the receptionist of my intent to infiltrate the castle. She doesn’t even make the effort to frown, just gives me a bored expression. “You don’t have an appointment,” she states with a bland tone. If she remembers me from yesterday, she doesn’t show it.
“I’m sure he’ll want to see me.”
She assesses my sundress and flat sandals and scoffs. Keeping an eye on me, she lifts her phone and speaks in a low, sultry voice, probably to the other receptionist. Never wavering in her disdainful expression, she lowers the phone and waits. After a short interval, the phone buzzes. She raises it to her face, listens, lowers it again. So much like a robot it’s scary.
Without speaking, she tips her plastic head to the elevator, indicating I’m cleared.
I don’t pause to acknowledge the upstairs receptionist as she tells me to have a seat, that Mr. Knightly will see me in a moment.
Fuck that. I’m not waiting.
I accelerate at full throttle and get a head start on her.
“Hey.” She sounds startled, like she has no idea what to do. “You can’t—”
I take off down the hallway. It feels like a prisoner’s sprint to execution but it’s the only way to save Diana.
With one deep inhale, I grasp the door knob and twist, bursting into his office with the force of my determination. “When do I start?”
A startled Jonas sits on the leather sofa with a porcelain teacup balanced in his hand. My eruption into the room must have made him jerk and spill his tea and a wet spot spreads across his creamy linen trousers. He smooths over the irritation on his face and forces a kind smile. It’s even more frightening that he’s shark-toothed grin.
His behavior must have something to do with the regal woman perched on the edge of some kind of Louis the Something fancy-assed chair. A teacup and saucer also rest on her palm, though I’m certain she hasn’t bobbled a drop. She seems unruffled, but mildly curious.
Jonas sets his cup on the mahogany coffee table and jumps up, hurrying across the office. “Kylie! My goodness. I’m so glad you’ve let yourself in.”
I allow him to take my hand. What the hell is going on here? I’d prepared myself to face a belligerent, arrogant asshole who would make me beg for the opportunity to be exploited. He wouldn’t play nice and the sadist would make me suffer. I hadn’t expected to burst in on a damned tea party.
And honestly, tea? Who is Jonas fooling, Mr. G&T and High-priced Scotch? I glance at the wet bar. No crystal decanters or cocktail glassware. A silver tea service fills the space instead.
The white-haired woman in the flowing floral print dress watches us with the hint of a smile.
Jonas pulls me toward her. “Mother, this is Kylie Sawyers. Kylie, this is Mrs. Knightly.”
She doesn’t move for a split second and I wait. Mom taught me that good manners dictate the elder or more influential person in the introduction should initiate a handshake. Her smile warms and she extends her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Kylie.”
I take her hand. “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Knightly.”
I’m sure her eyes register approval at my rote acceptance of the old-fashioned manners Mom drilled into me and that I’d seen practiced by the princesses at the sorority house.
Mrs. Knightly sweeps her arm at the sofa. “Won’t you join us? Jonas and I’ve finished with business and were enjoying a nice visit.”
Jonas steps back. “Kylie is here to sign her contract. She’s going to be the newest addition to Liesa’s Life. I’m sure with her busy schedule, she doesn’t have time to natter with two old folks like you and me.”
My god, Jonas is nervous. I wish I could hang out here and watch him squirm. Is he afraid I’ll tell his mother that he’s my father? That thought blindsides me and I draw in a quick breath. This woman, Jonas’s mother, is my grandmother. Sitting with her back ramrod straight, her chin out, head high, she looks like a queen.
Her blood flows in my veins.
I flick my focus to Jonas, who looks short and stalky, smarmy
and low-class by comparison. I settle back on Mrs. Knightly and we hold each other’s gaze. It might be my imagination, but I feel something pass between us. A recognition of something deep inside.
I can’t resist extending my hand to her. I want to touch her, feel the skin of my grandmother, even if she never knows who I am. With deep sincerity, I say, “I’d love nothing more than to have tea with you. But Jonas is right. I have something urgent I have to do.”
Mrs. Knightly’s smile fades slightly. Her hand is warm when she takes hold of mine and squeezes it. “A pity. Maybe some time soon.”
Jonas moves slowly toward the door, so different from his usual gallop everywhere. I can imagine Mrs. Knightly reprimanding him while he grew up to settle down and walk like a gentleman. I don’t feel at all sorry for him.
He holds the door for me and follows me out. As soon as it clicks shut, he grabs my arm and drags me down the hall. “You’re damned lucky I don’t fire you before you even start. Don’t ever pull a stunt like that again. Never come into my office uninvited. Never. Got that?”
“No, you won’t.” I stop in my tracks and jerk my arm out of his grasp.
His mouth falls open and he flushes an unhealthy shade of purple. “Excuse me?”
He reaches for me again, but I move away from him before he can grab me. “You won’t fire me because I’m your golden goose.”
He looks at me, nearly eye to eye while his color returns to normal. “You show this kind of moxy on the screen and we’ll all profit.”
We walk to the receptionist’s desk and he holds out his palm. She slaps a folder into it and he shoves it at me. “Here’s your contract. You could have signed it and left, saving us all a lot of trouble.”
“And miss the opportunity to meet my grandmother?” I add lightness to my voice. “She’s lovely and so warm.”
The receptionist actually shows some life at that. Her eyebrows shoot up in what looks like shock.
Jonas pokes his finger where my sundress meets the skin at my neck. “Don’t get any ideas. She’s not some soft old lady.”
I open my palms and show them to him in a hands-off gesture. “I’m just here to earn my paycheck. Speaking of which, I’ll need a ten thousand dollar signing bonus.”
“A what?”
“You heard me.” I put steel in my voice. It’s not hard. All I have to do is think of Diana. “Ten grand. Now.”
He throws back his head and laughs. “That’s not going to happen.”
I look at the unsigned contract and shrug before heading for to the elevator.
“Hey.” He hisses it. Probably afraid his mother will hear him shouting. “You wait just a god—”
Without turning, I say, “You want me, you pay.”
I reach out and tap the down button. God, what if he changes his mind? He’s my last hope. Everything inside me flutters and crashes. I hold my breath and count. I can’t turn around. Can’t let him win this round.
“Okay.” He sounds mad enough to shoot me. “Sign the contract and I’ll have the money wired to your account.”
I almost cave but I think of Diana. Broken and in pain, depending on me to save her. Mom, her face gray, dark circles pitting her once-vibrant eyes, life sifting away in front of me. “No.” I shake my head. “Money first—and I watch you make the transfer.”
“What?” He’s back to affable Jonas. I can almost hear the come on, let’s be pals grin in his voice. “You don’t trust your old man?”
“You’re not my old man.” I turn my head, playing it cool even though I can feel every second slip away from me. I can’t let him know how desperate I am. He’s a shark. He’ll smell blood in the water and use it against me. He won’t win this. Not from me. Not from Diana. “You’re not my anything, remember?”
The cables behind the elevator door rumble and groan before belching out a ding. The doors slide open and I have to force myself onto it. Turning, I reach out to punch the button for the lobby.
“Fine.” He doesn’t hiss it this time. He shouts it. “But if you don’t sign I’ll—”
I step off the elevator, though I’m so dizzy with relief I’m not even sure how I’m remaining upright. “I’ll sign.” I glare at him, the elevator doors swooshing closed behind me. “I may have inherited your head for numbers, but my honesty—I got that from my mother.”
Twenty-Eight
Kylie
It only takes an hour to return to the hospital and contact Dr. Bodden. He walks me to the business office and after assuring that everyone has been paid, he schedules Diana’s surgery for that evening.
I’m not sure he hadn’t already had her on the schedule and the whole refusal ploy was only to push me to find the money. Who cares? Diana is going to get what she needs. That’s all that matters.
I call Blake to let him know Diana is being prepped and then dial Timothy at The Green Frog and update him about Diana’s condition and that he’ll have to hire people to replace us both.
The ladies in the hospital room took good care of Diana while I was out pimping myself out to Jonas. Now they cluck and tend to me. After being tough in front of Jonas and strong and supportive for Diana, it feels good to have them dote on me. They feed me and don’t seem to mind my sadness as I sit on the hard vinyl seat and stare at Diana’s empty bed. It’s out of my hands now. I’ve done all I can.
Soft soles of flip-flops approach behind me and before I can look, Blake’s hand closes on my arm. “Kylie.”
He takes my hand and squats in front of me. “Why didn’t you tell me she needed more surgery?”
I straighten my shoulders and lift my chin. I’m grateful to have Blake share this burden, but he doesn’t have to carry me, too. “It happened so fast and you were out on a dive. I had to make the decision.”
We’re interrupted by a young woman in a dark skirt and white blouse. She carries a clipboard. “Ms. Sawyers?”
Shit. Did the payment bounce? Jonas tricked me and hadn’t really put money in my account. My heart slams into my ribs. “Yes.”
Blake stands above us.
She hands me the clipboard and clicks a pen. “We forgot to have you sign here for the payment clearance.”
I swallow, sweat popping on my forehead. “You got paid, though, right?”
She grins and nods, her accent lilts into the room. “Oh yes, it’s only the paperwork. We want to get that taken care of.”
I inhale. At least that was successful. I sign and hand her the clipboard and she scurries away.
Blake watches her, then scrutinizes me. “Payment? For Diana’s surgery?”
I’d hoped he wouldn’t find out so soon. “Yes.”
“Where did you get the money?”
I hesitate.
He leans against Diana’s bed, his focus intense. “You couldn’t have got it from Zach or Liesa.”
How does he know so much about their financial situation?
He studies me. “You wouldn’t go to Jonas Knightly, and even if you did I’m pretty sure he didn’t go all Daddy Warbucks on you and help you out.”
My dry chuckle sounds bitter. “Being my father is the last thing he’s interested in.”
Blake parses the meaning of my words and color drains from his face. “He figured out it was you.”
I nod, miserable but at the same time, thankful I have some way to help Diana.
“You agreed to be on Liesa’s Life?”
I make my voice strong. “It’s the only way.”
“No.” He grabs my hand. “You can’t do this.”
“It’s done.” I pull my hand out of his as gently as I can. “I signed a contract. I don’t have a choice.”
He looks devastated. “Why didn’t you ask me? I have money put aside. We could have worked this out together.”
“Money for Columbia—your future.” I shake my head. “This is your dream. You might never get another chance. There’s no way I’d let you spend that money. Not when I can do something about it.”
“So that’s it?” Fire sparks in Blake’s eyes. He doesn’t look like my easy-going friend. Right now, he looks downright dangerous. “Martyr Kylie gets to fall on her sword and save everyone?” The heated look in his eyes flickers and his gaze goes cold. “You’re so fucking selfish.”
“Selfish?” It feels anything but.
The hospital room grows uncharacteristically quiet and I fling myself out of my chair to see the families staring at us like we’re an episode of Liesa’s Life. I whip the curtains along the metal bar to block their view.
“Yeah, selfish.” His face flushes and I know he’s holding on to his temper by a fingernail. “You’re a female Atlas, holding up the whole world on your shoulders. You carried your mother until the end, somehow believing it was your fault for not finding Jonas and making him pay. As if his money could have kept her alive. And now, you’re dead set on saving Diana all on your own because asking for help would be admitting that you let the world roll off.”
“Stop it.” I don’t need this crap.
“For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been out to rescue everyone except yourself.” He swipes a hand over his face and chuckles. “Matter of fact, you seem hell-bent on punishing yourself.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I loved you, Kylie—I would’ve done anything for you. I—”
“So, while I’m determined to save everyone but myself, you’re just as determined to save someone who doesn’t want or need a rescue.” I laugh right along with him but there’s no humor in the sounds coming from either of us. “So, tell me, Blake—which one of us is more fucked up?”
The question seems to hit him like a physical blow and he stares at me for what feels like forever. Finally, he lets out a slow breath and nods. “You’re right. I’ve wanted to save you from the first moment I met you, but I’ve moved on, believe me. You’re still my best friend, though, so it pisses me off to watch you sell yourself to that fucking scumbag. If you let Jonas put you on that show he’ll own you. You’ll never be free. Look at Liesa. Look at Zach.”