“Fucking hell. Do they have a plan?”
“They're working on it. Waiting on one of us.” Tenn pulled the quarter out of his pocket.
I backed up a step. “Oh, hell no. I just got Ophelia and Bryce. This clusterfuck is your problem.”
Tenn shook his head. “We flip every time. That's the deal.”
Since he was right, I didn't argue. This time I called tails. Mercifully, the quarter fell heads up.
“Damn,” Tenn swore as he pocketed the quarter.
“I have to get over to Heartstone anyway. I told Griffen I'd be there in time for lunch. If you need extra hands on deck to get the produce situation sorted out, give me a call.”
Striding out of Tenn’s office, I stopped abruptly. Penny was braced in the center of the room, her small frame pitted against another—this one taller, stronger, and far more determined.
“I told you, Ms. Sawyer, you can't come in without an appointment.”
“Let go of me, you little bitch.” Vanessa Sawyer looked up and saw me watching. With a toss of her shining black hair, she demanded, “Royal! Tell her to let me go. I’m your sister-in-law. I have a right to be here.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and ignored Vanessa.
“Thanks, Penny. You can let her go. Tenn and I will take care of her from here.”
In a quick, fluid move, Penny dropped her grip on Vanessa's arms and stepped to the side, out of reach. Grabbing her purse from her desk drawer, Penny announced, “I'm taking an early lunch,” and sailed out the door to the elevators.
“Why are you here, Vanessa?” I asked, sliding to block her entry into Tenn’s office. “You're not our sister-in-law. Ford divorced you years ago. And I know I'm not the only one who wishes you'd find another husband and stop using our name.”
Vanessa tossed her hair over her shoulder again and propped her hands on her hips in a posture she knew thrust her full breasts into prominence.
Vanessa was gorgeous, I’d give her that.
With her pale skin, red lips, and black hair, she was like an evil version of Snow White. It was no wonder Griffen had fallen so hard for her all those years ago. He’d been determined to marry her—right up until our father convinced her to switch allegiance to Ford when he’d exiled Griffen from Sawyers Bend.
Vanessa had been more than happy to trade Griffen's ring for Ford’s. As long as she got to marry the Sawyer heir, Vanessa was happy. Or as close as Vanessa got to happy.
Tenn came to stand beside me, crossing his arms over his chest. “We heard about your visit to Griffen and Hope. You’re not going to have better luck with us.”
Vanessa drew in a shuddering breath, but I wasn't buying it. I doubted she was capable of genuine tears. Though, to be fair, if anything could push her there it was her current situation.
“You know with Ford in jail and not working there isn't any alimony. I know I should've saved, but I… I just didn't. And now my car payment is due, and my mortgage, and I don't know—”
I looked over my shoulder at Tenn. My brother was always a sucker for a damsel in distress, even one as soulless and conniving as Vanessa.
“Why don't you head downstairs,” I suggested. “I can handle this.”
Tenn was out the door a second later, Vanessa staring after him with longing. She knew her best chance at walking away with a check had just left.
“Vanessa, I don't have anything for you. I'm not going to give you any money. The Sawyer family has paid out enough over the last decade. We’re done. If you need cash, sell your car and the house and downsize. That should get you by until you find a new cash cow. Or—I can hardly believe I'm suggesting this—get a job. That seems to be my mantra for the day. You want money? Get a fucking job. You want a handout? Try somewhere else. I have enough mooches under my roof right now. The last thing I need is another.”
Vanessa sniffed. “You have no compassion, Royal Sawyer.”
I told Vanessa the truth. “I have plenty of compassion, Vanessa. And if I believed for a second that you’d ever loved Ford, that you wanted anything from him other than a direct line to his wallet, I might feel bad for you. I might even help you out. But I know you didn't love Ford any more than you loved Griffen. You're only here to see what you can squeeze out of us now that the alimony well has run dry.”
Vanessa went stiff, her jaw hard. “If you were smart, you’d write me a check to get rid of me. That would be the easy way. Fifty grand, and I'll leave Sawyers Bend. You’ll never see me again.”