I must have been quiet too long. “Eddy, I know that you’re broke. I’ve been to your house. I saw the state of your grounds. I know that your husband left you penniless and your home is at risk if you don’t come up with funds. Take the money.”
It exploded. The manners that I had been trying to hang onto completely blew into pieces. I looked at the check in my hands. That amount of money would be all I needed. It would completely change my life. I could take care of the home and Riley and I would be sorted for years. Some smart investments and I probably wouldn’t even have to work again. I wasn’t relieved. It was embarrassing. I was humiliated. I couldn’t believe that he knew that about me. I hated that he came here ready to give me his charity.
“Find a worthy cause to give that too. I don’t need your charity.”
“Are you going to deny that you’re in financial trouble?”
“Is it that gratifying to you that I might need your help?”
I stood and tore the check into pieces. I walked out on shaky legs. I couldn’t believe it. My face was burning. I wanted the ground to swallow me up. That was one hundred thousand pounds. It was an amount of money that would secure Riley’s future as well as mine, but I couldn’t take it from him. I knew I would regret this, but I couldn’t take the look on his face giving me the money. I would figure out what to do. I always did. I needed to get out of this place. I made my way towards the exit, ignoring the looks from the staff and other patrons. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm, swinging me around. Niall loomed over me with a face like thunder. I tried to get away from him, but he didn’t let me go.
“What are you doing?”
“Me?” he spat. “Why did you tear up my check?”
“I didn’t want it,” I said.
“You need the money. Don’t lie to me and tell me you don’t.”
“I don’t want it!” I said, struggling. He looked around, checking to see that we weren’t attracting attention. He led me out to the pavement, taking his phone from his pocket.
“We have to talk.”
“We have to do no such thing,” I said.
“That’s why we met here, wasn’t it?
I took some deep breaths. “Fine. What are you doing? Who are you calling?”
“We need to talk, but not here.”
23
Niall
She sat as far away from me as she could get from me while still being in the car. Any further and she’d be hanging off the outside door handle. I looked over at her. Her body language said this was the last place she wanted to be. Talking to her would likely be disastrous so I didn’t say anything.
That certainly didn’t go as planned. Did I know the woman? Truly? Because just when I thought that I did, she did a one-eighty on me and I no longer knew which way was up. I couldn’t believe that she tore up the check. What was going on with her? I thought I had her figured out, that money was what she wanted from me but then she went and did this. Who was the stranger sitting in the car with me?
Suddenly, I doubted my next move.
When the car parked, she came out without a word and thankfully didn’t try and run away from me again. I wasn’t in the mood for another chase. Her running off at the restaurant was the last reaction I was expecting.
I chose the private room so that we could be alone, just so if this was a sensitive topic for her, which it was, she didn’t have to feel awkward about people hearing her. I didn’t suggest the hotel because I didn’t think she would come if I asked her. I also didn’t want to give an impression that I was just trying to get her into my suite for sex. I was expecting some pushback, especially since she didn’t know I knew about her money problems, but she surprised me when she tore up the check. I had surprised myself by being insulted. Riding the lift up to the suite, she was still silent. We walked in and I led her to the living room.
“Have a seat. Can I get you anything?” I asked, remembering that we were supposed to eat while we were at the restaurant.
She sat but shook her head. I sat down next to her. I didn’t want this to feel like an interrogation, but I was getting to the bottom of this. No more lies, secrets, nothing. Eddy was an enigma that I couldn’t solve, but that was ending today.
“Where do you want to start?”
“What do you want to know?” she asked.
“You’ve been keeping secrets from me,” I said.
She shrugged. “And have you been completely upfront with me?”
“I haven’t lied about my financial status and the reason I needed an antique watch,” I said. Her eyes widened and she looked away from me, sighing.