“Speak for yourself, Mr. Sex Tape.” His tone is full of censure. Uptight ass. “There’s a firm that works for the Sterlings. They also do divorces. Call Ken Honishi, who’s the main point of contact for the family, and maybe he can help the ‘someone’.”
“Do you know if the firm wants Stanton Underhill’s business?”
Blake makes a choking noise. “You did not just say that name.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a bad idea to get involved with Dad’s ex-wives. Why the hell do you care anyway?”
“He’s been abusing her.”
A slight pause, then Blake’s back on track. “So? She’s a big girl. She can deal with it herself.”
“Don’t be cold. She needs help.”
“She might, but she doesn’t need it from you. Nothing good will come of this.”
“I’m only giving her the contact info.”
“Fine, do that. But make sure to keep out of her marital issues. Stanton Underhill is a ruthless asshole. He won’t take kindly to you meddling in his business, and you don’t need to make an enemy like him just to help that skank.”
“‘Skank’?” It isn’t like Blake to call people names for no reason.
“I know she was dating both you and Dad at the same time. I saw her with both of you.”
The old humiliation courses through me like lava. “You never said anything.”
“It was too late. She and Dad announced their engagement, and telling you at that point would’ve been rubbing salt in the wound. You never talked about it, so I didn’t say anything.”
No, he didn’t. Instead he sent me a case of very good scotch.
Blake’s voice grows cold. “She better stay out of your way or I’m going to personally destroy her. She fucked with you once. She won’t do it again.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, my voice just as chilly as his. “If there is a next time, I’ll ruin her myself.”
Chapter Nine
Annabelle
I’ve never had hours of dedicated spa treatment, and I must admit: it’s nice. Better than nice, actually.
My skin glows, thanks to the wrap and exfoliation; my muscles feel like warmed butter after ninety minutes of full body massage; and my hands and feet are pink and soft. Shiny pearly lacquer coats my fingers, and my hair’s been styled into a chic French twist with wisps framing my face. One of the artists touches up my face, doing that fancy smoky thing for my eyes that deepens their color, and some artful contouring that brings out my cheekbones.
I feel like a million bucks as I leave. The only thing that would make this even better would be having a girlfriend to share it with, but it’s not something I can do anything about. My best friend from Lincoln City, Traci Burton, is not someone I can even call now. My dad wrecked her family too, and the last I heard, her parents had to give up their dream of retiring early and traveling the country in an RV. It’s mind-boggling how one man’s greed can destroy so much, and it’s doubly painful that it was my own father.
My phone buzzes with a new text when I climb into the Mercedes Elliot insists that I drive. I check it just in case it’s from my husband, then go still. It’s my bank. Apparently Mr. Grayson has deposited another thousand dollars.
I check the date. Yup, it’s that time, but why is he giving me the money? Surely, he knows I don’t need it now, and he’s already well aware of how much I dislike taking charity.
My bank has a branch about a block from the spa. I glance at the time, then trot over and walk into the enormous air-conditioned lobby.
There’s a security guard in a blue uniform shuffling around in a corner, and a few bored-looking tellers sitting at the counter. I walk up to one of the windows. “Excuse me. Is there a way to cancel or reject a deposit?”
“Once the check’s cleared, you can’t put a stop order on it,” she says, looking more alert now that she has an actual human to interact with.
“No, I mean someone deposited money into my account. I want to send it back.”
“Oh.” She frowns, looking at me like I’m crazy. “Well… Let me check for you. What’s the account number?” She asks for my ID, and I hand it over along with my social security number and a few other details. She hums. “Are you talking about the thousand dollar deposit that came in today from Life Trust?”