“Good call.” She tosses a lock of hair behind her ear. “As much as I’d love to humiliate you in public, I respect Aunt April and Uncle Daniel too much to hurt them like that. They’re not going to approve of what you’ve been up to.”
I ball my hands into fists but keep them glued to my sides. I’m not a violent person despite the way I’m feeling. I have no idea what she’s going to say or how I’m going to handle it. She’s such a bitch. I’ve never done anything to her to warrant this level of hostility. Hell, any level of hostility. I’ve never been anything but kind to her. “Follow me.”
Alexander and I should have discussed what to say or do if someone confronted us about a relationship. We were stupid to think no one would care. If she confronts me about him, do I admit it? Lie? Ignore her? Walk away? We were stupid to think that no one would make a point of searching us out and throwing it in our faces.
After asking my boss if I could use the office, I lead Heather to the most private space available. She snaps the door shut and shoves her phone in my face. Alexander and his father’s voices fill the room.
“I’ll retire today. Giving you everything. If you stop seeing her and never see her again.”
Although I don’t recognize the voice, I assume it’s Alexander’s father’s voice.
“Everything?”
“Yes, you can have the company, and I’ll remove the stipulation of not changing anything for ten years. It will all be yours. To do whatever you want. As long as you renounce her.”
Their conversation volleys back and forth.
“I also want an A in calculus.”
Heather’s voice interrupts the father and son’s conversation.
“You’d do that for me? You’d give me everything if I never see Daisy again?”
“Yes, son, I will.”
“You’ve got your wish. I won’t see Daisy anymore.”
My stomach clenches as pain shoots through my heart. Deep down, I knew he’d choose the company over me. He’d said it more than once, but to have it happen shreds a part of my soul. The part I thought I’d shielded from being hurt.
Of course, I’m not more important than a multi-million-dollar company. That’s why we’ve been sneaking around to keep anyone from the school or his family from finding out. Reality was always there, ready to smack me in the face.
I fell for a fantasy. I believed I was his person. I believed we’d make it to December undetected and walk out from under the raincloud holding hands and everyone would shout how excited they were that we were in love.
Please. That’s such a load of crap. How did I fall for my own fairytale? Those aren’t real. Everyone knows that.
“I’m sorry to have been the one to tell you.” She hastily pushes the button and shoves the phone back into her black clutch.
Tears sting my eyes, but I’m not about to cry in front of her. “No, you’re not. You couldn’t wait to be the one to tell me and found a way to make it happen.” How did she make it happen? How was she there?
“Well….” Her face pales as if she’s shocked that I’d confront her. “I….”
“Stop.” I wave my hand dismissively toward her as she shifts from foot to foot.
“Fine. I don’t want to keep anything from you. We’re family.”
Anger courses through me. Of all the nerve. She’s going to pretend she’s telling me this because we’re cousins. That is the farthest thing from the truth. “Let it go–”
“He wrote me a 700k hush money check to ensure I didn’t air his dirty laundry around campus about him. He doesn’t want anyone to know about you. His dirty little secret.” She snatches a piece of paper from her purse and shoves it under my nose. “You should have been more careful when you open your front door and climb all over him.” She shrugs. “And maybe no one would have found out.”
He wrote it. I’d know his handwriting anywhere.
I swipe my hands on my apron to remove the sweat. “Are you keeping quiet? Because you know I don’t have money to throw at you.”
“Yes. Of course.” Her eyes narrow into tiny slits. “How dare you imply I don’t have integrity. I have no intentions of saying a word to anyone.” Red tint tinges her cheeks. “He gave me more than I expected….” She trails off and shoves the check back into her purse.
“I’m sure he wants to make sure his father doesn’t know.”
“His father knows. I went to him first. This is to ensure I don’t tell anyone that he was messing around with you. He doesn’t want anyone to know.” She tucks her purse under her arm. “I’m sorry you weren’t as important to him as you thought. That must be devastating to discover.”