“I’ll go to the police,” I tried. “I’ll tell them…”
“Tell them what?” she demanded, voice raised and grinning smugly. “I haven’t done anything illegal. The estate keeps its books clean. We pay our taxes. And it’s certainly not a crime to do a little internet snooping. Especially whenthat girldid everything through her building internet connection. Wasn’t even smart enough to use a VPN. It’s like she wastryingto get caught.”
I felt myself drowning. Grasping for anything. My opportunity was slipping through my fingers. If I didn’t do something, anything, then the destruction of Ginny’s life would soon be complete.
“I’ll tell them…” I blurted out the first thing that popped into my head. “You and Cornelius Cunningham are having an affair.”
My mind was racing now. Thinking up a plan, as weak as it was. She would deny it, because it wasn’t true. Then I would threaten to lie about it anyway, claiming I had seen them together. No, even better: I had driven her to their sexual rendezvous myself. That story would have more legs. Maybe.
But Sandra didn’t deny it. She sat very still in her chair, eyes boring into mine. Like she was seeing me,trulyseeing me, for the first time.
“How long have you known?” she breathed.
No way. She was suddenly very different. Tense, on edge. Like a rabbit who was about to flee at the first sign of movement. For the first time since I had started working for her three years ago, Sandra Trout lookedafraid.
“A while,” I said, keeping my face as blank as possible. My heartbeat was pounding in my chest. “How could I not know? I’m your personal assistant.” It was a funny thing to say, since Ihadn’tknown.
“I’ve been careful,” she said, like a lawyer making an argument before a judge. “Wehave been careful.”
“Not careful enough. I’m on all your emails. I pay all your bills, including the one for your private cell phone. I have all the texts.”
I was afraid I was overreaching. I didn’t have any of this, and maybe she and Cornelius hadn’t texted at all. That would give away that I had nothing. She would know I was winging it.
But it worked. Sandra’s face went pale. I kept my face blank, even though a huge smile was trying to break through. I felt like I had thrown up a half-court basketball shot and it miraculously went in.
Her hands were trembling on the desk, now. She balled them into fists. I wondered if she would get up and slap me. Then a darker thought came to me:what if she has me killed?She had never gone that far, not to my knowledge, but she had the power and resources. People did desperate things when they were out of options.
Maybe I should have done this in a public place. Where I would be safe.I wanted to glance over my shoulder at the two bodyguards standing outside her office, but I made myself stand firm. There was a letter opener on the desk. I could use it as a weapon, if it came to that. It was better than nothing.
Sandra took a deep breath, let it out slowly. And then, as if she was the one in control instead of me, she said, “What do you want?”
“I want to go public,” I said. “You humiliated Ginny. I want to do the same to you. Your husband will be grateful to learn that you’ve been having an affair. He won’t have to pay a single penny in the divorce, thanks to that pesky infidelity clause.”
“Whatever he would pay you,” she said calmly, “I’ll double it.”
It’s a negotiation now. Good. “I don’t believe you.”
“Everyone has a price. Stop fucking around and name it,” she snapped.
My mind was racing. My heart felt like it was trying to pound its way out of my chest.Be cool, I told myself.The things I say next are very important, and I won’t get another shot.
“Talk to Cornelius and everyone else at the NMCF,” I demanded. “Tell them the video was fake. That it’s not Ginny Hanover. That you were mistaken.”
She stared at me for a long time before saying, “Done.”
“In fact, you’re firing me,” I added. “That can be your excuse as to why the video was fake. I did bad research. I’ll be your scapegoat, and in exchange, I want a big severance package. Seven digits, paid out monthly for the next five years. I’m sure your bookkeeper can find a creative way to hide that expense.”
Sandra clenched her jaw. “Very well.”
“You’ll never go after me, or Ginny, or anyone else we know,” I said. “No stalking. No revenge. No sending your goons to intimidate us. You mind your business, and I’ll mind mine.”
She nodded almost imperceptibly. “I suppose I can accept that.”
I tried to hide my smile, but this time my demeanor cracked. I couldn’t help it; I had done it. With a lucky guess, a shot in the dark, I had saved Ginny. The woman I loved. Protecting her from this mess the way someoneshouldprotect their partner. Was that it, though? Was I missing something?
Something else popped into my head. “There’s another thing…”
“These are a lot of demands,” she said dryly.