Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
"Shep—"
"I drank. You win. I'll have Lock send your first payment in the morning."
"I don't want to win. I want to talk to you."
"It will take a few days to send the rest. He'll arrange the details."
She crosses the room to me. Reaches for me.
I move away. When she follows, I push her.
She stumbles, but she doesn't stop. She holds her ground.
I suck a breath through my nose. I need to hold my expression. To convince her I don't give a fuck about her.
To do whatever it takes so she leaves before she figures this out.
She can't know.
She can't.
"You should go," I repeat it again.
Still, she holds her ground. "I only want to talk."
"There's nothing to discuss. This was a game. And I lost. So go. Collect your winnings."
"We're supposed to get married in two days."
"You'll have your money. That's what you wanted, isn't it?" I move past her. "Let yourself out. I'll change the locks tomorrow."
"Shep—"
I don't respond. I lock myself in my office and blast a metal band I can't stand.
She pounds on the door for a few minutes. Pleads for me to come out.
Eventually, she realizes it's hopeless.
Eventually, she leaves.
Chapter Forty-Six
Jasmine
At home, Dad's on the couch, reading one of those historical fiction books he adores. He sets it down as soon as he sees me.
He doesn't ask what happened. He just fills the electric kettle and motions for me to sit.
When I do, he finds a blanket, fixes a cup of chamomile, puts on a movie I used to watch with Mom.
When I try to protest, to insist I make him something, he shakes his head.
"Let me take care of you for once," he says. "You've been taking care of me for long enough."
Chapter Forty-Seven
Shepard
Key wakes me in the morning. She drops the empty bottle in my lap. "You're better than this."
"Thanks for the advice." It's too fucking bright in here.
She shakes her head. "You know, we can't help you if you insist on keeping the house empty."
I rise. Close the curtains. "You're not supposed to come into my office."
"You're not supposed to drink." She pulls the curtains. "You realize we all know why you request privacy."
"Yes."
"We all know about your… tastes."
"Do you?"
She just barely smiles. "What do you think happened when Lock dropped those young ladies at their apartments? They had questions. And answers."
That's what you get for being a gentleman. "Do you want something?"
"You have a guest arriving in a few hours."
"Tell them to leave."
She smiles hell no. "You should clean up. And change your clothes. You're not presenting your best self."
"I'm not seeing anyone today."
"Two hours." She leaves the door open. "You're going to need both of them."
A shower and a change of clothes help. As do coffee and breakfast. But they're not enough.
My head is still pounding.
The room is still spinning.
The world is still dark and ugly.
There's only one thing offering a shred of relief—she doesn't know.
But it's ripped away as soon as Key answers the door. Because the guest isn't my brother or Ian or someone else on a misguided mission to talk me out of cold feet.
It's Jasmine.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Shepard
"Good morning." Jasmine's eyes meet mine for a moment then they're back on Key. "I'm okay. And you?"
"Okay?" Key's voice is incredulous. "That's one way of putting it." She turns to me with that motherly what are you doing look. "Weddings are hard. People fight. It's normal."
"You can tell Miss Lee that she can leave," I say. "There's no reason for her to be here."
"You can tell Miss Lee that," Key says. "She's right here."
"Fine." My fingers curl into fists. My staff knows better than to defy me. They know to follow my fucking orders.
Not that I have ground at the moment. I lost all of it last night. And I…
I'm not angry she's here.
I want to be. I want to throw that empty bottle at the wall. So the shattered glass falls at her feet. So she knows exactly what this is.
But not because I'm angry.
I want her here.
It's ridiculous. She already knows too much. If she stays, she's going to learn more. And I can't—
This can't—
I clear my throat. "Then tell Lock—"
"Who do you think drove Miss Lee here?" Key nearly rolls her eyes. "I'll have tea in a few minutes. Milk oolong? Or gaba?"
"Milk oolong. Thank you," Jasmine says.
"Did you have breakfast, Jasmine? I'm happy to fix something. Or some tea cakes perhaps?"
"Sure, yes. The tea cakes." She nods another thank you and turns to me. She waits until Key is in the kitchen to approach.
I move from my seat. To the sliding glass door. "You should go."
"Maybe."
"Is there a problem with your check? An error? Or is it not enough?" Or maybe Lock's fucking with me. Pretending as if he forgot it. Pretending I forgot a signature.
"Yes." She takes three steps towards me. "I'm not cashing it."