Me: Effective immediately, your assistance will no longer be required. You aren’t to come anywhere near my daughter, or I’ll have you arrested.
Scrolling down I fire back a reply, wishing we were face to face, so she sees how serious I am.
Me: I will not have thieves anywhere near my daughter. I suggest you get the ring back from whatever back alley pawn shop you’ve taken it to and return it promptly.
Tate Miller: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I cough out an unamused laugh. “Of course you fucking don’t.”
Tossing my phone onto the desk I push my finger and thumb into my eyes and rub. It’s been a long day. But at least the final stages of acquiring Fabienne are in motion. Some good news.
I knock back the rest of the whiskey, leaving Tate onread.
I don’t have anything else to say to a liar.
14
TATE
“You should have stencileddicks on his coffees,” Ashley snarls, handing me my phone after reading the text messages from Sullivan.
“I don’t even know what ring he’s talking about. But he thinks I took it!”
I’m still seething about his accusation. I didn’t sleep a wink last night because I was wracking my brain to think what he might be talking about. Then I was angry, so damn angry, that his first thought was to accuse me.
“He watched me like a hawk when I was there. I was only alone when he answered the door. When does he think I had time to take his precious ring?” I stuff my phone into my apron pocket with a huff.
“Relax. It’s okay. The guy’s obviously an entitled jerk if he thinks he can sling accusations around like that without proof.”
“I knew he didn’t like me. He glares at me all the time. I thought it was him being protective over Molly. I found it really sweet how much he loves her.” My mouth’s felt like it’s been stuffed with sawdust since I received those messages. “Now Iknow it’s that he just didn’t trustme. It’s like he was waiting for a moment for me to slip up so he could fire me. And I just used my first paycheck from him to hire Dad a lawyer.”
Ashley pulls me into a hug, and I fight back the sting of tears as I sink into it.
“And that lawyer is going to fight for your dad and get him the severance package he deserves. And you’re going to start sending your songs to record labels. Then after we’ve all been out to celebrate your new fame, and all the cash you’ve made that will rival Sullivan-Asshole-Beaufort’s fortune, you and I are going to take a vacation together somewhere hot with cocktails and daily massages,” Ashley says, squeezing me.
“Sounds like heaven.” I sniff, forcing a smile. “But what if the lawyer needs more? If the case drags on, I won’t be able to pay him.”
Ashley holds me by my upper arms and looks at me with confidence. “It won’t. It’s an open and shut case. They fired him on medical grounds, which he’d already disclosed to them. The only reason he needed time off was because he was injuredby them, ontheirpremises, because oftheir negligenceto provide a safe working environment.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“When am I not?” She winks. “Listen, Sullivan Beaufort did you a favor, taking himself out of your life. Now let’s deal with the rest of the trash. Brandon won’t be calling you again. Give me your phone.”
I pull it from my pocket and hand it to her.
“Give me two minutes and I’ll have your new number all set up for you.”
“Thank you,” I breathe.
Ashley came with me last night to buy a new SIM card, but I never got around to setting it up. Sullivan’s message came through when Dad and I were making dinner together.My startled gasp at his threat of arresting me caused Dad to slip and slice his hand with the chopping knife. We spent the following four hours in the ER waiting for him to get fixed up.
“All done.” Ashley hands me back my phone and I immediately text my father so he has my new number.
“Thanks.”
My smile is weak as I pocket my phone again, but Ashley’s attention snags on something outside and she hisses, “Motherfucker,” under her breath.
I place a hand on her arm as she steps forward like she’s about to rush into battle.
