“Because I don’t want to defend a rapist.”
She walked over to me like I was a wild animal who might run away. “Hear me out. You take the case, you just get through it, and then you have everything you’ve worked for. What’s so hard about that?”
I set the beer on the counter, surprised she was even asking that. “Bianca, this man beat and raped women. There’s photographic evidence of his crimes. How do you expect me to even defend someone like that?”
“You just do it!” she laughed. “You have the chance to be a partner in a top law firm, and you’re throwing it away over one stupid case?”
I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I was hearing it, but this was not the woman I met in England. What woman would want me to defend a rapist? And all for what? Money? A position in a law firm?
“Do you even hear yourself? You want me to go against everything I feel is right to defend some piece of scum, all so I can get a corner office?”
“And a huge pay raise!”
“I don’t care about the money!”
“Well, I do! This isn’t just about you, Ryder. You said we’d be here and build a life together. But all you do is work!”
“Do you really think that will change if I become a partner? If anything, I’ll work more hours.”
“Yes, but you’ll be compensated for it. We’ll have more than we could possibly ever want!”
I couldn’t believe it.
“So, this is about money.”
“This is about building our lives together. This is about getting out of this funk we’re in, finally living the life we should have. Just think of all the things we could do when you’re finally a partner.”
I wanted all those things too, but this wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen. Getting rich doing terrible things was no way to live life. Karma would come calling, and I didn’t want to be at the door when she knocked.
34
RYDER
“Ryder,”Bianca breathed, her eyes tearing up as they wandered over me.
I used to love that look on her face. There was nothing better than seeing the desire and knowing it was all for me.
Now, I wasn’t so sure if she was looking at me, the man she loved, or if she was seeing a dollar sign in a suit.
“So, you’re moving back to London,” I said, tossing my bag in the corner of the apartment.
“I don’t have to.” Her steps were hesitant as she walked toward me. Her intent was perfectly fucking clear, though.
“Yeah, you do.”
“Ryder, we could start over. It could be just like when we came here.”
Her words twisted a sobering laugh from my lips. If only things could be like they used to, back when she looked at me as more than a meal ticket. I hadn’t even realized it until the day I walked out.
“There’s no starting over. Not for us.”
She nodded slightly, her eyes downcast. But all I saw were games, the way she used those pretty eyes to get her way. Itused to only take her batting her eyelashes at me for me to turn everything upside down to please her.
For some reason, Ellie popped into my head at that moment. I tried to think of a time that she had ever tried to get her way with me, but nothing came to mind.
The only thing she wanted was friendship, and I was so screwed up that I couldn’t even give her that. Giving even the smallest piece of myself was non-negotiable. She’d see the real me and try to twist it into something for herself.
But Ellie would never do that.
