“Look, I don’t know, all right. Anyway, he wasn’t allbad. He gave me enough money for a divine Prada handbag. Which, in fact, I need to buy before I start work,” she said with one final sniff.
“Katarina! WHO WAS HE?” I demanded. “What did he say?” But in my heart, I already knew the answer.
“All I know is he wanted dirt on you. But I didn’t have any. But he told me if I didn’t say it was you who cut up Ingrid’s bikini, that he was going to…” I heard her crying.
“He was going to what, Katarina? Please, just tell me.”
“He said he’d pay a visit to my family. And I knew he was for real coz he knew way too many things about me. It was creepy. I’m sorry, Ivy, but I didn’t know what else to do except agree to his demands.”
I was speechless.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, this has been a lot, I need some retail therapy. Good luck.” The line went dead.
My lip trembled as I wrung my clammy hands together.
His father really was insane. Karson needed to know about this! I pulled out the phone Karson had given me and hailed a passing cab.
I sagged back onto the seat, and my hands lay lifelessly in my lap as I clutched the phone.
Unable to believe the horror that had just played out, I sighed and tapped Karson’s number.
But there was no answer.
What the hell am I going to do without a contract? Karson left me some money, but it’s his, I don’t feel right using it.
But one thing was clear.
If I wanted to keep a roof over my head… I had to find a job.
Fast.
15
STARTUP
KARSON
Gus pulled the Range Rover into the garage as I watched from the doorway. The back door flew open and Dyson leaped out.
“Bring it in, man.” I chuckled as Dyson bounded up the stairs. “It’s been too long,” I told him as he ruffled my hair and I drew him in for a hug. “Bro, it’s great to see you, but why the sudden visit?”
“Well, Ihadto come back, didn’t I?” He wore the same mischievous grin as always. “I knew you’d be missing me. And how else was I gonna get the details about your little mystery flight, seeing as you left me hanging?”
“Yeah, about that… we’ll talk later. Let’s eat first. Come out onto the deck. Gus organized a feast for us. He had a new caterer he wanted to try, so they prepared all this for us.”
“Nice one, Gus. I think it’s time you came and worked for me,” Dyson said.
“Hands off. Gus is staying with me,” I said before we all laughed.
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from this one. Besides, someone’s got to keep him in line,” Gus added as he walked away.
Dyson and I stepped outside onto the sun-drenched deck, breathing in the salt-infused air, soaking up the panoramic view as Dyson eyeballed the spread on the table.
“I see you’ve spotted the bagels,” I said with a smirk. “The caterers made them for you. You damn near lived on them at school. We’d better look after you now that you’re a big shot in San Francisco.”
“Aww, bro, you do love me! You know I’m obsessed with those things.” With a broad grin, he slapped me on the back and turned toward the beach. “It feels good to smell that salt air again, let me tell you. I could really use a swim. We should hit the beach.”
“Let’s do it,” I agreed, realizing I hadn’t been to the beach once since moving into this house months ago. No matter what was going on, Dyson always made time for fun. “Work hard, play hard” was the mantra he lived by.
