Page 66 of Reveal

You’re a miserable human being, I want to scream at her, so frustrated with the unwavering stick up her ass.

“And why would you decide to attend an event on the one night you have Lucy stay over if being with her is so important to you?” she asks.

“Because life happens is why,” I say. “Because I can’t exactly change the night of a charity function that in fact benefits her in some way. We spent the entire day together, hours on end. Painting and bike riding and therapy and snuggle time. I left for the function about an hour before her bedtime, and I left her with someone she knows and I trust. Feel free to come at me about being irresponsible, but I assure you not having that night with her would have been even more so, because she needs predictability. A missed or moved day throws her off for some time. You know, kind of like me not getting to see her today will.”

She purses her lips and squares her papers again, even though they are still perfectly aligned. Anything to abate the unease my explanations are bringing her.

“Did you ever think that it could possibly be Brian who reported this anonymously? He’s the only person who has anything to gain by trying to paint me in a bad light. Hell, he was probably lighting up down the block, half-high, while he was being a Peeping Tom.”

I walk back to the conference table and grab my purse so aggressively she jumps with a yelp.

“The next time I go to see Lucy, this better be cleared up so that I’m not given any trouble. My file better not have a hint of any of this in there either. Remember that man I’m dating? I wasn’t lying when I said he’s a lawyer. Try to taint my image in this adoption process to prevent me from getting Lucy, and I’ll be certain to have it cost you your job.”

Without another word or waiting for her to close her mouth, I stalk out of the conference room with my body shaking from anger and tears of fury burning my eyes.

And when I push open the doors to the outside and the fresh air hits my face, I keep walking. Down the street, block after block, and only when my lungs feel like they are burning can I actually breathe again.

I take huge gulping gasps of air and wonder if I just fucked things up for myself or improved them.

My anger is focused on everything and everyone.

At Carter Preston, because who knows if he had anything to do with this interesting scenario, and even if he didn’t, I still hate him anyway. And if he did have something to do with it, then I could be caught in the lie I just told, saying he was a coworker.

At Brian, because he would have the most to gain out of all this. But if it was him, what a dumb move on his part, because couldn’t I just do the same thing to him in the hopes that I’d catch him using and report him for that?

At Joey, because he’s the only person who really saw all these people at my house. Was he questioned about the two people vying to be Lucy’s guardians? And if so, did he say something that made Priscilla question everything? Or is he at risk of getting in trouble at his job because he was babysitting for me when he probably isn’t supposed to be?

At Ryker, because I keep trying to forgive and forget, but each time I feel like I might be able to get to that point, something that is a ripple effect from that night comes up and slaps me in the face.

And more than anything, I’m furious at myself.

Sure, I entered into this with the endgame—adopting Lucy—in mind, but what in the hell was I doing thinking I could run an escort business and not get caught? What was I doing in there threatening Priscilla’s job by siccing Ryker on her, let alone telling her that a man like him would never pay for sex?

Lies.

Everything is lies, and I feel like I’ve spun so many of them that I can’t keep straight who I’ve told what to.

At some point these lies will intersect like the crosshairs on a target. All I can hope is that I’m not standing there when they do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Ryker

“Are you having an affair?”

Bianca Preston makes a sound on the other end of the line that leads me to think she’s offended. “If I were, I’d be in a lot better mood, now wouldn’t I? I’m thinking I should be offended my attorney asked me that question.”

“And I’m just wondering why you were in such a rush to hire me on retainer, but there’s not an ounce of urgency to file and serve your husband with divorce papers.”

I purse my lips and lean back in my chair, my cell at my ear, Bianca’s even breathing filling the silence on the other end of the line.

“It’s complicated,” she finally says.

“Divorce typically is.”

“What’s the rush? Aren’t you getting paid for your time?” she asks, and I want to laugh.

“It’s hard to bill hours, Bianca, when we’re not doing anything but trying to dig up dirt on Carter.”