Page 71 of Wright Kind of Trouble

He smiled wider. “It’s good to know some of my lessons got through to you.”

“Yeah, you taught me how to be a conniving jackass. Congrats!” I mock clapped.

His smile slipped. “At least I prepared you for law school.”

I sighed heavily through my nose. “All right. So, that’s the play? You want to pay for law school?”

“Don’t act like it’s the worst thing in the world. You wouldn’t have to go into debt to get your degree. That’s a blessing.”

Or a curse if it meant opening the door to him.

“I could get a scholarship.”

“Not at Harvard.”

I snorted. “I don’t have to go to Harvard to be a good lawyer.”

“No, but if you get in, you’re going. And I’m paying.”

I wavered.

I hated him for this. Hated taking his money. How he always tried to buy my affection. The stupid gifts along the way that meant more to him than how hurt I was by what he’d done. He didn’t deserve this opportunity.

And if I gave him an inch, he’d take a mile.

But what was the alternative?

He would tell everyone about Chase and ruin the one thing that I wanted in this world. He’d fuck with my life the way he fucked with everything.

What were the keys to law school for that?

“Fine.” I held my hand out. “You pay for law school for your silence.”

“Don’t make it out to be such a big deal.”

“Shake on it. Or I won’t believe you mean it,” I snapped. “We all know you only honor your business deals and not your promises.”

His face went flat. Ah, so I could hurt him. Good.

Then, he shook my hand.

“A deal is a deal. I’ll be in touch.”

“Looking forward to it,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

I pushed past him and out of my childhood kitchen. Chase was seated next to my mom, but they both looked up when I came into the living room. Chase rose to his feet at my face.

“Give me two minutes,” I said.

I all but ran into my room, tossed my clothes on the floor, and pulled on black jeans and a tank top. I was back in the living room a split second later.

“Let’s go.”

“All right.” He held his hand out to my mom. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

She stood and wrapped him up in a quintessential mom hug. “You too, dear.”

I left the house like a tornado, set to tear the world apart, and only stopped when I reached the locked Porsche.

---