Page 184 of Unleashed

“To make millions, your father blew millions?”

“The money he used to pay off my boyfriend was an investment, he had said. The man my father wanted me to marry was an executive at another oil company. My father wanted the power when he bought them out and merged the two.”

“Shit, Ronnie.” I turn toward her as we drink more. “I thought Simone’s dad was a dick. What does Brandon have to do with this? Don’t tell me he used to own an oil refinery or something.”

Tears fill Rhonda’s eyes. “He cashed in on his family’s windfall.”

I scratch my jaw and lift the bottle to my lips, but then freeze. “Hold up.” Rhonda closes her eyes, and I whisper, “Archer Rhodes was your boyfriend, wasn’t he?”

She nods. “I know, right? What was he doing with me? I’m no model.”

The room spins some as I swivel my head toward the staircase. “Brandon is your boss now.”

“Uncle Amos invited me to live in Richmond after high school. He and Val offered me a job at the firm. I met Archer there when he visited Brandon. We talked, and he asked me out. We dated for seven months. My father was furious I ignored his marriage choice. I didn’t care, so he waved money, and Archer and his family snatched it up.”

“Fuck,” I say as I rub my eyes. “This sounds like...another situation.”

Thankfully, knowing who I’m talking about, Rhonda nods. “I know. It happens way more than you think. Some men really want to rule the world. Archer broke up with me through a mailed letter. It was unexpected and weird. He told me he had cheated on me and didn’t think I was marriage material, probably for no one ever. I was distraught. I went back to New York and married my father’s choice since I took to heart that no man would want me.”

“That’s not true, Ronnie.”

“It kind of is. My father hates me. He uses a private investigator to keep tabs on me to ruin my life.”

“Your dad didn’t know I went out with you once. He never approached me about it.”

“We should watch TV.” Rhonda covers her mouth like she realizes she’s saying too much.

“Nope.” I grip the glass bottle, hating how people have treated my friend. In the past, I treated Rhonda like shit or like she didn’t exist. I’m as bad as her asshole family and ex.

“My father didn’t mention you. But Archer is back and is basically on my father’s payroll.”

“What’s he going to do? Chase every man away forever?”

She shrugs, and her oversized sweatshirt droops, exposing more of her shoulder. “I think he’ll eventually get bored. He’s dwindled my life to nothing. I work. That’s pretty much it. Going to Craze was the first time I’ve been out since you and I went to the Folk Festival. I left my husband seven years ago, but only finalized the divorce recently.”

“Christ. Not even dates or...a fuck buddy?”

She wrinkles her nose. “No. A man once offered a one-night stand to me, but I said no. My husband wasn’t nice to me. Mentally and physically. And dating has scared me ever since.” That’s fucking outrageous.

We grow quiet and stare at the carpet until I ask, “Why do you only talk when you’re drunk?”

Rhonda shrugs again, poking her bare shoulder out of her shirt. “It relaxes me, and I don’t worry as much about what you think of me.”

“We’re friends. I thought.”

She nods with a frown. “Brandon had banned Archer from the office. That’s why I don’t go to many of Brandon’s parties. The last one I went to was his Halloween party. It’s bad enough I’m working for him. It’s weird how I’ll be trading cities with him.”

My eyes sting, and my head fogs. “Do you love him?”

She shakes her head and grabs the couch arm to steady herself. “Not now.”

“Good.”

Rhonda scoffs. “Well, thanks?”

I clutch her arm. “Ronnie, he’s fucking Simone.” Rhonda’s mouth falls, and she gawks at me. “I’m sorry.” I drop my hand and sniff before emptying the rum bottle this time.

“Why are you sorry? Oh, Greg. That’s...horrific. I thought Simone loved you.”

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