Page 22 of Reckoning

My heart froze. Was he going to acknowledge what he’d done? What had inspired that change in personality? I swallowed back my fear. “You tried to rape me.”

He was silent and just shook his head. “Brace yourself. My father is waiting for us.”

I turned the rest of the way to face him. Could I get him on my side before we got in front of Conrad? “Say it. Say it, and maybe I’ll accept your apology.”

He shifted, avoiding my gaze for a moment. His pride getting the better of him as usual. He opened his mouth, the hint of a word on his tongue, but then the car was in front of us. The driver hopped out and ran around to open the door for us.

Bending over, I could see Conrad leering at me from the depths of the car. Anita sat behind him, smiling sympathetically. I shrugged off Meyer’s jacket and handed it back to him as I climbed into the car as gracefully as I could. I sat on the bench next to Anita and across from Conrad; I expected Meyer to sit next to his father, but he slid in next to me. Conrad nodded briefly at his son before locking his gaze onto me.

“You’re looking much healthier, my dear. It would appear my son is taking care of you all right after all.”

I folded my arms and glared at him, but said nothing. I’d pushed my luck enough for two days. What would Meyer do to me if I disrespected his father in front of him?

Conrad’s gloating smile transformed into a grimace. “I spoke to you, girl. Do you have nothing to say?” He turned his attention to Meyer. “If you can’t beat some respect into her, I’ll do it myself. I expected better by now.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Meyer’s palm landed on my thigh before I could get a word out. He squeezed my knee lightly.

“I told her to stay quiet,” he said, voice flat. “I don’t need her running her mouth off to everyone who speaks to her tonight.”

My eyes narrowed. What was he doing?

Conrad laughed. “Just like her mother. She was hard to break, too. I should expect the same from her daughter.”

My stomach roiled. I wanted to stand up for my mother and put this man in his place, but Meyer’s heavy hand on my knee reminded me just how much of a disadvantage I had here. His non-apology from earlier wasn’t binding; I couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t change his mind later. Maybe he’d only made that statement to lull me into a false sense of security. I observed his profile discreetly, the clean-shaven jawline and golden hair styled to the perfect degree of disarray. His head turned slightly, and he caught my eye just before I moved my gaze to my lap.

When we pulled up to the event, at the home of someone far richer than I could ever hope to be, my heart sank at the sight of how many tabloids were in attendance.

“You didn’t tell me the press was going to be here.” My heart kicked into overdrive. I pressed my fingers against the pulse in my neck, trying to count the beats. It was impossible to focus with the number of cameras pointed at my window as Conrad and Anita slipped out the other side of the car.

“This is part of the plan. We’re together now. We—”

“We are not together.”

A valet was walking toward me, reaching out to open the door. I snapped the lock closed at the last minute.

“Don’t try to gaslight me into thinking this is some sort of symbiotic relationship. You’re the shark here, and I’m trying to stay alive. That’s all that’s happening. I don’t see why you need to rub salt in my wounds.”

Meyer was already out of the car and leaned back in when I refused to get out.

“You’re stalling. Stop. Testing. Me.”

We stared at each other, though I couldn’t get a clear view of his face through the stars dancing in front of my eyes. I struggled to breathe deeply enough. Meyer flipped the automatic locks before I felt prepared, but the door behind me was suddenly open, and the valet’s hand was waiting for mine.

The poor man grimaced as I clenched his fingers, relying on him to hold me steady as I stood. I tried to let my hair fall in front of my face, but Meyer’s fingers tucked it behind my ears at the same time I felt his other arm around my waist.

“Try not to look so sick.” His mouth was against my ear. His words had the opposite of their intended effect, but I leaned against him for support. His cologne smelled familiar, comforting. As soon as I let myself relax against him, however, I mentally slapped myself and remembered he was forcing me through this. I couldn’t rely on him for protection.

“I can’t do this.” There were lights popping in my face, and I could hear reporters calling my name and asking questions. Someone had to have let them know I was coming. I wasn’t well-known enough to make the news by myself.

“It’s already in motion.” He started walking, and I had no choice but to be carried along with him. “Smile.”

“How do they know my name?” I asked instead of obeying. Maybe one of these vultures could read lips and discern the truth of my appearance here. “I’m never the one to confront you publicly about your policies.”

“Our appearance wouldn’t pack the punch we wanted if they didn’t know who you were. We’ve been feeding tips to them for the past week, hinting that I’d be appearing with someone unexpected this weekend.”

I was going to vomit. “You are fucking insane.”

He turned to look at me, struggling to keep his facial expression pleasant. He couldn’t hit me, not in front of these people, so he did something even worse.

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