Page 70 of Relinquish

He shoves his chair back and tosses the file toward me. “Go ahead. Look for yourself. I also told Cade that if you marry him, you’re out of my will. You won’t get a cent from me. He won’t get a cent from me.”

I stare at the folder for several seconds before picking it up and running my thumb across the edges to fan them. I exhale to ease the queasiness threatening to overwhelm me. These papers symbolize the obliteration of a future I’ve always dreamed of having. I never thought I’d have to end a relationship that has meant so much to me. “You know I won’t be without money. More importantly, I can’t believe you think I’d marry a criminal. You say this file includes everything I need to know?”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Cade

My stomach churns as I turn and head to the stairs. Stella was right. Nothing good comes from eavesdropping. Over the past few weeks, I felt like I’d gotten to know the real Lola. I didn’t think she cared about money – until the words were out of her mouth. ‘You know I won’t be without money.’ I realized she was good at playing people, but I didn’t comprehend I was one of those people.

As I mount the stairs, my head thuds with tension and anger. She’s choosing money over me. How could she? And without asking me for my side of the story. Yes, I got arrested, but I’d done nothing wrong.

I open the door to my room and scan the area to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. The last thing I need is to have to come back and get something. I grab my luggage and retreat down the stairs while being careful not to step on any of the stairs that creak.

I’m not a coward, but confronting her when I’m angry is not a good idea. If she continues to work at Truman’s, we’ll have to find a way to have an amicable relationship. The thought of seeing her sends a stab of pain through my brain–a massive migraine is seconds away. When it hits, I won’t function. I’ve got to get to a hotel and hide out.

How could I have poured my heart out to her and it not mean anything to her? Sharing my past is not something I take lightly. Arrested? Bullshit. There is no way a United States Congressman doesn’t have his facts straight. He knows I was never convicted of a crime. If she cared about me, she would’ve trusted me enough to have me explain instead of believing the lies her father spewed.

“Cade, is that you?” Lola’s voice carries from her father’s office. She pokes her head out of the doorway.

Damn, so much for being silent. I stop in mid-step. She hasn’t seen you yet. Take the next few steps and disappear. I’m not a pussy. I drop my suitcases by the front door. “Yes, it’s me.”

Lola steps around the corner. “I thought that was you. I came looking for you but couldn’t find you.”

I shrug. “I went outside for a bit. Ripley called.”

She raises an eyebrow in question. “Did he have good news?”

“They’ve found the videos of the jewels they stole, some of the pilfered items, and documents that make his story sound off. It might have been a Ponzi scheme like we suspected.”

“I knew it.” She blinks and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “You seem distracted. Is something wrong? Did something happen with Stella?”

“No. Nothing happened back home.”

Her gaze drifts to the doorway, and her smile disappears. Her head jerks back to face me. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to head out. I’m staying at a hotel tonight by the airport so I can catch my flight.”

She clutches her throat. “I don’t understand.”

This is harder than I expected. The hurt in her eyes has me questioning my interpretation of the conversation between them. Maybe she does have feelings for me, but is it enough? No, it isn’t. I can’t handle a brief fling, and it’s clear her father will never accept me as a part of her life. I’m not going to be the reason she has no contact with her family.

Is this what my dad felt like? Is this why he left? Or was he just a prick? Hell, I’ll never know.

***

Lola

I suck in a deep breath and try to keep the tears from falling. He’s not making any sense. It hadn’t been an hour since he rushed across the bedroom floor for one last kiss before heading in search of food. There was no mention of leaving.

Surely, Cade isn’t upset by my father looking into his past. Albeit misguided, he’s showing that he cares. Now he knows in no uncertain terms that he’s going to butt out where he doesn’t belong. If he doesn’t, he won’t have a place in my life.

“We come from two different worlds. You grew up with this type of extravagance at every turn. Private schools, maids, butlers, and chauffeurs are about as alien to me as living with no electricity, bare cabinets, and scraping by in public school are to you. We’re not looking for the same thing.”

After all the time we’ve spent together, he’s going to use my past against me. I’m not a fucking snob. “When exactly have I appeared to be materialistic? Like I’m better than anyone else?”

He shuffles from his left to his right foot. “I can’t pinpoint a time.”

“Exactly. That isn’t me, so I don’t know why you’re accusing me of acting like that. What exactly do you think I want?”

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