Might as well just alert the whole town. “Why didn’t you just ask me?”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” she counters. “I wanted to gather the information and then decide how to handle it. It’s vital to stay one step ahead with someone like you.”
This doesn’t seem like a good time to point out that she was one step behind.
“I don’t think we should sell it to him,” she says, gnawing on her lip. “What if he wants to destroy this vineyard?”
“He’s not going to destroy a vineyard that he owns.”
“But you don’t know that. You don’t know what his motives are. He is, after all, a Heyward and you’re all so vengeful. What if he hated your father so much that he’d rather set fire to this whole place and watch it burn?”
As far as I’m concerned, once Michael Castellano owns this place, he can do whatever the hell he wants with it. If he wants to burn it to the ground, let him. But I keep that little tidbit to myself and say nothing.
“I should have questioned it more from the start,” she says. “Anyone who is callous enough to cut grapevines to the root is unworthy of owning a vineyard.”
“And yet, my father owned a vineyard,” I point out.
“All the more reason why you should want to rise above and do better. Be better.”
“Did you see that on social media? I bet you stopped scrolling because of the cat doing chin-ups, didn’t you?”
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t go on social media. But you’re missing the point.”
“I’m really not. You’re not that subtle, Daisy. You made your point and skewered me with it. You’re upset I didn’t tell you who Michael Castellano is, and you don’t think we should sell this place to him.”
“You’re so determined to get revenge that you’re willing to do anything it takes. But it won’t give you the satisfaction you think it will.”
I take a sip of single malt and relish the burn as it slides down my throat. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
She shakes her head in disappointment. “I need you to promise me something.” I wait to hear what it is before agreeing. “Promise you won’t keep me in the dark. Stop minimizing my feelings. Gaslighting won’t win you any points in my book.” She stabs her finger at me. “And don’t lie to me again.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“It’s the bare minimum,” she says hotly. “All I’m asking is that you treat me with some respect. If that’s too much for you, then our deal is off.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not going to be your plaything in the bedroom only to be treated like shit outside of it.”
I smile.
Her eyes narrow. “This isn’t funny. I’m serious.”
I nod. “I know.”
But that’s not why I was smiling. I like that she stands up for herself. I enjoy it when she fights me. I don’t even mind her calling me out on my shit.
In a battle of wills, it’s far more entertaining to have a worthy sparring opponent. “I didn’t lie.”
“A lie of omission is still a lie. In fact, I would go so far as to call it the most egregious lie of them all.”
“What if it’s done to protect someone?” I counter.
“In this case, it wasn’t. You withheld the information on purpose to alter my perception and to manipulate me into going along with your plans.”
So clever. That’s exactly what I did. “No more lies of omission for the rest of our stay in Sutton Ridge, princess.”I give her the Boy Scout’s salute to seal the deal.
Nothing like a juicy rationalization to get you through the day. The caveat was necessary. What came before or whatever comes after is fair game.
Daisy nods, taking me at my word, and I feel a brief twinge of guilt over the deception, but it quickly passes.
Even though I’m on a mission to ruin Astrid, I have no intention of getting Daisy involved.