Page 24 of Bastian

My past seems like child play compared to Quinne’s, and maybe that’s why I haven’t thrown her in front of a moving car yet. Because I know what it feels like to be drowning, and Quinne is barely keeping her head above water.

“Did you come to comment on Nessa’s performance, or is there something else you need?” I whisper gently, sensing she’s not being herself today.

“Here.” She extends her right arm and hands me a stack of papers.

Looking down, I ask, “What is this?”

“Take it.”

I do.

Reading over it, I find myself stunned.

“Why would you do this?”

“This was never my dream, but yours.” She clears her throat and looks away from me.

“Then why help me? Why invest in something you never wanted to begin with?”

Quinne shoots back. “Because this means something to you, and we all deserve a lifeline and this company is yours. I have my own, and someone gave it to me when I needed it most.”

Lifeline.

I take her words in.

She’s right.

I had nothing, and she used her money and connections to help me get this company up and running. It gave me a reason to get up in the morning and fight.

Quinne gave me that.

“I can’t accept this. I won’t.”

“You have no choice but to accept it, Arianna.” Quinne sighs, exasperated. “I’ll still be on the board, but this company is now yours.”

Knowing this is a losing battle, I give in to her wishes but not before telling her, “I’ll repay everything you invested in the company plus interest.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything else from you.” She laughs softly and steps back. “Just…just keep shedding light on them, okay?”

Them.

Victims of a horrible fate.

“I will.” I turn back and look at my friend– my ally in the eye, and vow to her that I will respect her wishes and condition, the only one she asked when she started this journey with me. “But you are not to—”

She cuts me off before I can tell her exactly what I feel, but just like me, she doesn’t want pity, nor does she want to discuss what causes her pain. Quinne’s eyes turn cold once again, and her smile cruel. “He really shouldn’t have made an enemy out of you, Arianna. Now give him hell.” She successfully transfers the attention back to me.

Knowing vulnerable Quinne is long gone, I nod. “I will.” I will show him exactly that. Hell.

Once, he was my heaven, but not anymore.

Now he’s exactly what Quinne said.

My enemy.

“I’ll be out of the city for a case, but I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”

“Same here.”

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