Page 209 of Plaything

“She’s unavailable, sorry,” Aiden replied before I heard the door creak close.

Before it clicked shut, it stopped with a thud. From the floor, I saw a woman’s shoe between the door and the wall. “Odette, my name is Rita Thumborn; I’ve worked for Charles for years as an attorney,” she called into the space, seeing past Aiden’s excuse.

I widened my eyes at her boldness. “Email me,” I responded back, still out of sight. I needed a break from everything to do with Charles. Besides that, I looked like I’d been put through a blender; I couldn’t be seen like this.

“There have been major changes to his will. Please, I need ten minutes of your time,” she said.

Knitting my brows together, I almost felt like laughing. Looks like I really pissed him off. “I don’t want anything from him anyway,” I dismissed. I couldn’t care less if he took me off the damn thing.

There was a thick silence before she signed. “Odette, you want to talk to me.” There was a deepness in her tone that gave me goosebumps. It was clear she wasn’t backing down.

I sat up, looking between Wyatt, Niko, and Dominic, who all gave me similar looks that said, ‘It’s up to you.’

Damn it.

Preparing for an unpleasant conversation, I stood and walked towards the front door. Aiden opened the door again, letting Rita inside. I’d seen her a few times but never spoken to her. The top of her head only reached my shoulders, although I was sure her teased pixie cut gave her a few extra inches.

Her eyes widened for a moment when she saw my face. My hood was up, and thick clothes covered everything else. But there was no hiding the hideous black eye and swollen cheeks. If I thought about it too much, I’d make myself sick again. “Yes?” I asked, urging her to say whatever she came all this way for.

Trying to be polite, her posture changed from sympathetic to professional. Gesturing to the folder she had in hand, she nonchalantly eyed my professors before speaking. “Is there somewhere we could speak in private?”

They could hear whatever she had to say. I had nothing to hide. Lord knew they knew everything about me already. Not wanting to be any more rude than I already had been, I invited her to sit with me at a tall table in the living room. My professors took the hint and disbursed a bit. Niko and Dominic stayed in the room while Wyatt and Aiden went into the kitchen.

“Thank you,” she faintly smiled at my willingness to meet with her. “I’d like to start by saying I don’t know what happened last night. I’ve heard rumors, but I’ve worked with your father for thirty years and know when to mind my business. With that being said, I received a frantic call from Charles at three in the morning demanding immediate changes to the will—”

“He took me off of it,” I nodded, trying to cut to the chase.

She placed glasses at the bridge of her nose, opening the folder. “Quite the contrary.”

“I don’t understand. What changes were made?” I asked.

She looked at me over her glasses. “Prior to the changes, you were told that something north of 17 billion would go to the man you wed, correct?” I nodded.

“Miss Whitlock, Charles put all of his assets in your name,” she informed.

I heard Niko choke and cough from where he sat.

“So he took out the husband part?” I clarified. She didn’t need to come all this way to tell me that.

“Yes. As well as making you the owner of all his companies, the sole beneficiary of his estate and funds,” she corrected.

My mind went completely blank as she showed me documents containing Charles’ assets, revenue, and massive numbers—incomprehensible numbers that far exceeded 17 billion.

“Niko,” my voice shook as I waved him over. I couldn’t possibly do math right now, even if it was addition. My stomach was in knots.

He was at my side in a second, scanning the documents, his fingers twitching at his side as if using an abacus.

“Wait,” I chuckled in disbelief. “I don’t know anything about owning these businesses. Honestly, I don’t even know what most of them are. I’m only 20!”

Rita gave me a calming smile. “That’s why I wanted to speak with you in person. I’ve worked with wealthy individuals my whole career and can advise you,” she nodded. “I’ve got a few financial advisors I personally use and recommend. As far as being the owner of the business, you don’t have to participate in the decision-making process. There are overly qualified CEOs and shareholders who have meetings to make decisions. All you have to do is show up to a few galas and charity events, show face, and leave,” she said.

“I’m graduating with an engineering degree in three days... Engineering!” I exclaimed.

“It may not be business or communications, but you’re an heiress whether you like it or not. The first thing I recommend you do is hire security,” she widened her eyes, capturing my frantic attention again. “I hate to say it, but this much money makes people do stupid things. You should hire a bodyguard or two to escort you—”

I absentmindedly pointed to Dominic—the colossal unfuckwithable man that he was. “I’m fucking him.”

Niko snorted beside me, and Dominic simply waved to Rita without looking up from his computer.

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