Page 117 of Bitter Secrets

“Of course he did,” she snapped.

“Yet he made you power of attorney instead of Colette and left you his fortune when they desperately needed that money to regain control of the company. Why?”

She glanced around the cabin for a distraction. Most of the shades had been drawn as the sun began its early descent, and everyone was oblivious to the brewing shitstorm. Sarai had her back to them with her headphones on, and from the way she was listing to the right, Jasmine knew she was gone. Mo was facing them, but fast asleep. She could see Johan’s profile, but couldn’t tell whether he was conscious or not. She considered calling to him to see if he wanted to play cards, but Roth’s next words made her freeze.

“Maximus gave you that inheritance so you could save yourself in case his safeguards failed. He knew your sisters would leave you out in the cold like they always have.”

His words stabbed into her with such force that she stopped breathing.

“Same with the disc. If your sisters had to choose between you or the company, they’d choose Hennessy & Co in a heartbeat.”

She searched his face for a sign that he was intentionally trying to hurt her, but his stoic expression gave nothing away. His indifferent tone made it sound like he was stating facts, not decimating the only familial bond she had left.

“The only reason they’re checking in with you now is to make sure you keep me happy so I can save their asses.”

If there was anything on the table, she would have hurled it in his face.

“Fuck. You,” she said distinctly and precisely as she gripped the armrest in a death grip. "I trust my sisters."

“That would be unwise. When have they ever been there for you when you needed them?”

“Shut up!” Her voice was embarrassingly unsteady.

“If they saw you as an equal, why haven’t they offered you a share of Hennessy & Co?”

She blinked. “I don't want a share.”

“Yet you were willing to give up your inheritance to save something you have no stake in.”

The bottom dropped out of her stomach, but she ignored the sensation as she slashed her hand through the air. “I didn't do this for them! I did it so my grandfather and father's hard work wouldn't be for nothing, and it could be passed down to my nieces and nephew.”

“Your sisters’ children have legacies from their fathers. Even without Hennessy & Co, your sisters’ net worth will be in the one percent.” They flew through a cloud, softening the light on his otherwise brutal face. “They did exactly what your father predicted and sacrificed you to salvage their pride and ego.”

There was a high-pitched ringing in her ears. “You don’t know that,” she said, but there was no heat or conviction in her words.

“I’ve been studying your family for close to a decade. I know them better than you ever will because I’m not blinded by love or loyalty.”

No, he wouldn’t be because he felt nothing. What would it be like to go through life without feeling obligation, guilt, and shame? She lowered burning eyes to the glossy table.

“You should be wary of their motives.”

“And I shouldn’t be wary of yours?” She rubbed at a smudge on the table. “You’re trying to manipulate me.”

“Am I?”

“You don’t say or do anything without an ulterior motive.”

“I’m stating the obvious.”

The urge to leap to her feet and storm out was so strong, her legs knocked against the chair in preparation to rise, but she forced herself to stay seated. There was nowhere to run, and the last thing she wanted to show is how much his words were getting to her. She wanted a fight. Apparently, he was willing to accommodate her. She just wished the topic wasn’t the fragile bond she was trying to nurture with her sisters. Did they apologize to lay the groundwork for her to sacrifice herself when they told her who had taken control of Hennessy & Co? She shut that train of thought down before it could take root. She couldn’t entertain thoughts like that around someone who preyed on weakness. She would handle that later when she was alone and safe.

“You pointing out that my saving Hennessy & Co is pointless hurts your case, doesn’t it?” Her voice was even. She was proud of that when her insides were quaking. “I could walk.”

“No, you couldn’t.”

His tone was just as soft as hers, but there was an underlying steely tone that grabbed her attention.

“We made a deal. Just because you decide it’s no longer worth it, doesn’t mean the deal’s off.”

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