Page 22 of Ruthless Heir

We’re in my bedroom packing. She’s been here for the last two hours trying to convince me to ask Asher for the money I need to pay off Vito.

“I’m trying to make you see sense.” Beth stands and places her hands on her slender hips, assuming her Miss-know-it-all persona. “The man is a billionaire.”

“Iknow. And I am seeing sense. My answer is still the same. No, I’m not going to ask him.”

While the idea seems like a no-brainer if you know someone whose net worth is fifteenfreakingbillion dollars, it’s not an option for me. There are some lines in life you don’t cross. I already crossed one with Asher Le Blanche. I won’t cross another.

That said, if Asher helped me pay the debt the worries of what Vito will do to me would cease to exist. I just can’t bring myself to ask for that kind of help.

“It’s bad enough I’m going to live at his place.” I exhale slowly, trying to keep my nerves from taking over again.

“Why is that so bad?”

“Youknowwhy. Living with Asher is going to be awkward as hell.”

“Yes, but at least you know him. It’s not as bad as staying with someone you don’t know.”

“Sure, but given all that’s happened I feel so uncomfortable. The money situation just makes it worse.” The questions Asher asked the other night told me he knew I was still in trouble.

“What about his parents? I’m sure they’d lend you the money. Weren’t both your parents college best friends?”

They were. That’s how we all came to know each other. My mother was friends with Asher’s mom and my father was friends with his father. So I have the close family relationship from both sides.

“I haven’t seen Asher’s parents in years. I can’t just show up on their door step and ask them for money. I would be so embarrassed, especially since I didn’t exactly stay in touch with them as much as I could have.”

Asher’s parents were very supportive after my father died and my stepmother took everything. I know they helped out a lot financially and even got us a lawyer.

We lost touch when they started traveling more and I got wrapped up in my own world with its overwhelming problems.

“My life is a state of shit right now and I don’t want to make anybody’s impression of me worse than it already is,” I add, feeling like a loser again.

I’ve been on edge since Vito’s call the other night and I’ve barely been able to hold myself together.

Josh could tell something was wrong with me when he saw me the next day. Thankfully, he thought I was worrying about moving in with Asher. I made him none the wiser.

Beth walks toward me, takes the jumper I was folding out of my hands and places it on the desk. “Come, you need to sit.”

She ushers me over to the chair by the window, sits me down and moves the curtains aside to let in some air.

“I have to sort this out myself, Beth.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“How are you going to do that? You can’t find twenty grand in four weeks.” She lowers her voice. Josh is here and he’s been checking on me almost every hour. “You know I’d help you if I could.”

“You’ve helped me more than enough. I wouldn’t want you to help me again. I still owe you.” Beth gave me five thousand dollars to pay some of the loan repayments after Nick went to prison.

“I’d still help you out. And no, you don’t owe me. It was a gift.”

“Thanks. That means everything to me.” I sigh, sounding like I haven’t taken a breath in a hundred years. “I was thinking that maybe if I got a job, I could get a loan.”

That’s plan A. If that doesn’t work the only option I’ll have is plan B—running. I don’t want to run because running means death. I don’t have to wonder if Vito would kill me. I know he will.

“Getting a loan isn’t that simple.” Beth bites the inside of her lip and cocks her head. “Banks aren’t always willing to give you a loan just because you have a job. You’d also need to have had the job for a certain length of time.”

“Yes but I can try. Ihaveto try. And at least I have two grand from Josh. Maybe if I can make that up to ten Vito will allow me some more time to pay the rest.”

“From what you told me that call didn’t sound like he’d be willing to do anything of the sort.”

“Beth, you’re not helping.”

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