Page 33 of Red

“Fair enough.” Ash nodded and gestured to a love seat pushed against the wall. “Melinda, I’m sure you’ll be comfortable here. Can I get you something to drink?”

The pleasantries made the room stuffy. She’d never cared for forced civility.

“No. Thank you, I’m fine.” She glanced at Erik as she made her way to the love seat. The leather was soft and supple, and creaked when she moved on it.

“I heard about your uncle’s requirements.” Ash raised his eyebrows as he started.

“Seems the whole town is aware.” Erik’s tone was unreadable. He was in business mode now. He wouldn’t give away his thoughts for free.

“Well, those who have interest in that sort of thing. Yes.” Ash leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Melinda is the last one?”

Erik’s shoulders tensed. Even through the fabric of his suit jacket, Melinda could make out his muscles constricting.

“Yes.”

“You say she’s your fiancée, but she had an appointment scheduled to meet with Daniel and Peter for a possible position here,” Ash said.

Melinda’s fingers dug into her palm; he’d planned to throw her into sexual slavery before giving her any of her real options.

“The options of either gaining an advance from the Annex to repay her grandfather’s debt or simply signing over a portion of her pay to my family was on the table at first,” Erik agreed. “It’s not anymore.”

Melinda’s chest lightened. He wasn’t set on throwing her to the wolves.

“I understand you managed to acquire buyers for the other women,” Ash continued.

Melinda forced herself to remain calm. She didn’t know Ash. If she appeared confused or upset, he could see that as a disloyalty to Erik. In their world, she didn’t fully understand what the implications of that would be. And she wasn’t willing to find out.

“For one, yes. The other was able to obtain the funds to repay the debt,” Erik said.

“And your fiancée is unable to do so?” Ash continued.

Irritation at Ash’s questioning started to build in Melinda.

“Her ability to repay or not, isn’t your concern,” Erik said, lowering his voice. She understood that tone. Ash was edging close to triggering his temper.

Ash eyed him silently, his jaw tensing and relaxing as the moments ticked by. Erik didn’t offer any more information. He actually relaxed beneath Ash’s scrutiny.

“No. What you do with her is your business. But you brought her here to find prospective buyers. And that’s my business.” Ash’s tone turned hard.

“She’s not for sale.” Erik matched him, stone for stone.

“You’re sure?” Ash’s eyebrows raised.

“Why the interest?” Erik asked, flicking a piece of fuzz from his knee. Was he bored? She could chew off every fingernail from the nerves bouncing around her body, but he seemed only mildly curious.

“Bertucci has an interest, and that makes me want to know details.”

“His offer is being rejected.”

What exactly was the offer? Melinda was ready to scream. Maybe she should have sat in another room. She wasn’t getting any more information by being so close to the conversation anyway.

“Because you’re marrying her.” Ash pointed a long finger in Melinda’s direction.

“That’s right. I thought we’d already established that.”

“Your uncle—”

“My uncle aimed his attentions on your wife and moved against you, going against the agreement with the other families. Maybe, whatever happened was justified. I have no ill will toward you or the others,” Erik stated, rolling his shoulders. “None of this has anything to do with you or your businesses. Melinda is merely a spectator tonight.”

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