Page 77 of Ruin Me

Although she visited me every day, she was keeping something from me. When I saw her next, I wouldn’t allow her to hide the truth from me.

“Quarren, you can try putting me on trial, but a jury of Luxe’s peers aren’t the billionaires. They’re working class to middle class men and women who’ll look at your client as an over privileged individual who thinks the world should stop for him. I’ll get his employees on the stand to paint him as a ruthless, exploitative employer who thinks women don’t deserve to live.”

I clenched my teeth, certain he’d find a few. After all, there was that god awful website where employees shit on me for being a demanding boss.

“And I’ll counter with the good he’s done in the community and other workers who love working for him. Trust me, Kemp, I and my client will come out looking better than you.” Quarren opened his briefcase. “And on that note, here’s my motion to dismiss.” He handed kemp a brief and shut his case. “We’ll see you in court.”

I followed Quarren out of the meeting room and stopped short at Madison’s anxious face.

CHAPTER 32

Madison

Everything in me screamed to tell Kent what I found, but I couldn’t. Anything coming from me or Kent would cause the prosecution and cops to consider us with suspicion. With the way the prosecutor went after Kent in the courtroom during his arraignment, I wouldn’t put it past the DA to claim we’d planted evidence.

Not telling Kent was one secret on top of another. I also couldn’t confess to the bargain I’d made with Ife. Knowing the bombshell I had in my lap would free Kent in a matter of days dampened my happiness. From the concern turning down Kent’s eyes, he probably suspected I was hiding things, but right now I had no choice.

“Little bunny?”

I ran into his arms before the police put handcuffs on him again and led him back to jail. “Kent, I’m so sorry the hearing didn’t go as planned.”

He squeezed me and kissed my forehead. “Me, too. I wanted to make up for not being by your side every night.”

“Oh.” I stepped out of his embrace. “I have the proxy documents you asked for.” I pulled an envelope from my purse and handed it to him.

“Good. I’ll make you my proxy?—”

“No, I don’t want that.”

He wrinkled his brow in confusion. “By giving you my proxy, I’m protecting you.”

I cradled his face in my hands. “I understand the thought behind the gesture, but you need to give them to Ife. Think about the optics. If I show up with your votes, I’ll only fan the flames of your opposition rather than oust them. Ife has history voting, and more of a stake in keeping you in charge.”

“My daughter is in a lot of pain right now and lashing out. She didn’t even show up in court today.”

“True, but deep down, she’s not vindictive. She knows cutting you out of your company is a step too far.”

Kent breathed in and looked to the ceiling before meeting my gaze. “Do you trust she’s on my side?”

I nodded, keeping the fact I’d removed the biggest obstacle to getting her agreement a secret.

“Alright. Ife will be my proxy.” Kent signed the documents and handed them to me.

I drew his face to mine for a much-needed kiss. A clock ticked in my head, counting down every moment we had that I needed to log into memory for when I wouldn’t see Kent’s face or hear his voice again. I intended to stockpile every second so when the pain became unbearable and the loneliness drove me to despair, I’d have a part of Kent to keep me sane.

“Hey Quarren, I can’t delay any longer. The transport’s about to leave and I need your client on the bus.”

I pulled away to find an officer talking with Kent’s lawyer. The man turned to us, his handcuffs ready to click around Kent’s wrist.

“Get some sleep little bunny. Quarren will surely win his motion tomorrow. And give the kids an extra treat for me,” Kent said, talking about our pets.

We didn’t linger over goodbyes. A good thing because I was close to breaking down. He chucked me under the chin and allowed the officer to cuff him. He soon disappeared from view.

My throat ached with the need to cry, but I had many days ahead of me to weep. For now, I needed to fight for my man’s freedom.

After leaving the courthouse, I called Ife. “Meet me at my mom’s.” I hung up without extending the conversation. Not that Ife would want to chitchat given the current state or lack of one regarding our friendship.

When I arrived at the Montgomery house, my dad greeted me. “Things didn’t go as planned?”

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