Page 124 of Always

“Money doesn’t matter.”

“Not to you. So how much?”

Brock narrowed his eyes. “Six figures. Possibly seven.”

“Here’s your counteroffer,” I said, “and you’d do well to entertain it. Keep your little darling out of the spotlight and your money out of lawyers’ hands. Give it to me instead. I’ll drop the charges, and you guarantee me that this is over. Fucking over.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning your daughter will never make false allegations against me. I want it in writing, signed by both you and her. I’ll sign as well that I’ll never talk about the incident that put her in the emergency room. I’ll never talk to her again, if that’s what it takes.”

“Addie won’t agree to that.”

“Make her agree.”

“As you said before, Mr. Black. She’s an adult. She thinks she loves you.”

“A million. That’s what it would cost you to ruin my life. Give it to me instead, and I’ll sign whatever you want.”

Brock narrowed his gaze. He was considering it. Good.

“A quarter million,” he finally said. “And you never call the police on Addie again.”

“No deal.”

“Half a million.”

I smiled. That was what I was after. Half a mill. I could get my new product off the ground with that.

“Half a million,” I said, “and Addie stops stalking me.”

“I’ve told her to stop, but I can’t control what she ultimately does.”

“Then I can’t guarantee I’ll never call the police on her again.”

Brock met my gaze, his own determined. “No wavering on that part of the deal. You cannot call the police on my daughter. Not ever. I’ll write it into the agreement if I have to. Otherwise, you’ll have my assurance that you won’t be prosecuted on any false allegations. And there will be a non-disclosure agreement.”

…

Skye’s eyes are wide as dinner plates. “You agreed.”

I clear my throat. “I did.”

“And Addie…”

“Has been stalking me since.”

“Your business…”

“Was seeded with Brock Ames’s money,” I say, my voice monotone. “And I signed a document stating I’d never talk about what went on between Addie and me.”

“So that’s why…”

“That’s why I couldn’t tell you, Skye. Why I shouldn’t be telling you now. Though it probably doesn’t matter. I can now buy and sell the Ames business. If I crack, what can they do to me? Sue me, but then it all comes out anyway.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me, then? At first, I mean.”

“Because I’m a man of my word, Skye. A man is nothing without his word.”

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