Page 122 of Living on the Edge

I can’t breathe, and it feels like everything is closing in.

What did I do?

How did I let Rich pull the wool over my eyes like this?

I’m smarter than this.

Better than this.

I may not be part of the family’s pharmaceutical empire, but I fucking grew up sitting at the knee of August Hollingsworth. I cut my teeth on his early business deals, and despite not being interested in participating, I learned the mechanics of how to be cutthroat, cautious, and prepared in every aspect of my life.

Until now.

This bald, bloated, miserable excuse for a human being not just made a fool of me, he hurt the woman I loved.

Love.

Stilllove.

I’ve been angry at and disappointed in her, but I don’t have an internal switch to make me automatically stop loving her.

And now I’ll burn down the whole fucking city to find her and make this up to her.

But first, I have a phone call to make.

I don’t care what I have to do, but Rich isn’t going to get away with this.

No matter what favors I have to call in, or how much money I have to spend, I’m going to make sure Rich regrets every single one of his life choices.

Then I have to figure out how the hell I’m going to get my girl to forgive me.

Chapter38

Ryleigh

Tuesday night is busierthan usual, and a bartender called in sick, so now I’m behind the bar doing my level best to make drinks I’ve never heard of or have no idea what goes in them. Luckily, we have a bunch of regulars hanging out, so they find it hilarious that I’ve got my phone open so I can look up how to make all these drinks they’re asking for. I think some of them are doing it on purpose, just to make everyone laugh.

The tips are pretty good, though.

There’s at least a hundred bucks in the tip jar so far, and it’s only nine o’clock.

“I’d like to buy a round for the bar,” an eerily familiar voice says.

I don’t turn right away because I don’t want to be disappointed—or freak out in front of everyone.

But all the regulars are cheering, calling out drink orders, so I have no choice.

Damn him.

What is Angus doing here?

How did he find me?

And why would he show up now?

I’ve done everything in my power to stay under the radar and if he gets me fired, I’m going to be pissed.

I pull in a deep breath through my nose, hoping to steady my nerves, but I don’t think it does much of anything.

---