Page 156 of Rhet

“Twenty-five million. Did you put your final bid in already, sir?” I lie as I flick the end of the file with my fingernail.

“I did, I sent it in at twenty-five million. Lower his so I control the highest bid from here.” Carson’s voice grates my nerves.

Guilt crashing down on me. My breathing has become erratic. Everything feels heavy on me. It has come down to this my brother or Rhet.

“Okay, I will.” I respond.

“Good girl. The bid will show up on record in a few days. It was a pleasure doing business with you.” Carson says with a cackle.

My skin crawls with the thought of betraying the man I love. I can’t do this. Even if Rhet finds out. I can’t do this. This is wrong. This is not me. I love him too much to do this.

“Now your family will be secure for life.” His dark laughter comes through the phone.

“I don’t want your money,” I say. “I don’t want to be mentioned in any part of this.”

“Oh, no but you have to be. You’re one of my keys in bringing down the Banner Empire.”

Tears spill down my face, I hiccup as I feel my chest squeeze. It’s then that I realize this is not just about the bids, he wants to destroy the whole family.

“Remember this, if I go down. I’m taking you down with me. Smile, you did this.” Carson declares and hangs up.

Opening Rhet’s folder, I look at the accounts that he showed me. I find the bank website; I know what I have to do. I begin to type in new codes. Rhet needs to win. I update Rhet’s bid and increase it by a couple million more.

He deserves to win, if not for himself, for his brother. However, so does my family. I need to do what’s best for me. It takes me twenty minutes to change Rhet’s figures.

The door opens and Julian walks in. My stomach starts to bubble. I swear, a bead of sweat runs down the center of my forehead, over the bridge of my nose and hangs from the tip of it before it seems to drop down onto the desk in slow motion. I wipe my tears with the back of my hand quickly.

“Hello?” He pulls his eyebrows together.

“Oh, hi.” Nervously, I stand.

“Hi, I’m just getting some work done. You look nice today.” I close up the files on the desk.

He does look nice. Julian is handsome. No, really, he is in a Korea, glass skin way.

Everything about him is neat. From the way his jacket fits his shoulders, to the way his trousers wrap around his legs. It’s like the clothes feel honored to be on him.

“What were you doing?” he asks as he closes the door behind him. I can feel his eyes on me. I rub behind my neck, trying to get rid of the sensation.

“Oh, nothing much. Sending some emails out.” I ease out from behind the desk.

“I came to pick up Rhet’s folder he forgot it,” Julian says.

I need to get out of here. “Well, I’m done for the day. Lock up after me.”

“Sure.” He says.

“Have a good night, Julian.” I grab my bag and I make a controlled dash for the door.

“Zeeta, you know Rhet loves you, right?”

I swallow, wondering where this conversation is going. “I love him too. More than he will ever know.”

“Good, he’s one of my best friends. If you do anything to harm him, I will kill you myself.” Then he smiles.

“Don’t be silly. Have a great night.”

I close the door, hustle out of the office, and make a mad dash for the elevator.

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