Page 9 of Her Cruel Empire
“Four hundred.” He won’t meet my eyes. “I had to put it on the credit card. The landlord said he wouldn’t pay until we caught up on the rent.”
Four hundred dollars. Four hundred dollars we don’t have, charged to a credit card that’s already maxed out. Four hundred dollars that was supposed to be our grocery money, our gas money, our maybe-we-can-catch-up-on-the-electric-bill money.
The walls feel like they’re closing in. The weight of my siblings’ expectations, their trust, their need—it’s crushing me. I’m drowning, and I’m taking them all down with me.
“Robin?” Adrian’s voice seems to come from very far away. “You okay?”
I shake myself back to the present, forcing a bright smile onto my face. “Of course. Just tired.”
“I’m so sorry about the plumber, I just?—”
“It’s fine,” I say firmly. “You did what you had to do.”
And as I lie awake staring at the ceiling, I realize whatIhave to do. I just have to find the most convincing lie that will keep my family in the dark while I do it.
By morning, I’ve come up with a foolproof plan.
I come out humming and smiling, and call everyone over to the table. “Family meeting,” I announce. I look around at their worried faces, and grin. “No need to look like that, everyone. Something amazing happened last night.”
They all perk up slightly, hope flickering in their eyes.
“I got offered a spot on a reality TV show.” The lie flows out of me, smooth and natural. “It’s the pilot for a new show. Like Survivor, but for people who’ve been through hard times. The producers think I’d be perfect.”
Maisie sits up, her blue eyes bright with excitement. “Really? Like on actual TV?”
“Really. The only thing is, they want to film for thirty days. So I’d have to go away. But the grand prize winner gets a hundred grand.”
Dane’s jaw drops. “A hundred grand? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” I look around at all of them, seeing their excitement build. “But like I said, I’d have to be gone for a month.”
Adrian frowns. “A whole month? Robin, I don’t know if?—”
“You can handle it,” I say firmly. “You’re eighteen now. And it’s only thirty days.”
“We’d miss you,” Alicia says quietly.
My heart clenches. “I’d miss you too. But weneedthis break. It’ll help us get back on our feet.”
“You think you can win?” Maisie asks softly.
“Heck yeah, I do. I’ll beat the competition into submission.” I keep smiling. “What do you think?”
They all start talking at once, excitement bubbling over. Alicia is still hesitant, but she can’t argue with the money. Dane’s already planning how he’ll help take care of everyone while I’m gone. Maisie’s asking if she can watch the show when it airs.
Only Adrian stays quiet, studying my face with eyes that are too wise for eighteen. “You sure about this, Robin?”
I meet his gaze steadily. “I’m very sure.”
It’s not until I lock myself in the tiny bathroom that I allow myself to fall apart. I stare at my reflection in the cracked mirror.One hundred thousand dollars, I mouth at myself.
I pull the torn pieces of the business card from my pocket, where I put them after rescuing them when Logan wasn’t looking.
Thirty days of “companionship.” Thirty days of being some rich man’s toy. Because let’s face it, it’ll be a man.
I haven’t been with a man for a very long time. Can I really pretend for thirty days?
Thirty days of pretending to save my family.
