Page 76 of The Estate
There was no way Jess should attach herself to this.It was a prominent event. And now it was a prominent event headed for destruction. The stress of it had made Trace quit.
“You’re the perfect person,” Cal continued. “You’ll see what needs to get it all up and running again.”
“Cal,” Jess interrupted. “I can point you in the right direction if you need it, but I doubt I have the experience…”
“The hell you don’t!” Cal slapped the table.
The noise was so startling, Rachel jumped. And she wasn’t alone. Jess was beside her. She watched as her sister didn’t just flinch; she recoiled. The fear playing out across her face.
Rachel’s breath caught as memories assaulted her. The bruises Jess had explained away as clumsiness. Her sister’s lip cut open and caked with blood. The red colorstark against thepallor of her face. Finger shaped bruises circling Jess’ wrists and arms.
Rachel clutched the arms of the chair, fighting the wave of nausea.
“You’re a fantastic problem solver,” Cal continued, oblivious to the surrounding reactions.
“In fact.” Cal stood up, his hands on his hips, “I need you not just for this event. I want you to work with me on this and come on board as the event planner for White Hall. You’re perfect for the position,” he concluded, his face flush and smiling.
Rachel finally understood what it meant when people saw red, because right now her vision was a throbbing shade of crimson. “What the hell are you talking about, Cal?” she sputtered.
If Rachel had been calm, she might have taken a breath. Might have glanced at Jess, to gauge her reaction. But calm had fled the moment Cal hit the table.
Her pulse thundered in her ears. She couldn’t stop the images of Jess cycling through her mind. That same helplessness from years ago had her in a chokehold. The one that had haunted her since Chris.
Not again.
Not on her watch.
She stepped forward, her voice sharp, too loud. “Absolutely not!”
Her hand trembled, but her glare stayed steady. “You willnotbully my sister into working for you so you can play savior and polish your damn reputation.”
Cal blinked, caught off guard.
“I won’t let you do that to her,” Rachel continued, her tone rising with each word. “She’ll kill herself trying to make this happen. And the odds are already stacked against her, so when it falls apart, she’ll be the one taking the public blame for your failures.”
She could sense Jess shifting in her seat, but Rachel’s entire focus had zeroed in on Cal. He had to understand. He had to.
She’d failed to protect Jess once. She would not make that mistake again.
Her voice broke slightly as she pushed forward. “And what happens when she quits her job to help you, and your parents come in to gut this place anyway? Did you even think about that?”
Cal’s brow furrowed. His mouth opened, closed. His shoulders squared.
“You’re so busy manipulating everything to serve your parents’ obsession with the bottom line, you can’t even see who you’re hurting.”
“Seriously?” Cal stepped toward her, his tone tight. “What the hell, Rachel?” His gaze swept over her like he didn’t recognize the person standing in front of him. “Are you really lumping me in with them? You know me better than that. Or at least, I thought you did.”
“And accusing me of being a manipulative bully?” His voice was louder now, disbelief laced with anger.
“Cal. Rachel…” Jess tried to cut in, but neither of them turned.
“You’re obsessed with this place,” Rachel said, her voice shaking, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “And youdon’t care what or who is in your way. You’ll sacrifice anything to get what you want.”
Cal leaned back slightly, as if her words had physically struck him. His expression hardened.
Something inside Rachel winced. She knew she’d gone too far. Cal wasn’t like this. But the fear—the panic—driving her refused to let her back down.
His arms folded tightly across his chest. “That’s rich coming from you,” he said, low and sharp. “You’re here to deliver the final blow to everything I’ve ever cared about.”
