Page 203 of Endgame
“Interesting.”
His face reddens, as if I’ve called him a liar, which I have.
“Thing is, I have a problem of my own,” I say. “See, I’ve grown attached to…my possession.”
He’s turning purple, revealing the hand he’s been trying so hard to hide.
His smile from just a minute ago was a lie.
The longer I look at him, the more I realize I’ve been getting under his skin for a while now.
Winston isn’t stupid. He’s had plenty of time to question my motives. In fact, I can guarantee that he put two and two together and figured out that I suspected him. That marrying his daughter is a form of retaliation.
He isn’t wrong. Itwas. In the past tense.
Falling in love with Aurora wasn’t supposed to happen. My attraction to her was never meant to evolve into this deep connection. This unbreakable bond.
I’ll die before I tell him how she owns a piece of my soul.
“Is this about the past? About—” He sucks in a breath, catching himself before blurting the incriminating words.
About Lotus. Not Aurora.
He has no idea I know about both. Better this way.
“It’s about you trying to fuck with my shiny new toy.” My stomach roils. Of course Aurora is so much more than that. Of fucking course. “You want her out of the way? Fine. You’re going to compensate me for my loss.”
“Are you…You’re asking for money?” His brow creases. Confusion settles in. “You?”
“Not quite.” I could’ve said yes. It would’ve been the easy answer. But then, he’d know for sure I’m manipulating him. I’m just as wealthy as the Clarkes, if not more. He might dig deeper into my motives before I have a chance to strike. “A majority stake in your company. That’s what I’m after.”
Power.
That’s one thing people like us can never have enough of.
That’s the language this narcissist bastard understands.
It’s believable, yet it throws him off.
A thousand emotions dance across his features. He doesn’t know whether he’s indignant, mad, relieved, or self-righteous.
“That’s a steep price, Everett.”
“Well.” I look him dead in the eye. “Isn’t it worth it? The price of making our problem go away?”
As soon as the words come out, realization slams into me. I’m infuriated by how I’ve missed that before this very minute.
He’s covering his tracks.
With Aurora out of the way, the only remaining evidence of what he did to Lotus will be cremated. Gone.
That’s why he’s been hiding her. Locking her up. So that my parents and I, the only people who could see the similarities, would never have the chance to dig into it.
To prove it.
My fucking God.
“Everett, be serious.” He blinks, still unbelieving. “A majority stake?”
