Page 62 of Ruined
“I’m not interested in these petty games anymore,” I said.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you back out,” Aldrich said. He stood up, two drinks in hand. “You see, this was your idea, remember? You made the bet. And the more information I gather on Haley, the closer I am to securing your company.” He tipped a glass towards me. I didn’t move. “You can’t think that I’m willing to give up the chance to take over Conway Capital.”
I shook my head. He never had a chance in hell of getting my company. But if it took giving up a ten percent share to save Haley’s dignity, then so be it. I could live with that. “Ten percent.”
He stared at me for a moment, reading my face. “You’ve gone soft on me. Haven’t you?” He set the glasses down on the table and slapped me in the arm. “Don’t tell me you have feelings for that stupid cunt.”
I grit my teeth. To talk about her like that. Haley.My Haley. I was close to knocking his teeth out right then.
“Don’t call her that,” I growled.
His cold, hard laugh echoed through the room. “You remember that that’s how you lost Bella too? Love makes you weak. You of all people should know that. Trust too much and you’ll end up losing Haley and your company too.”
I shook my head. “Haley will never be yours.”
“Why? Because you think she’ll be yours?” He gestured around the room. “Money is the only thing that men like us can trust. I thought I taught you that by marrying Bella.” He touched my arm, and I pulled away. He grinned at the revolt. “They’re objects. Nothing more. Playful little things, until we have no use for them. Don’t mistake lust for trust, my friend.”
I needed to get out of there before I bashed his fucking head in. Knowing that that’s how he felt about Haley, about all of the women and people around him, made me sick.They’re objects. Nothing more.It rang through my head as I stormed out of the building.
Nothing more.
Nothing but mine.
I had said those words to Haley as I claimed her virginity, reminding her of our differences. Money was at the center of our relationship. It complicated things. Made it so that I was forever in control when it came to our power exchange. I could fool myself into thinking that she was there for me, just me, but when it came down to it, the only thing that had ever brought us together was the terms we had set up. The time I paid for in the Terrariums. Could I trust her? Or was she using me as a stepping stone to a better life, like Isa had?
Aldrich may have been full of it, but one thing he said rang true.
Money put things into perspective. Money didn’t lie.
