Page 27 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“Hi, Kinsley,” Giselle said, way too chipper.

This concerned me more than anything. “Hello,” I said cautiously.

“How was your birthday?” She twirled her long hair.

That’s when I knew something more than the way I arranged the walk-in freezer was up.

I stared at the envelope on the desk. “It was fine. Thank you.” No need to go into any gory details. She didn’t really care anyway.

“Good.” She gave me a sickly sweet smile. Something was definitely up. She only gave that smile to people she was about to obliterate.

I gripped the chair nearest me, waiting for her assault. Meanwhile, Carter practically played dead, closing his eyes. It must be really bad.

Giselle plucked the envelope up off the desk. “Well, I’m just going to get right to it. This thing between us all,” she sighed, “it isn’t working.”

I agreed with her, but I didn’t have any other choice. “What do you mean?”

“I think you know.” She gave me a condescending look. “With that in mind, Carter and I have a solution.”

I looked at Carter, who was now staring up at the ceiling. He was a useless tool. How hadn’t I seen that ten years ago?

Giselle handed me the envelope. “We had an evaluation done of the restaurant, and we want to buy you out.”

I felt like I had been sucker punched. I couldn’t even get enough air in me to respond or grab the envelope.

Giselle pushed it into my hands. “I think you will find that we’re giving you a fair offer, considering we’re barely pulling a profit.”

I swallowed hard, absolutely stunned. “And what is the offer?” I managed to ask.

Her face reddened. “Let’s not discuss numbers. You can look at the paperwork yourself.”

I knew where this was going. “So, you’re trying to cheat me out of my share?”

“We wouldn’t do that.” Carter came to life and spoke some actual words.

I raised my brow at him.

“Please,” he begged, “just consider it. It will be better for all of us.” Not even he sounded like he believed that. It would be better for him and Giselle. That much I was sure of.

I focused back on Giselle. “What happened? We used to be such good friends.”

She shrugged her shoulders, like I didn’t matter at all. “Things change, and this will be a good change for all of us.”

I laughed maniacally. “Right. You don’t even care about this place,” my voice cracked. “I’m the one who makes things happen around here, and you know it.”

Giselle narrowed her eyes at me. “Which says it all, doesn’t it?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Only that we need to make some changes.”

My eyes stung with tears, but I would be damned if I let any of them fall. “You’re going to run this place into the ground without me.”

“Well, it won’t be your concern, now will it?”

“What if I refuse to take your offer?” I threw back at her.

She gave me a gloating smile. “Don’t make us get lawyers involved. We know who will win if we do.” That was her way of saying, “We have a lot more money than you.”

I squeezed the stupid manila envelope, not knowing what to say—and fearing if I did speak, I would cry and say things I would regret. I refused to let her have that power over me.

“Take the day to think about it,” Carter-the-Useless-Lump-on-a-Log added. “I’ll take your shift tonight so you can have all the time you need.”

“How generous of you,” I mocked him.

He hung his head. “I really am sorry, Kinsley.”

Wow. I heard that a lot. I really am sorry I have to break your heart. I really am sorry I can’t tell you how I truly feel. I really am sorry you aren’t enough. You will never be enough, Kinsley. Don’t you get that? Believe me, I was beginning to see the light.

“I’ll be in touch.” I spun on my heels and tore out of there, running all the way to my car. When I got inside, I sat paralyzed for a minute. So overwhelmed that I couldn’t even cry. I needed to run and clear my head. I couldn’t believe this was happening. How many more things could be taken away from me?

I started the car, not knowing where I would go, but somehow found myself heading toward my favorite running spot as if it were calling to me. I didn’t know why it would be. That place was only another reminder that I was never good enough. Except, some of my fondest memories had happened on that trail. Whatever the reason, I went with it, because it was the closest trail to me, and it was either run or run away. Though I was keeping running away open as an option.

I wound my way through Carrington Cove and above the town to the Hollands’ property, praying no one saw me. I knew I was trespassing on private land, but Brant had given me the code to the gate that restricted entrance to the access road that led to the trail. He’d told me I was welcome to use the trail anytime I wanted to. I wasn’t sure if his permission was still valid, as it was given almost three years ago. But I just needed to get lost for a bit, and have a moment alone with no witnesses, as I read the “offer.”

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