Page 95 of Token

It took a second for Nate to grasp what she was saying. What she’d just accused him of, and the roiling implications. The woman was deadly, managing to gut him without drawing actual blood. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

Mute and somewhat shell-shocked, Nate watched as she turned and jerkily opened the door.

“I’m leaving. And don’t worry. I’ll find my own way home.” The words sailed over her shoulder as she exited his apartment.

Moving to the doorway, Nate stared at her retreating form as she disappeared from view with only one thought in his mind.What the hell just happened?

24

Kennedy’s life was imploding in such magnificent fashion, it came as no surprise to her the next day when a client wanted to put apauseon their contracts, requesting they push out the start date of their services. Another called to say they wouldn’t be requiring the five people they’d previously requested. They hadn’t offered an explanation, but she knew why. Right now, her agency was toxic when it came to those services, and who could blame them for staying away? Whether they intended to useanyof Token’s services in the future was up in the air. Kennedy had her doubts.

So not only had she and Aurora been maligned, but what she feared was coming to pass. The resulting attention was costing the agency business. And the day had only begun.

Normally, she wouldn’t be working on three hours’ sleep, but these weren’t normal times. She’d come home from Nate’s last night utterly spent, nearly numb. Too upset to cry and too angry to call and rail to her sister, her stalwart sounding board, she’d spent most of the early morning lying in bed staring at the ceiling, a multitude of thoughts going through her mind.

Knowing what Nate did changed things; she just didn’t know exactly how. She owed him, but she didn’t know what. What she did know was she hated being in anyone’s debt, and that included the man she was in love with. Especially him.

Had Aurora known Nate was behind the scholarship? That was the other question that haunted her. Kennedy didn’t want to think so. But how could she not have known? She’d been the one who “found” it and urged her to apply. And one of the things friends didn’t do was secretly help their billionaire brother pay for your Ivy League education and keep it from you. With her best friend still nursing a broken heart, Kennedy wasn’t eager to confront her about it. Thankfully, she had time, since Aurora wasn’t expected back to work until tomorrow.

Or so Kennedy thought, up until the moment her friend walked into the break room while she was pouring herself a second cup of coffee. It was nine o’clock.

Actually,tiptoed inmore accurately described the way Aurora approached, her blue eyes wary.

Clearing her throat, she stated softly, “I spoke to Nate.”

That, Kennedy had surmised the second she saw her face.

“I didn’t know at the beginning, Ken. Nate told me he heard about the scholarship from someone who worked at Columbia, and that you immediately came to mind. He said you met all the criteria.” Aurora took a step closer, bringing them within a foot of each other. “I was so excited, I didn’t think there was anything odd about it. It was his alma mater. I figured he had the inside track on things like that. And then when you got it, the only thing that mattered to me was that we’d be going to school together, and I’d be rooming with my best friend.”

Aurora began fidgeting, rubbing her palms up and down her outer thighs.

Lifting the cup to her mouth, Kennedy blew lightly on the hot liquid. “So when did you know?”

“When we applied for the master’s program,” her friend said before pausing when Julie walked past the open door. As soon as the sound of clicking heels faded down the hallway, she continued. “This time, when Nate said he’d heard about another scholarship that would cover it, I finally wised up. It was just a little too coincidental to be believable a second time. When I pressed him on it, and kept pressing, he finally told me the truth. I wanted to tell you, Ken, but he begged me not to. He said if I did, you’d refuse it. And the thing is, I knew he was right, so I kept my mouth shut.”

Kennedy took a sip of the coffee. She should have stopped by Starbucks and gotten a caramel macchiato Frappuccino, but she hadn’t been in the mood—or had the patience—to wait in a line this morning.

“I’m sorry, Ken,” Aurora said, managing to look both miserable and contrite. “Are you mad at me? I couldn’t stand it if this ruined our friendship.”

“I was at first, and I was going to call you last night when I got home, but I couldn’t handle the thought of another argument. Then this morning I realized that no matter what or when you knew, I can’t in good conscience hold you responsible for something your brother did. Plus, he’s your brother, so of course when he asked you not to tell me, what choice did you have?” Kennedy shrugged. “He’s your brother. He’s blood.”

“Yes, but you’re the closest thing to a sister I’ve ever had, and I love you like one, and I don’t want to lose you.”

Kennedy’s heart immediately softened. Aurora didn’t apologize fairly, making it impossible to stay mad at her for long. “Damn you. I love you too,” she grumbled, suppressing a smile. “I’m not saying you’re out of the woods yet, just that I understand the position he put you in.”

A hundred-watt smile lit Aurora’s face. She waited a beat before inquiring tentatively, “What about Nate? Will you be able to forgive him?”

Kennedy’s lips tightened. “I don’t know. I’m sure I will...eventually. But where we go from there, I don’t know,” she said, sighing. “What about you? How are you doing? I thought we agreed you were going to take a couple days off.”

A shadow of pain flashed across Aurora’s face. “Sitting at home alone only makes it worse. And anyway, Justine Ingram called. She’s concerned I may not be able to represent her the way I should because of the crap in the email. It took me a bit to convince her the scandal hasn’t affected my competency or commitment. I also promised to keep the lowest of low profiles and work strictly behind the scenes. She finally agreed to that.”

Kennedy vacillated between relief and frustration. It wasn’t fair. None of it was. Not to her and certainly not to Aurora. Then why were they paying the price for what Phil and Sam had done?

Earth to Kennedy. Life isn’t fair. Never ever forget that.

After informing Aurora about the casualties the agency had suffered just that morning, she said, “At this point, I’ll be happy if we’re able to keep your accounts. The diversity and inclusivity part of the business is taking a hit, and lord knows how long it will continue. I’m being told the attention on me in particular is too much of a distraction.”

“If we lose a few clients, we lose a few clients. We’ll be fine,” Aurora said with the confidence of a woman whose financial status had always been and would always be secure. She wouldn’t let the agency fail because she could afford not to. She had money in reserve, and her brother was Zuckerberg rich. Kennedy, on the other hand...

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