Page 40 of A Billionaire's Secret

“Just tell me a number,” I raised my voice. “Any number! I want this to be over, and I’ll pay whatever.”

“Dad,” Diana placed her hand on top of mine. “Please, let me say something. Mr. Boyd, what if I confessed and accepted my charges? Wouldn’t that be the best thing to do?”

“Over my dead body,” I yelled out. “Forget that question, William.”

“Diana, that would be, but your life will be tarnished forever.” William ignored my request and turned to face Diana.

“What nonsense is this? My daughter going to prison? I’d never allow it!” I stood up and paced the room.

“It’s not up to you, Dad!” Diana slammed her fist on the couch. “I’m an adult. And I’ve committed a crime. It wasmydecision, and it’smydecision now to accept the consequences!”

“Ok, hear me out, please,” I sat back down next to her, held her hand in mine, and stared at her with my most convincing, negotiating look. “Here’s what we can do. You and I need to meet with that fucker and let him know what can happen to all of us. Let him make the final decision. Huh, what do you say? If he asks for a final payment and promises to shut up forever, then we’re done. If he chooses to talk, then we face the consequences.”

Diana stared at the floor, her gaze empty and hopeless. “William, isn’t it correct that the more we engage with this vet and offer him bribes, the more liable we become? We’ll be in even more trouble if this all comes out eventually. Correct?”

“Unfortunately, that is correct,” William’s eyes flushed with concern. “The more you communicate with him, not only are you showing no remorse, but also willingly admitting more crimes.”

The silence in the room became thick as butter while each of us sifted through knowledge and feelings.

“And we don’t know if he has told anyone or if anyone is suspicious and poking around as we speak,” William dared to break the silence with more unpleasant facts. “If that’s the case, it can get very ugly if we decide to take the bribe route and someone eventually speaks out.”

“Fuck!” I yelled and rolled my hand into a fist, imagining the vet’s face crushed under it.

Diana stood up, patted down her dress, cleared her throat, and looked me dead in the eyes. “This is my final decision. I’m confessing.” Then she turned to William, “What do I need to do?”

***

As hard as I tried to justify bribing the vet one last time, the daunting thought of Victoria’s unjustified loss that day kept clouding my mind. I sniffed the contents of the glass and served it to my mouth, letting its contents down my throat and accepting its soothing embrace. I couldn’t find any scenario with a remotely positive outcome, so I drowned in liquor and cigar smoke in the darkness of my den for the last few days.

My unanswered calls to Victoria had gradually ceased with the realization that I couldn’t face her, even if she wanted. Henry from the British farm had informed me that her new horse, Mischief, would be arriving by the end of the week after he had pulled every string he ever had. I decided to wait for news from Victoria once she received it. Until then, I’d hide out, avoiding every phone call, email, and text.

“Dad, Dennis, the vet, has agreed to meet us today at five,” Diana’s voice filled the musty air. “Come on, get up and clean yourself up. Geez, it smells like a pub in here.” She walked to the windows and spread the shades, causing my eyes to squint.

Reluctantly, I walked upstairs to my bedroom and took a long, scorching hot shower, hoping to wash off all guilt and fear for what the future held. I wore a dark grey suit, a black button-up shirt, and a black tie. I was aiming for an intimidating look, but anyone could see through the built-up worry in my eyes.

Daniel dropped us off at William’s office, and we told him we’d walk from there. William came out, carrying his usual briefcase and loosening up his tie. He fished out a document, handed it to me, and returned to the building. Diana and I walked five blocks to a beat-down empty bar, sweating under the summer Tennessee heat.

Inside, we ordered a cold beer and found a secluded booth toward the end of the bar. No words were necessary to express the anxiety building up within each of us, just the tapping of two pairs of feet under the table.

The doorbell sounded, and we looked up. The familiar face of the man I had threatened and bribed weeks ago poked in through the door. Being best acquainted with him, Diana waved her hand, inviting him to join our table.

Under the table, I clenched my fist and placed it between my knees, assuring that it wouldn’t just fly at Dennis’s smug face as soon as he came close enough.

“Hi, Diana. Mr. Forbes,” he nodded to each of us and cautiously sat on the empty bench across from Diana and me.

“Dennis, we called you here because we have to discuss our options,” I began, reciting the lines Williams had taught me. “Unfortunately, horse doping is a serious crime, and all three of us stand to be prosecuted. Do you understand that?”

“I want one million, and this all goes away,” he spoke bluntly, looking straight into my eyes, his smirk setting my insides ablaze. “Oh, and can I have a beer?”

I turned to Diana, hoping to receive confirmation from her. Her eyes were blank. My fist had turned blue from the tight clench.

You fucking fool, I would have paid you ten.

19

Victoria

“Vicky,dinnertonightateight. Daniel will pick you up at seven-thirty.”Christian’s text illuminated my phone screen and made my heart drop to my feet.

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