Page 9 of Papers Don't Lie

“I’m suing him,” I say, throwing the money onto the floor.

I can feel Kendrick’s spine straightening from here. “Esmeray, please rethink your decision.”

“My decision is final. Now I want to be alone, please.”

He watches me closely for a few moments before he turns around and closes the door after him. It’s better if he isn’t here so I can’t unconsciously hurt him when he does nothing but follow his boss’s orders.

I pace around the living room, biting my tongue in the process.

How could he send me money and act like I agreed to anything? He just assumed a stack of cash would buy my silence and that he could get rid of me so easily.

Well, I’ll show him what money can buy.

After the burner phone Kendrick gave me for emergencies lights up, I dial his number—the only number in my contacts list.

“Have you changed your mind?” He picks up after the second ring.

“Maybe." I tap a finger on my bottom lip as I drop on the bed. “What’s Mr. Graves’s address? I thought about what you said, and I want to thank him for everything he did for me.”

Kendrick is silent, surely questioning my reasoning. “He doesn’t need anything from you, Esmeray. Not suing him is more than enough.”

“Please, Kendrick. I want to show him my appreciation,” I say with an eye roll I’m glad he can’t see.

Appreciation? Bullshit.

He sighs into the speaker. “I can’t give you his address without his permission.”

Kendrick asking for permission from Mr. Graves would ruin the whole thing, so that can’t happen. There’s another way I can send my gift as a surprise, and the best I can do is hope Kendrick will agree.

“What if I send it to your address, and you can call the delivery company to change the address once I have everything ordered?” I ask, waiting for his reply with a breath of air caught in my throat. “That way I won’t know what his address is.”

“Alright, but don’t make me regret this.” He gives in after a few seconds of silence.

I cover the speaker of the phone, whisper-shouting a “yes” and throwing my fist in the air before speaking again.“Thank you. And make sure he sees it first, please.”

“What do you have in mind, Esmeray?”

“It’s a nice gift, okay?” I defend myself against his accusatory tone. “It’s huge just like his ego, so I’m sure he’ll love it.”

“Do I need to worry or change my mind?” he asks, and I’m quick to assure him.

“No, Kendrick. It will bring a smile to your face as well,” I tell him, keeping my giggle inside until the phone call ends.

Now’s the time to do some online shopping.

FIVE

KAI

“Dad!” I hear Lacey scream from the top of her lungs, making her presence known.

Today is the last Sunday of this month, the only day when the Graves family travels from all around the world and gathers back home. Since Ryker lives with Tristan in Los Angeles and Kiaran in Costa Rica, Dad came up with the idea of having an almost sacred day that no one can miss unless it’s a life-or-death situation.

The distance is a curse, yet it might be the reason why my brothers and I get along so well. I can’t imagine living with Tristan, who always has a girl spend the night, or with Kiaran, who forces me to wait until he takes a good photo of our meal so he can post it before we eat.

I’m the only one who never left New York or the house I grew up in. I don’t know if my younger sister, Lacey, counts if she’s spending three months a year here.

“You’re going to strangle him.” I laugh at her as I walk down the stairs.

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