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„Oh, so you don’t care about losing funding for your research project?” she asks. „How are you ever going to explain this to your precious PhD students?”
„I won’t have to, because their funding is secured, no matter what you do,” he says. „Nothing will happen to them, even if you go through with your idiotic threat. So, do whatever you want. I don’t care.”
She looks properly shocked at this revelation, and I’m equally confused. I cast him a puzzled look, but Aston only winks at me, before turning back to his sister.
„You’re bluffing,” she says. „I know what was in your trust fund, little brother, and I know you’re doing well, but you’re not doingthatwell. You can’t fund this out of your own pocket.”
„I don’t have to,” he says. „I managed to find a group of investors who are ready to jump in, if needed. Together, we can pull in more than enough.”
Her eyes turn into narrow slits, and the sound of her heels echoes through the tiled entry area when she repositions herself.
„You’re bluffing,” she says, but even I can hear that there’s wishful thinking rather than conviction in her voice.
„I’m not, but think whatever you want,” Aston insists as he slowly steps closer to her. „Now, I’m asking you to leave.”
He’s just about to reach for the doorknob when she plants herself in between him and the door.
„Then, how about when I tell the dean about your little secret here?” she says, throwing a quick side-eye in my direction. „I’m sure they won’t like hearing about you doing one of your students.”
I feel as if she’s just sucked all life out of me, as a cold rush of shock jolts down my spine. She can’t do that. I would lose everything.
„No,” I produce. „Y-you can’t—”
Aston comes to my side, and to my surprise, he wraps his arm around my shoulder, providing me with much-needed support, while I feel like I’m about to faint.
„I don’t think anyone would want to hear your little story,” he says. „No one ever listens to a crazy person.”
„Crazy?!” she screeches, so high-pitched that my ears are ringing. „I’m not the crazy one here, little brother.”
„Oh yes you are,” he maintains. „Who would ever listen to a woman who is threatening to cut funding to an existing research project, just so she can have her way? Do you really think all those emails you wrote to me paint a good picture of you?”
Her mouth falls open, and she sucks in a sharp breath of air.
„And what would Dad think? And the shareholders? Do you really think it looks professional for a CEO to blackmail her own brother like that?” Aston goes on. „And to kill another project that the company has been decorating itself with for years, just because you want to get one over on your little brother? Seriously, Mariah, you should have thought about all that before writing those nasty emails. You’ve only just been appointed CEO and you’re already hurting the company. Do you really think Dad will let this happen?”
„You wouldn’t,” she gasps. „Those emails were private! You can’t share them.”
„I can, and I will,” he promises. „If you don’t stop this.”
She presses her striking red lips into a thin line and glares at Aston with so much rage that I wouldn’t be surprised to see smoke fuming from her nostrils. Her eyes flit back and forth between Aston and me, and I hope she doesn’t see how shaken I am.
I don’t understand how Aston can stay so nonchalant about her threat to expose us, because I’m definitely not.
„Fine!” Mariah spits in his direction before turning around and reaching for the door. „If this is how you want to do things, then I guess that’s that!”
She ends her abrupt visit by slamming the door shut, causing me to startle at the loud noise.
„So, that’s my sister,” Aston says, pinching the bridge of his nose with two fingers.
„She’s…lovely,” I mutter, and he starts laughing.
„Yes, a real gem,” he says, as he comes closer to pull me in another embrace. „I’m sorry for the way she treated you. She has absolutely no manners, or empathy of any kind.”
„Well, she threatened both of us,” I say. „Aren’t you worried she will still talk to the dean? What will you do if she does?”
He shrugs. „She can’t prove anything, can she? It’s her word against ours, and I meant what I said, those emails really don’t make her look good. Besides…”
He pauses, and lowers his gaze, before he clears his throat.
