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I suck in a breath. “And what does she want?”
Lawrence snorts. “What people in this position always want—money.”
Anger roils within me, but I tamp it back since an enraged Boggart is the last thing my lawyer needs to deal with.
“Fine. Give her money then.”
“It’s more complicated. It turns out that Ms. Archer gives Ms. Declan a substantial amount of money every month—nearly her whole paycheck.”
Suddenly, everything clicks into place, and I realize this is what Wyn didn’t want to tell me about.
Why she never seems to have enough money.
“Like a type of alimony? That doesn’t even make any sense—Wyn has custody of their son.”
“Not alimony, Bash, but blackmail. Ms. Declan knows about Ms. Archer’s past before she—”
“Don’t finish the sentence. We’re not talking about Wyn’s past because it’s none of our business.”
“With all due respect, it’s her past that Ms. Declan is now threatening you with.”
“What? How? I give a fuck about who Wyn was before we met.”
“Be that as it may, Ms. Declan is threatening to tell everyone about Wyn if you don’t give her money. Worse, she’s saying you took advantage of an employee and sexually harassed Ms. Archer.”
A scoff bursts past my lips. “Wyn would clear those charges.”
“Maybe, if she hasn’t withdrawn from being made a spectacle of because of her gender, but even then, the damage will be done. It will take years, if not decades, to reestablish the integrity of Boggleworks—not to mention the emotional upheaval this will cause Ms. Archer, spilling over to her son.”
An image of Jake, teary-eyed and confused as Wyn sobs on her couch comes to mind.
“Fuck!”
“My sentiments exactly.”
“Well, I already agreed to give this woman money. Do whatever it takes to keep her quiet, but make sure she signs an air-tight contract—zero wiggle room.”
“Bash, she wants Wyn gone. It’s one of her stipulations.”
“Gone?”
“Yes. Ms. Declan wants you to fire Wyn and cease any and all contact or she goes to the press. I get the impression she’s going to play the victim card hard and paint not only you as the villain, but Ms. Archer as well. The little boy might get caught in the backlash.”
“Why does Wyn’s ex care if she continues to work here or see me if the awful woman gets her money?”
“My guess—to hurt both you and Wyn while ensuring her ex can never be happy. It’s a tactic people use to feel like they’re in control.”
“No. The answer is ‘no’. I am not giving up Wyn—she’s my mate.”
“Bash, there’s a good chance Boggleworks collapses under the weight of judgment passed if Ms. Declan sells her story well enough, regardless that it’s a lie. If she gets people behind her, the company is screwed. We can only do so much damage control.”
“So you’re saying I have to choose between the woman of my dreams or the company I built from the ground up to prove to myself—to all Boggarts—that we’re more than just shadows and nightmares?”
“I’m sorry, Bash, I really am. If I thought there was another way, I would do it, but we’re running borrowed time before Ms. Declan tells all.”
“What a disaster. I need to talk to Wyn—”
“No. You need to address the Board of Directors. You might be CEO and Chairman, but these are the people who funded Boggleworks. Their money is on the line, too. They deserve to know what’s happening. This way, you can make an informed decision.”
