“I want you to rot in hell.”
“Jesus, can you just wake up and see the world as it is?” He slams his hand into the wall next to my head.
I’m shaking so hard I might be sick.
“You’re too smart to pretend it’s black and white. Right and wrong. I’m getting older. I’m tired. My help these days sucks. It’ll be easier if you just come work for me and share whatever bit of technology you have.”
“I can’t be bought.”
“Everybody has a price.”
Why didn’t I bring a recorder or something to take to the police? Not that it matters. I’m out of my league. All I have left are my scruples.
“You can never buy me. You’ll never own me. My only goal in life has been to bring you down and I will not stop until you’re rotting in jail. Everybody’ll know what a pile of garbage you are.”
The moment I say it I know I’ve revealed too much about myself. He’s smart. He’s evil. And he’s conniving, sure, but he reads people damn well and knows how to play them.
“Why are you being so difficult about this? Do you know what an opportunity you have? How many people want to be in your shoes?”
It echoes what he said to me four years ago. He’s close to me now.
“Other people would beg to be offered this.”
“Give me my keys.” I grip the gun tighter.
“Fine.” He drops his head. “We’ll do it your way.”
He saunters to a side table and grabs a tablet. He hands it to me and gestures that I read it. I flinch. Without lowering the gun I scan it. But I can’t absorb what I read.
“What’s this?”
“I’m not as sneaky as you but I do have connections. I can find things out too. This is James Roe’s background and his financial records. And all the ways he’s been stealing money from the poor people of his town to fund his lifestyle.”
“Liar.”
“Facts are facts. The police aren’t going to care. His family and neighbors aren’t going to care.”
I keep scrolling and see my name, Miss Mayday, at the bottom of the text file.
“Look, here’s the deal.” He checks his watch. “Either you help me or I go to the press with the news of Roe’s money laundering. I’ll send this file to your editor and have it published before you can start your car.”
The world spins around me. There has to be a way out of here. There has to be justice. I’ve been working too long and too hard for it to be over like this.
“No. No. I can’t.”
“Fine.” His breath is sour and disgusting when he lets out a long exhalation in my face. “Then let me just mail this.”
“You’re a monster.”
“You aren’t listening.” He slams the tablet down. “I’m trying to explain. I run this industry. People need me. I provide so much. You don’t even know how much I provide for people. You’re the selfish one here.” He smooths his hands down his front and takes a steadying breath. “We’ll make a good team. Now, agree to this or I’m ruining Roe’s life. He’ll never forgive you for this.”
My head shakes.
“You chose to go up to that room that night, Maggie. You wanted the accolades and roles I promised you. I would have given them to you. I’m not an asshole. I only wanted what was due to me. One moment of pleasure and the world could have been yours. But you had to throw a hissy fit.”
I’m ice cold. I’m sweating. Roe has given up everything to help those he loves. He’s given so much to me. He’s made me feel worth something. There’s no way I can do this to him. I can’t let my one-sided selfishness destroy him.
Just my body, not my being.
