Scott McTavish is the worst kind of billionaire. Slippery, weaselly, and gross. There’s not an un-entitled bone in his body.
He offered me a job on his yard, luring me in with promises of traveling around the world—first stop Argentina, followed by a summer of polo across Europe. I heard the wordvisaand forgot everything else. My excitement was too high.
Such a dumdum.
The first week, he was super friendly, but by the second week, he made it clear opportunities would open quicker if I got on my knees and sucked his dick. Or on my back in the hay I’d freshly laid for the ponies that morning—he wasn’t fussy.
I escape by playing dumb, keeping my head down, and waiting for the visa he promised me, because the European summer tournament schedule is fast approaching. I stay because I refuse to admit the alternative is returning to Iowa and a family who’ll say “I told you so” for the rest of my life.
I’ve put up with him staring at my ass . . . my tits . . . you name it. I’ve swallowed down my outrage and waited for the day my visa would arrive. In the six months since he took me on, I’vetaken the best care possible of his ponies, and in my spare time, I practice for the day I’ll finally be able to prove myself.
I get up an hour earlier than everyone else, warming up on the wooden horse in the hitting cage, practicing my swings, and building muscle memory. Maverick and I have become a slick, unbeatable team of two. We’ve run drills until my muscles ached, and we were both exhausted.
Today would have been much of the same up to five minutes ago, when I realized something.
“If I thought you’d actually filed for my visa, it might be a different story. You’ve done nothing but lie to me. So like I said, you’re an asshole.”
His eyes flare, and all my fears are confirmed. I’m so fucking gullible it’s embarrassing. I’ve busted my ass for absolutely nothing.
“I told you, these things take time.” His gaze drops to my chest, heaving with pent-up rage. “But if you want me to look into speeding the process up?—”
He finishes his sentence with a bloodcurdling shriek, collapsing to the floor and cupping his balls.
“You sound like a little girl, McTavish.”
“You’re never going to get another job, Ruby.” He wheezes. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I peer down at him, curled in the fetal position. “Go fuck yourself.”
“You’re a troublemaker. I should have fired you after that stunt you pulled on Miles Burlington. I know it was you, and I’m going to make sure everyone else knows it too, including him.” He scoffs, and it turns into a groan. “You’ll never work again, Ruby—the first of your many stupid mistakes.”
My jaw clenches so hard my teeth move.Miles Burlington.Just hearing his name is enough to turn my rage back up to nuclear.
“No, the first of my stupid mistakes was believing you. The rest pale in comparison.”
Not bothering to listen to any more of what he has to say, I storm out of his office and slam the door behind me. It’s only when I’m back in the fresh air and feel the early morning sun on my face that the adrenaline pumps a little less furiously and reality hits.
“Fuck.”
It’s still early enough, and the yard is quiet. I was on duty this morning, so everyone else will roll in closer to eight. I’d already fed the horses and brought them in when I went to see Scott, so everything is set for the day. Maverick is whinnying for more breakfast when I walk toward the stables, his big chestnut head leaning out of his stall.
Stroking down the blaze of white along his nose, I say, “We need to find a new home again, Mav.”
Leaning forward, he dips his head and nuzzles against my shoulder as if to say,It’s okay, Mom. Wherever you are, I’m happy.
Pulling my phone out, I bring up the number of the one person I know who might be able to help.
“Hey, Rubes, what’s up?” Megan answers immediately.
In the background is running water and a lot of neighing. It’s breakfast time, and she must be on duty.
I first met Megan when I moved to Aspen and sent my résumé to anyone I could find. Head groom at the Lucky Drop—a well-known polo ranch frequented mostly by wannabe players with lots of money, amateurs, and rich kids whose parents wanted them to learn how to ride—she offered me a part-time role as an extra set of hands. The pay was ridiculously low, but Maverick could stay, so I jumped at the chance.
We clicked immediately, saving each other’s ass on more than one occasion.
And I need her to save mine again now.
“Hey, can I bring Mav over? I need to keep him somewhere tonight while I figure things out.”
