I signed on the line and handed him the pen, then passed over the main key fob.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Karson.” He stepped into the tender, papers and key in hand. “Leave the other key with the marina reception after you say your goodbyes.” He unhitched the ropes from the dock. “Congratulations, Karson. You have a small fortune.”
I grinned. “Thanks, Sebastian.”
The motor roared to life, and he shot across the glittering harbor like an arrow, leaving a foaming wake behind him.
Walking around the deck, I gazed at the helm, lost in memories.
Ivy and I had spent so many beautiful moments standing here on our voyage. I pictured her laughing as the wind whipped through her hair.
She’d played some of her favorite songs for me, and we’d danced around the deck. After she learned the ropes, she’d taken the helm, guiding us through the waves.
And one morning, when Dyson joined us for breakfast, he and Ivy had bonded over their mutual hatred of peanut butter. I’d take those memories with me.
The thought of making new ones together made me smile.
I stepped off the boat onto the dock. “Bon voyage, baby,” I whispered, then walked briskly to the marina office, leaving the key with them.
After making my way out onto the street, I found a cab. As the driver entered the destination, I took out my secret phone and opened Discord.
KARSON: Sold! I should be able to get the startup funds to you in the next 48 hours.
A ripple of pleasure ran through me. I hadn’t figured everything out yet, but I was getting closer. I could hardly wait to get home and video call Ivy. We hadn’t talked since yesterday morning. She’d probably had a crazy busy day. I wanted to hear all about the first day of her new contract and share my good news.
The phone pinged in my hand.That’ll be Dyson, congratulating me.
IVY: I lost the contract.
My heart lurched. I gripped the phone so tightly I thought it might crack.
Loosening my grip, I hit Call.
Ivy answered and explained in a panic thatsomeonehad bribed one of the contestants to accuse her of cheating. She told me, between sobs, that they’d canceled her contract and revoked the prize money.
I let out a guttural roar as I kicked the seat in front of me.
The driver glared at me in the mirror. “Hey, buddy, watch the car.”
“Sorry, man, sorry,” I said, holding up my hand apologetically.
Themysterycaller had to be my father.Who else would want to hurt Ivy?
He was a monster. A complete fucking monster.
Where will this end?A scalding heat boiled through my veins.Hasn’t he done enough to hurt her? To hurt me?
I fought the urge to go straight to his office, tear his precious painting off the wall, rip it to shreds, and take a crowbar to his supercar collection.
I wanted to burn down his entire empire. Destroy him.
But all I could do was avoid angering him. Until I found a way out, I was his prisoner. As I clenched my free hand, my nails bit into my skin—
“Karson,” Ivy whispered, “are you still there?”
“Fuck. Sorry, Ivy, I lost it for a minute. This is too much. I’m so sorry for what he’s done. I’m going to make this right. The bastard’s going to pay.”
“It’s not your fault,” she gasped. “But I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
